Destination Danube - Bulgaria Travel

Wineand CuisineCulinary traditions and wine culture are an integral part ofthe identity of Bulgaria. Wine production here has a longerhistory than the Bulgarian state itself. It is a historicalfact that in the lands of the Thracians, who inhabited theterritory of modern Bulgaria, wine was part of everydaylife and pagan rituals. Archaeological findings only serveto confi rm the information we have from Homer andHerodotus. More importantly, despite the vicissitudes ofhistory, some Thracian grape varieties have survived tothe present day. Original wines from the Danube plain are:Pamid, Gamza and Miscet (Temenuga). Pelin (wormwood)is perhaps closest to the ancient tradition and often usesmore than 30 different herbs in its ageing process!Since 2000 the Bulgarian wine industry has been achievinggreat results. In 2010 alone 19 Bulgarian wines receivedan International Wine Challenge Award and another 26won Decanter Awards.The emergence of Bulgarian wine tourism is already areality, and the first hotels and guesthouses have alreadybeen built next to major wineries where Bulgaria producessome of its best wines, and the next step is to createthemed wine tours. The world’s newest Wine Museumopened in Pleven in 2008. It houses a collection of morethan 7,000 bottles of Bulgarian wines, some of them agedup to 90 years.The excellent conditions for agriculture, together with thevariety of peoples and cultures that have passed throughBulgaria have played a significant role in the wine cultureand today’s national cuisine, which is rich in regional flavours. Bulgarians share with neighbouring Greeks, Turks,Serbs and Romanians a true cultural treasure of commondishes. Although in terms of product denomination andcertifi cation of origin Bulgaria is still behind, there are manyexamples of local specialties that bear all the characteristicsof a single brand. In many cases the amazing varietyof herbs determines the taste and aroma of the dishes(Bulgaria ranks third in the world in the export of herbs).There is no more famous culinary product associated withBulgaria than Bulgarian yogurt. It is known worldwide, andBulgaria is the true habitat of the ‘Lactic bacteria’ which isan indispensable source of health! Since 2001 they celebrateNational Yogurt Day in Razgrad. Another Bulgarian championis Shopska salad, closely followed by the Bulgarian ruralorganic tomatoes and Banitsa cheese pie in all its regionalvariations. A unique cooking contest is held every year at thevillage of Banitsa, between Vratsa and the Danube.35% of all Bulgarian wines areproduced on the Danube plain.The most renown vineyards areMagura and Lyaskovo (sparklingwines), Vidinska Gamza, Lopushna,Oryahovo, Leventa (Ruse), Pleven,Svishtov, Suhindol, Targovishte…15