Drinks of Bulgaria: Wine and Rakia Tasting Experience in Sofia
Here is what's in store for you
Experience Bulgaria in a glass through its traditional drinks. This isn’t just a tasting. It’s an invitation into a warm, cozy atmosphere where history comes alive. On this 2-hour journey into Bulgarian culture, you’ll explore over 3,000 years of wine and rakia-making traditions. A local host will guide you through five local wine varieties and the Balkans’ most iconic drink - rakia - perfectly paired with traditional bites.
This experience is a passion project started by two law graduates turned professional guides and wine enthusiasts, Yoan and Ivelin (that’s us in the photo). Join us as we dive deep into Bulgarian history and culture through its drinks!
Upon arrival at the charming wine bar, you’ll be warmly greeted by your local hosts. We’ll begin with an engaging yet insightful overview of Bulgarian history and the development of wine in our lands. You’ll learn about Bulgaria’s main wine regions and their unique characteristics. The information is presented in an accessible way, making the experience equally enjoyable for complete beginners and seasoned wine lovers. Visual materials, maps, and examples will support the presentation.
Before moving on to the tasting itself, we’ll take a moment to introduce the basics of proper wine tasting for those who are interested - especially helpful if this is your first organized tasting. For more experienced participants, we’re happy to answer in-depth questions about the wine regions, grape varieties, and terroir. The tasting features five local wines paired with cheese and bread. Each wine gradually increases in intensity, taking you on a journey through different parts of the country.
When in Rome, do as the Romans do – the second part of the experience introduces rakia. This strong fruit brandy is the most traditional and beloved drink not only in Bulgaria, but across the entire Balkan Peninsula. Often surprising to visitors, rakia perfectly reflects the bold spirit of Southeastern Europe.
This experience means a great deal to us, as the history of wine and spirits is our personal passion. We’re truly excited to share it with you.
What's Included
- 5 local wine varieties
- 1 local rakia
- Bulgarian cheese
- Bulgarian bread
Booking details and conditions
You can cancel for free until 1 Day Prior
This experience is reserved for participants over 18 years of age.
Frequently Asked Questions
User Reviews (2)
Great wine tasting in Sofia
Ivo was clearly passionate about the history and I appreciated his enthusiasm during the presentation. He was very knowledgeable about the questions I asked. His presentation made me appreciate more about the work and wisdom that went behind the wines I was tasting.
In terms of the main act, I could feel that they put in effort in their selection of wines and cheeses. Each wine presented a distinct production style, and although we only had one type of cheese, it really went well with all of the wines, which was rather surprising. I also thought that having 2 whites and 2 reds and 1 orange in between worked very well as a way to introduce the diversity of Bulgarian wine. The rakia, however, was the highlight for me - you can really taste the quality difference between the rakia they served and the rakia readily available elsewhere.
One more highlight is the venue - a nice local wine shop that is run by an old couple. It is always good to support local businesses. They also didn't push me to buy more wine, or try to sell me something extra. Instead, I felt that they were happy with just letting participants appreciate the Bulgarian wine more, and they let the quality of their products speak for themselves, which is something that I appreciate
Unfortunately (or not), I was the only guest for this session. It did mean that I got to ask all the questions I wanted, but I feel that it would work really well with groups too. Ivo was very good at keeping me engaged, and I believe that he would be able to bring lots of fun to a group session.
I feel like this is a perfect session for those who are interested in learning more about Bulgarian wine, or even just wine in general.
N/A - keep up the good work!
A journey through the beverages of Bulgaria
This project, recently born and carried on by these two guys passionate about history and wine, is a journey through Bulgarian culture, the slightly lesser-known side.
Ivo, our guide, told us the history of wine in Bulgaria and showed us, on the map, the country's wine-growing regions and their respective wineries.
He then guided us with great expertise in the tasting of 5 local wines and Rakia.
The most beautiful thing about the experience? (Besides the wine) … it's much more than a tasting, it's a social moment that allows you to meet new people to form a group with while exchanging opinions on the wines just tasted.
As they say in Italy “wine brings people together”, so it was.
THANK YOU IVO
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