Spend half a day drinking wine in the Oldest city in Europe
♦ Get a taste of the uniqueness of the Plovdiv area
♦ This is a private small-group tour. We limit our small-group tours to 6 people
♦ Enjoy the oldest city in Europe
- Information
- Tour Plan
- Gallery
- Similar Tours
- Good things to know
What's included
- English speaking tour guide
- Private transfers
- Wine degustation
- Entrance tickets to monuments and museums
- Gratitutes
- Services not specifically noted in the itinerary
What to expect
A flight of five (5) local wines are presented at the wine tasting and the focus is on both international and native grape varieties. Learn first-hand about the history of Bulgarian wine and the re-emergence of native grape varieties. Meet the passionate, new generation of locals that are reviving Bulgarian wine and trying to shape a new future. Your Tour Leader will be with you every step of the way to offer stories and information about the region and about Bulgarian wine in general. Enjoy a lunch of local specialties before visiting a cultural heritage site close by.
Wineries
The wine region immediately surrounding Plovdiv is called the (western) Thracian Valley. The Thracian Valley is the largest wine region in Bulgarian in terms of number of wineries, and has a diverse collection of wineries. There are more than enough wineries in the Plovdiv region to visit making this region in particular a suitable area for wine tourism. We work with multiple, carefully selected vineyards and wine producers in the region. There are more than 20 boutique wineries in an 80-kilometer radius from Plovdiv. It is more than possible to visit a few wineries around Plovdiv in one day and still be back in the late afternoon. Many of the wines produced at the wineries are only available at the winery, in Bulgaria or have very limited distribution. Be sure to take some wines home with you (at attractive cellar-door prices) to share with friends and family. Chances are slim that you can find them back home!
Grapes
Bulgaria grows both international and native grapes. Interestingly, there are more international grapes planted in Bulgaria than local grapes for historical reasons. The ratio of international to local is roughly 70% to 30% with the plantations of local grapes increasing in recent years.
The local grapes that call the western part of The Thracian Valley home are Mavrud and Rubin.
Mavrud is a very old local variety that has its birthplace at the foot of the Rhodope mountains. Wines made from Mavrud may vary in style. Generally, it has deep dark color, medium tannin, medium acidity and develops wonderfully in contact with oak acquiring a complex aroma, dense taste and medium to full body. Mavrud can be consumed as a single varietal or blended with Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. It also marries very well with Rubin – another local grape that is quite a few years younger than Mavrud.
Rubin is a hybrid between Syrah and Nebbiolo, and was created in the 1940s-50s. It was planted in the Plovdiv area but can now be found in a few other areas across Bulgaria. The wines are deep in color. The aroma is intense with berries, spices and herbs on the nose. Rubin can be consumed young or matured. With maturation, the tannins smoothen out, the flavor improves yet the freshness remains.
- Itenerary
Rise and shine
We leave at 10:00 and the tour finishes around 15:00.
Other information:
- Listed price is for two people / per person.
- You can use your own insurance or we can arrange it for you through our partners.
- For larger groups, please contact us at office@touristguidebulgaria.com
Where to meet:
- We will pick you up from your hotel or accommodation in Plovdiv
Good things to know before you go:
- Remember to wear comfortable footwear and weather-appropriate clothing. The tour takes place in sunshine or rain.
- Bring your camera along to capture special moments
- Bring some local currency (BGN) for purchases just in case the winery does not accept card payment
- The minimum number of people per tour is 2. The maximum number of people per tour is 6.
- Transportation is either in comfortable car or 8-seater passenger van (depending on the group size)
- Food allergies or dietary requirements can be accommodated if advised before the tour. Please advise at time of booking.
Other information:
- You can use your own insurance or we can arrange it for you through our partners.
- Listed price is for two people / per person.
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 15 travelers.
- Hotel pick-up costs an additional 5/10 Euro per reservation, depending on the location of your hotel.
Please ask us about our group discounts.
Covid19 Update: Restaurants in the area have limited capacity until further notice, due to the state of emergency in Bulgaria.
It’s recommended that you check with us prior to your trip or go to this link for up to date information. You can also prepare sandwiches or small snacks sold everywhere in Sofia.
Attire: The weather conditions can change very rapidly. We advise you to pack some warm clothing even during the summer months. Comfortable shoes are recommended as some of the streets are cobbled.
Photos
Photos are allowed everywhere with the exception of churches and monasteries.
Cash is important
Please have cash with you as not all places accept debit / credit cards and ATMs.
Food:
There are numerous restaurants in the area that offer authentic food. We will have time to stop and enjoy a nice lunch for the multi-day tours and at certain instances in the daily tours.
Cancellation policy - we offer free cancellation and a full refund*
- Daily tours
- If you are unable to attend a daily tour and let us know 24 hours in advance we will provide you with a full refund. We will try to accommodate any changes at the last moment, but we cannot guarantee it.
- If you are unable to attend a multi-day tour please let us know as early as possible. The refunds are listed below
- Up to 30 days before the start date -> 100%
- Up to 21 days before the start date -> 70%
- Up to 14 days before the start date -> 50%
- Less than 14 days before the start date - unfortunately we will not be able to refund you
- No shows are fully charged
- The experience requires a minimum of travelers. If it’s canceled we will offer you another experience or fully refund your money.
