Blend and diversity

BULGARIAN WINE

Archeology, folklore and literature have left numerous evidences of vine planting and wine production on the Bulgarian territory since ancient times. The Thracian wine from the Black Sea region or the city of Ismarus along Struma river was first mentioned by Homer in both the Iliad and the Odyssey. The wall inscriptions in the Thracian tomb in Kazanlak, the images on the items of the world known Thracian golden treasures, and many other artefacts testify that the Thracians worshipped this divine drink.

Bulgarians inherited the experience and the traditions of the local population in the cultivation of grapes and wine-production. The winery that was found in the region of Preslav dating back from the 7th - 10th century is a testimony of that and the first in Europe prohibitation law imposed by the Khan Kroum (804-814).


	© CTB, Cultural-Tours-Bulgaria

In the Middle ages the greater part of the vineyards in Bulgaria were possession of the monasteries.

The wine making tradition continued during the ruling of the Ottoman Empire when the cult to the wine overruled the strict Islamic canons.

In 1978 Bulgaria was recognized as the fourth largest wine producer in the World.

Bulgaria produces typically Bulgarian wine sorts which are of international quality (White Misket, Tamianka, Dimyat, Red Misket, Mavrud, Melnik, Gamza, Pamid) apart from the well-known European sorts of wine (Aligote, Muskat Ottonel, Rkatziteli, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Traminer, Chardonnay, Ugni Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pino Noir).

The wine and culinary taste sessions in the tourist programs and special wine tours give you the opportunity to travel in the wine regions of Bulgaria and taste the variety of high-quality wines produced of Bulgarian grapes and in Bulgarian wineries, to taste the traditional Bulgarian meals and to enjoy wine with a tasty ecologically pure food.

On a wine taste session several sorts of wine are tasted - white and red wines and sometimes 1 or 2 rakiya brands (if produced in the same winery) accompanied by the right appetizers. Experienced specialists tell the story of the winery, the production technology, the characteristics and the qualities of the produced wine and give advices to new wine tasters. Some tourist packages include lunch or dinner and folklore program and demonstration of traditional Bulgarian crafts.

If you would like to shatter all the usual stereotypical images of Balkans, then our deluxe wine, food and cultural tour of Bulgaria are just for you! They are an example of what we can do for the tourists who are looking for something special. Our tour programs for groups or individual travelers are specifically designed to meet our clients interests as well as their budget. Apart from customizable tours we offer regular scheduled guaranteed departure tours with fixed departure dates, which are guaranteed to run on a minimum of two travelers.

Embark on one of our guided specialty tours in Bulgaria and the Balkans, and explore the highlights this region of Eastern Europe is famous for.

You will enjoy comprehensive sightseeing, having your private tour guide to share the wonders of Bulgaria and Eastern Europe with you. If you prefer a travel experience that offers insight, our customized specialty tours might just be what you are looking for.

For tour enquiries click here or .

BULGARIAN CUISINE

The Bulgarian cuisine pretends to have given the patent to many Balkan specialities but at the same time has learned from the experience of the neighbours. The influence of the Orient is indisputable including the influence of Austria and Hungary as well as of the Mediterranean. The traditional cuisine is specific for the different geographic and ethnographic regions depending on the local food and customs.

The Bulgarian culinary abounds in delicious specialities, exotic dishes and other temptations well worth trying. Tasty, spicy and varied, the Bulgarian cuisine goes well with good wine.


	© CTB, Cultural-Tours-Bulgaria

Bulgarians have learned from experience to make heavy food like stews, gyuvetch (hotchpotch), fatty and spicy meat easy digestible using parsley, savoury, mint, dill and eating them with vitamin rich salads made of turnip, lettuce, tomatoes, cabbage, fresh peppers, carrots, onion and garlic. This generous use of vegetables and aromatic spices and herbs is one of the peculiarities of the Bulgarian cuisine.

As to methods of preparation - since times immemorial the Bulgarians have favoured stewing, roasting, boiling and the earthenware dish. The roasting of food on charcoal embers is also widespread, leaving the meat deliciously tender and succulant.

Watch our Bulgarian Cuisine Impressions virtual tour (video clip, 02:14).

One of the most picturesque corners of Europe, Bulgaria is a fascinating place with great history and culture. Our deluxe guided Food and Wine Culture Balkans tours represent a perfect mix of cultural and culinary holidays for small groups or individual tourists. We offer customizable tours as well as regular scheduled guaranteed departure tours with fixed departure dates, which are guaranteed to run on a minimum of two travelers.

Embark on one of our guided cultural tours across Bulgaria, around the historic heart of the Balkans, and explore the specialties this region of Eastern Europe is famous for.

You will enjoy comprehensive sightseeing, having your private tour guide to share the wonders of Bulgaria and the Balkans with you. If you prefer a travel experience that offers insight, our specialty tours might just be what you are looking for. For tour enquiries click here or .