10 days · Quoted per enquiry
Stay beside the Danube, taste Bulgaria’s native grape varieties and meet the winemakers of Sakar. A wine journey through family cellars, vineyard estates and the old streets of Plovdiv.
This wine journey showcases some of Bulgaria’s most fascinating terroirs – from the cool Northwest and the indigenous varieties of the Vidin and Vratsa regions, through Central Bulgaria, the Rose Valley and the Thracian Valley, to the powerful red wines of Sakar.
Borovitza · Magura · Bononia Estate
ChaTony · Tipchenitza · Maryan
Sakar · Harmanli
Midalidare · Plovdiv · Chateau Copsa · Perushtitsa
10
days on the ground
15
stops on the route
From the Danube to Sakar
Day by day
Use this itinerary as your starting point. Your tailored proposal confirms accommodation, transport, included experiences and the price for your dates.
Start an enquiryArrival in Sofia, welcome and transfer to the hotel. After check-in, enjoy a panoramic and walking tour of the Bulgarian capital, including Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, Saint Sofia Church, ancient Serdica, the Rotunda of Saint George, the Presidency and the National Theatre. In the evening, an optional welcome dinner introduces the group to Bulgarian wine.
Early departure for Northwestern Bulgaria, one of the country’s lesser-known yet highly distinctive wine regions. Begin with a visit to Borovitza Winery, in a village among the Belogradchik Rocks, known for its unique terroir and small-production wines. Continue to Magura Winery near the village of Rabisha for a winery tour and tasting, with a focus on Northwestern Bulgarian wines and the estate’s tradition of naturally sparkling wine, aged in a gallery of the nearby Magura Cave. In the afternoon, continue to Bononia Estate on the banks of the Danube. Check in at the estate and enjoy dinner accompanied by selected wines.
Begin the day with a tour and tasting at Bononia Estate, discovering wines produced from the estate’s own vineyards. Continue towards the Vratsa and Mezdra region to visit ChaTony Winery in the village of Darmantsi, a modern wine complex combining production facilities, tasting rooms and accommodation. Later, visit boutique Tipchenitza Winery, known for its focus on distinctive Bulgarian varieties such as Vrachanski Misket and Rubin.
Overnight at the ChaTony wine complex. For smaller groups, a special gourmet wine experience at Tipchenitza Winery can be arranged.
Early departure through the Central Balkan Mountains towards the village of Maryan near Elena. Visit the small family-owned Maryan Winery, in the hills of the Elena Balkan, and taste its wines in the winery’s own tasting room.
After the visit, continue to Stara Zagora. Check in at the hotel and enjoy a free evening for relaxation or a short walk through the city centre.
Depart Stara Zagora for Midalidare Estate in the village of Mogilovo. Tour one of Bulgaria’s leading modern wine estates, home to two wineries and extensive vineyards. Enjoy a tasting with the option to include traditionally produced sparkling wines.
After the visit, continue southeast towards Sakar, one of Bulgaria’s most dynamic and exciting contemporary wine regions. The area is particularly renowned for Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Syrah and expressive full-bodied red blends, and increasingly for the white Tamyanka.
Depending on the schedule, enjoy a first boutique winery visit in the Harmanli area before hotel check-in and dinner.
Full-day wine exploration of Southern Sakar. Visit another two or three selected wineries around Harmanli, Lyubimets, Kolarovo and Svilengrad. Meet local winemakers and discover the variety of styles and terroirs that define the region.
Depending on availability, visits may include producers such as Villa Bassarea, Bratanov Winery, Kolarovo, Terra Tangra, Via Antica or other boutique estates. The day may conclude with a special dinner pairing regional cuisine with Sakar wines.
Travel to Plovdiv, one of Europe’s oldest continuously inhabited cities and the cultural heart of the Thracian Valley. Upon arrival, enjoy a walking tour of the Old Town, including the Ancient Theatre, Roman Stadium, Revival-era houses, the main pedestrian street and the creative Kapana district.
Free evening to discover Plovdiv’s restaurants and wine bars independently.
A day dedicated to the wines of the Thracian Valley and the Rose Valley. Begin with a visit to a selected winery in the Plovdiv region, where signature Bulgarian grape varieties such as Mavrud and Rubin can be explored.
Continue north to Chateau Copsa, beautifully situated among the vineyards of the Rose Valley. Tour the winery and taste wines produced from the estate’s own vineyards, with particular attention to varieties suited to the region’s cooler climate, among them the local Red Misket. Return to Plovdiv.
Leave Plovdiv for the wine region along the foothills of the Rhodope Mountains around Perushtitsa and Ustina. Visit one or two selected wineries. One of the most suitable options is Villa Yustina in the village of Ustina, where the wine tour follows the journey from vineyard to bottle and highlights Bulgarian varieties such as Mavrud and Rubin.
If the schedule allows, a second winery in the western Thracian Valley may also be included. After the tastings, continue to Sofia for the final overnight and an optional farewell dinner.
Breakfast and free time depending on the flight schedule. Transfer to Sofia Airport for departure. End of the Bulgarian wine journey.
Bulgaria & the Balkans
InboundSofia · Rila · Plovdiv · Kazanlak · Veliko Tarnovo · Elena · Veliko Tarnovo · Sofia
InboundSofia · Rila · Melnik · Plovdiv · Thracian Valley · Kazanlak · Veliko Tarnovo · Sofia
InboundSofia · Rila · Melnik · Struma Valley · Plovdiv · Brestovitsa · Asenovgrad · Sakar · Harmanli · Sofia
