I will be in Sofia very briefly -- 2 nights -- in late January. I am a wine geek and always look into local wine culture during my travels. Unfortunately, I will not have the time to get to Melnik or any other wine growing region, so I'll have to rely on what I can find/taste in Sofia. I have two questions:

1.Can you recommend good wine stores (with address &
phone number) where I could purchase high-end, preferably boutique Bulgarian wines made from indigenous grape varieties, i.e. I am not interested in carting back Bulgarian Cabernet &
Chardonnay wannabes, no matter how good!

2. Can you recommend good wine bars (or restaurants with good Bulgarian wine lists) where I can sample some of your country's better bottles, again made from indigenous Bulgarian grapes.

Thanks in advance for your help!

niloc36

I think Chris maybe the one to help answer this one, I'm sure he will be along soon. Sorry I can't help and good luck. You may wish to introduce yourself in the introduction forum? its alway best.

Try here its the best one I know of

[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

Translated with google

[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] ... ations.php

You could also try searching here [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

Here is a good list

Bulgaria’s Top 20 Wines

Bulgaria’s top 20 wines were selected in a historical competition – a first of its kind in the country, organized by Bacchus Magazine.

See the list below.

With the establishment of the yearly contest Wine of the Year, Bacchus magazine – Bulgaria’s most respected media dedicated to wine and gourmet culture, seeks to contribute to the development of the production, trade and consumption of quality wines from Bulgaria.

The competition had several rounds, starting out with a selection of the 50 Bulgarian wines which had received highest marks during regular tastings of the Bacchus Magazine. Then, a jury, consisting of three different panels made up of Bulgarian oenologists, wine traders and journalists, sommeliers and wine connoisseurs, rated the 50 wines and selected the top 20 from them. The final competition stage included an international jury, presided by legendary wine authority Steven Spurrier, which placed the wines from the first until the twentieth position.

Steven Spurrier is best known for having organised the Paris Wine Tasting of 1976, also known as the Judgment of Paris, in which French judges blind-tested French and California wines. They – to a wide surprise, rated the California ones as best in each category. This shattered the myth of France being the producer of the world’s best wines.

During the Bulgarian wines’ final competition round, in addition to the points awarded to each wine, the judges took into consideration the so-called x-factor, reflecting the wine’s individual character, its complexity, its ability to excite and be remembered. Additional considerations included the correlation between the wine’s price and quality, as well as its distribution scope – wines produced in quantities that were too large or small series of 500 bottles were not considered.

Bulgaria’s top 20 wines – with tasting notes for the first ten, were determined to be as follows. The tasting notes and other details are courtesy of Bacchus Magazine.

1. Santa Sarah Privat: coupage, 2006. Santa Sarah Wine Cellar. Opaque, alive dark ruby colour, with shades of purple. Very juicy and attractive nose, with tones of jam (plum jam), liquorice, dark chocolate, dill, bell pepper. Very fresh, juicy and harmonious with an excellent balance, melted tannins and smooth finish with a hint of a very ripe, fresh, black fruit. To be uncorked in a year or two (2010). 90 ml/48 leva (around 24 euro).

2. Roto: coupage, 2006. Terra Tangra Wine Cellar;
Opaque, lively colour, with shaded of brick-red. A complicated, complex nose with minerals, smoke, mushrooms, roasted red pepper, cedar tree, coffee, juicy black cherry, olives and pipe tobacco. The body is full, the flavour is concentrated, with very good, tight and at the same time velvet-soft tannins. The finish is spicy and juicy. A remarkable wine. To be uncorked: 2013. 91 ml/57 leva (around 28.50 euro).

3. Solitaire Elenovo Merlot: merlot, 2006. Domaine Boyar Wine Cellar. Saturated, clear ruby colour. In the nose are found mineral tones, vinyl, peppermint, fresh cassis, aronia (chokeberry), even spinach dock and earthy accents. The flavour is fresh, with a medium structure and delicate tannins, juicy and long finish, with hints of aronia smoke and peppermint. To be uncorking: 2011. 50 leva (around 25 euro).

4. Maxxima Private Reserve: coupage, 2003. Maxxima Cellars. Opaque, dark-ruby colour, with soft red-cherry shades. A compelling, complicated nose with juicy aromas of black forest fruits jam, red pepper, piquant spices, asphalt tones, eucalyptus, cocoa, butters and minerals. The flavour is powerful, smooth and tight, with a very attractive flavour aroma of pepper, minerals, soil and juicy red fruits. Very long and spicily dry, with tobaccos, sweet spices and minerals. To be uncorked: 2011. 27 leva (around 13.50 euro).

5. Nobile Rubin: rubin, 2006. Logodaj Wine Cellar. Very saturated, ink colour with shades of cherry. A restrained, but exceptionally classy nose with minerals, juicy fruits, exotic spices, balsamic notes. Lively, rounded, juicy and fresh, with a very good balance and a grainy stracture. Long, spicy, with minerals, asphalt tone and roasted meat at the finish.20 leva (around 10 euro)

6. Terra Tangra Cuvee: coupage, 2006: Terra Tangra Wine Cellar. Dark ruby colour with garnet glimmers. The nose is of medium intensity with a liqueur of red fruits, mushrooms, soil (earth), linden tree, tea, tar. Juicy and fresh flavour, with a medium body and very delicate tannins. The finish is elegant, fresh and spicy. To be uncorked: 2010. 17 leva (8.50 euro).

7. Question Mark: coupage, 2006. Katarzyna Wine Cellar. Intense, lively colour with a fresh red-cherry shade. Of the nose, certain development is caught with jam from black and red forest fruits, burnt sugar, butter, smoke, walnut foliage and cocoa. The flavour is medium to full-bodied, juicy and with good concentration of delicate tannins. The finish is long, spicy, with smoke, dark chocolate and dry leaves. To be uncorked: 2009. 41 leva (arund 20.50 euro).

8. Enira Reserva: coupage, 2006. Bessa Valley Wine Cellar. Very saturated, dark garnet colour. The nose is rich and has the character of a classy cabernet: black cherry, roasted bell pepper, dill, butter, vanilla, coffee. Soft, harmonious, juicy flavour with very delicate tannins and a good structure. A long, punchy finish. 42 leva (around 21 euro).

9. Terra Tangra Grand Reserva: coupage, 2006. Terra Tangra Wine Cellar. Medium intense ruby with soft cherry shades. A mature nose with a roasted plum, cinnamon, mulberry, coffee. A soft freshness, elegant, with a sweet milk chocolate and fruits coated with sugar. The finish is of an average length. 24 leva (12 euro).

10. Vinissimo American Barrel: cabernet coupage, 2006: Rachev and Son Wine Cellar. A saturated, clear ruby colour. Mineral tones are found in the nose, as are vinyl, peppermint, fresh black currant, even spinach dock and earthy accents. The flavour is fresh, with a medium structure and delicate tannins, a juicy and long finish, in which the taste of aronia, smoke and peppermint remains. 18 leva (aroud 9 euro).

11. Levent Grand Selection Merlot, 2006. Ruse Wine Cellar.
12. Encore, 2007. Katarzyna Wine Cellar.
13. Via Diagonalis, 2007. Castra Rubra Wine Cellar.
14. Santa Sarah Bin 41 Merlot, 2007. Santa Sarah Wine Cellar.
15. Uniqato Rubin, 2006. Damianitsa Wine Cellar.
16. eau de Val Cuvee Trophy, 2007. eau de Val Wine Cellar
17. Minkov Brothers Cuvee, 2007. Sis Industries.
18. Rubaiyat Chardonnay, 2006. Ruse Wine Cellar.
19. Levent Grand Selection Chardonnay, 2007. Ruse Wine Cellar.
20. Santa Sarah Snow Wine, 2005. Santa Sarah and Villa Lyubimets.

In addition to the top 20 wines, the Bacchus Magazine awarded wines in five other categories as part of its competition. They included:

Best Bulgarian Red Wine for 2008: Santa Sarah Privat, 2006. Santa Sarah Wine Cellar (placed first in the overall ranking)

Best Bulgarian White Wine for 2008: eau de Val Cuvee Trophy, 2007. eau de Val Wine Cellar (placed in 16th place in the overall ranking)

Best Bulgarian Sparkling Wine for 2008: EM Brut Metodo Classico, 2005. Edoardo Miroglio Wine Cellar (placed in the top 50 in the overall ranking)

Best Bulgarian Rosé for 2008: Svishtov Gorchivka Rose, 2007. Vinprom Svishtov Wine Cellar (placed in the top 50 in the overall ranking)

Best Bulgarian Dessert Wine for 2008: Santa Sarah Snow Wine, 2005. Santa Sarah and Villa Lyubimets (placed in 20th place in the overall ranking).

Thank you for taking part on our forum but could you please introduce yourself in the New Member Introduction section, just tell us something about yourself. This is a nice friendly forum and you will get some nice welcomes.

Tony (Mod)

Plenty of decent places in Sofia but then it depends on your budget and what your actually looking for? we all have different tastes.

I have been to this one:
[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

It's located outside of the city centre itself in the 'bustling' area of Lozenetz.

Good choice of wine (Bulgarian and Italian).

As Tony (another Mod) asked, please be kind enough to introduce yourself in our 'New Member' section here:
[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

where our Members can say Hello!

I agree with Chris this is a great place and its not to up market or too down either.

Chris wrote:

I have been to this one:
[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

It's located outside of the city centre itself in the 'bustling' area of Lozenetz.

Good choice of wine (Bulgarian and Italian).

As Tony (another Mod) asked, please be kind enough to introduce yourself in our 'New Member' section here:
[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

where our Members can say Hello!

I see we have yet another who ignores requests for introduction, this members last visit was yesterday

Davshaz wrote:- I see we have yet another who ignores requests for introduction, this members last visit was yesterday

It makes you wonder Davshaz, if people who ignore the invite to introduce themselves if they have something to hide ::

Hi did intro today here viewtopic.php?f=18&
t=6359

Here is a good book that you may like ? [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] ... ne&
f=false and a good website [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]