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Contact us: +359 (0) 884 455 405 I [email protected] I www.bulgariawinetours.com I
Valid from 18.10.2017 Valid until 18.10.2018
Taste of Southern Bulgaria
Wine, Food & History Tour
Tour Code: Tailor
• 3 Bulgaria Wine Regions
• Visits to 11 wineries & Wine-Paired Dinner
• Private Tour Leader
Bookings: +359 (0) 884 455 405 I [email protected] I www.bulgariawinetours.com I
Overview
Enjoy an 8-day wine tour in the undiscovered wine country of Bulgaria. Taste unique local wines such as Mavrud and Broadleaved Melnik. Discover the long history of winemaking on the lands of modern Bulgaria. Uncover the fascinating stories behind the wines. Experience the passion of the Bulgarian winemakers and winery owners. Learn more about the wines, terroir, wine making and history of Bulgaria. Visit three unique and traditional wine regions in Bulgaria: The Thracian Valley, The Valley of Roses & The Struma Valley. The Thracian Valley is Bulgaria’s largest wine region. It is an under-the-radar wine region that was recently selected as Best Wine Travel Destination of 2017 by Wine Enthusiast. Explore Plovdiv and its many layers of history from the Thracian, Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman eras. Plovdiv will be European Capital of Culture in 2019. Enjoy the city before the crowds of people discover its magical atmosphere. A micro-region within the larger Thracian Valley is the South Sakar region – an authentic vine-growing region that offers great wines, great food and great people. The Valley of Roses is the smallest wine region famous for its aromatic ‘Red Misket’ white wines that match the aromatic roses grown in this region. The Struma Valley & Melnik Wine Region introduce us to native grape varieties such as Broadleaved Melnik and Melnik 55. The small town of Melnik brings us back to a forgotten time. The entire town is a historical architectural reserve filled with houses, churches and relics from mainly the 18th century. Sample local Balkan foods. Discover cultural gems such as the Rozhen Monastery and the Old Town of Plovdiv. Experience it all on the ‘Taste of Bulgaria: Wine, Food and History Wine Tour!
Tour Itinerary1
Day 0. Individual Arrivals
For those who want to spend a day exploring Sofia, we can arrange overnights in Sofia and airport transfers. See prices for more information.
Day 1. Arrival to Sofia
Sofia - Plovdiv
Arrival to Sofia Airport. Group transfer to Plovdiv at 14:00. Check-in to your centrally located 3-star hotel. Guided
1 Timings may vary and depend on the pace of the tour. Name of wineries and tour leader will be provided in the travel service voucher once the booking is confirmed
walking tour of Plovdiv and Old Town Plovdiv (2h). Welcome dinner.
Meals: Dinner
Accommodation: 3-star Hotel in Plovdiv
Day 2. Wines from The Valley of Roses
Plovdiv - Chateau Copsa - Rumelia - Plovdiv
Breakfast. Visit to Chateau Copsa for a tour, tasting and lunch. Visit to Rumelia for a magnificent tasting of 5 wines. Return to Plovdiv. Free evening.
Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
Accommodation: 3-star Hotel in Plovdiv
Day 3. Exploring the Plovdiv Wine Region
Plovdiv - Dragomir - Villa Yustina - Plovdiv
Breakfast. Transfer to Dragomir Family Estate. Tasting of a selection of wines. Continue to Villa Yustina for a walk through the vineyard park and a spectacular wine-paired lunch in the charming tasting room. Return to Plovdiv. Free evening.
Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
Accommodation: 3-star Hotel in Plovdiv
Day 4. Discover The South Sakar Micro-Region
Plovdiv - Chateau Kolarovo - Malkata Zvezda - Bratanov Family Winery - Plovdiv
Breakfast. Departure for Chateau Kolarovo. Tasting of a selection of wines with commentary and explanation from the winemaker. Traditional, village-style lunch. Continue to the nearby Malkata Zvezda for a show around and tasting of 5 wines. Continue to Bratanovi Family Winery. Members of the Bratanov family will welcome you into their little wine production facility to taste their wines. Get to know the Bratanovi family and enjoy an exclusive tasting in the barrel room. Return to Plovdiv. Free evening.
Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
Accommodation: 3-star Hotel in Plovdiv
Day 5. Entering The Struma Valley Wine Region
Plovdiv - Kiossev - Melnik
Breakfast. Early check-out. Departure to the Melnik area at 9 am. The Kiossev Family Boutique Cellar welcomes us inside. The Kiossev family will show us around and tell us the history of the winery and the family heritage of wine making. A tasting of a selection of their wines with commentary from the family leaves a lasting impression. A traditional village lunch is served. Continue to Melnik. Check-in to hotel. Welcome dinner in a traditional Melnik restaurant.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation: 3-star hotel in Melnik
Bookings: +359 (0) 884 455 405 I [email protected] I www.bulgariawinetours.com I
Day 6. All things Melnik
Melnik - Rupel - Villa Melnik – Melnik
Breakfast. Walk around the town of Melnik and visit to a traditional merchant house. Departure for Rupel winery. Tour of the facilities followed by a tasting and casual lunch. Continue to the nearby Villa Melnik. The Zikatanovi family give a warm welcome to their family winery. Tour of the modern facilities followed by a tasting of their wines. Return to hotel. Free evening.
Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
Accommodation: 3-star hotel in Melnik
Day 7. Exploring the Melnik Wine Region
Melnik - Orbelus - Rozhen - Melnik
Breakfast. Departure for Orbelus Winery - a 100% Organic Winery. Tour of production process and tasting of wines in the charming tasting room with the winemaker accompanied by a selection of Bulgarian cold cuts and cheeses. Continue to the village of Rozhen for lunch. Visit to the picturesque Rozhen monastery. Return to Melnik. Free time. Farewell wine dinner.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation: 3-star hotel in Melnik
Day 8. Departure
Melnik - Sofia
Breakfast. Check-out. Transfer to Sofia Centre or Sofia Airport (3-3.5 hours). Option to extend stay in Sofia.
Meals: Breakfast
- End of Tour -
Included in the tour
o All ground transportation mentioned in itinerary
o Group transfer from/to Sofia Airport on Day 1 & Day 8
o 4 nights in 3-star hotel in Plovdiv (standard shared double rooms)
o 3 nights in 3-star hotel in Melnik (standard shared double rooms)
o Meals as per itinerary
o Tours and tastings at 11 wineries
o Guided walking tour of Plovdiv and Old Plovdiv
o Visits to the Rozhen Monastery & Traditional House in Melnik
o Tour leader from Bulgaria Wine Tours
o Tour operator insurance from Groupama Insurance in case of non-provision of services
Not included in the tour
o Flight tickets
o Private transfers
o Meals and beverages not mentioned in the tour description
o Alcoholic beverages not mentioned in the tour description
o Travel and medical insurance (please, consult your insurance provider)
o Visa fees, if applicable
o Extras and incidentals
o Single room supplement
o Tips
Prices • EUR 1080 per person
• Single supplement: EUR 60
Dates
• June 11-18, 2018
• September 17-24, 2018
Recommended Travel Period
The best time to travel to Bulgaria for a wine tour is in the spring (March-June) or fall (September-November).
Recommended Packing List
o Cash (BGN)
o Camera, mobile phone, chargers
o Sun lotion, sun hat, sun glasses
o Insect repellent
o Notebook for tasting notes
Bookings: +359 (0) 884 455 405 I [email protected] I www.bulgariawinetours.com I
o Comfortable walking shoes
o Jacket for chilly evenings
o Passport and other important documents
Quick Travel Tips
o In Bulgaria, nodding one’s head means “No” and shaking it means “Yes”
o Most young people in Bulgaria speak some English. People of 40+ years of age usually do not speak English, but might speak Russian, German or French. If you need to ask something in English, it is better to approach a young person
o Tipping in restaurants is not mandatory, but usually people leave a tip of around 10% of the total bill
o Most places in the big cities take debit and credit cards, but it is advisable to take some cash with you, especially if you are traveling outside of bigger cities
o Most places do not take American Express credit cards. The most widely used debit/credit cards are Visa and Mastercard
o The exchange rate to Euro is fixed at: 1 BGN (Bulgarian lev) = 1.95583 EUR
o Some international banks such as: Unicredit, Raiffeisen, Societe Generale, Allianz Bank, TBI Bank, Procredit Bank, ING Bank, BNB Paribas have branches or are present in Bulgaria
o There are foreign exchange bureaus in all airports and larger towns
o Wi-Fi coverage is good in Bulgaria and almost any café, hotel or a restaurant (especially in big cities) will have free Wi-Fi.
o EU citizens do not require a visa for Bulgaria. Schengen Area visa holders do not require visas for Bulgaria for a stay of up to 90 days. For more information on visas, visit http://www.mfa.bg/en/pages/109/index.html or contact the respective institutions in your country.
Wine Country Wine making in Bulgaria dates back more than 5000 years to the ancient Thracians. In the 1970s, Bulgaria became one of the largest wine exporters in the world. However, demand for Bulgarian wine declined after the fall of the Soviet Union. Since 2007, numerous small and medium-sized wineries have been established, focusing on quality rather than on quantity. They have consistently won awards at prestigious international competitions. These wineries continue the centuries-old tradition of wine making on these lands and tell the stories of the skillful Thracians in a modern and unique way. Discover Bulgaria’s many local grape varieties. Grab the chance to try interesting wines from old and modern wineries. Discover the rich tradition of winemaking in Bulgaria.
Thank you for travelling with us!
