Excellent local wines, friendly people, and Plovdiv's rustic ambience combine for a perfect mix if you wish to enjoy a delicious glass of wine. Fortunately for travelers and locals alike, Plovdiv has a growing number of locations to enjoy superb wine and food. Plovdiv's history and culture, as well as its music, entertainment, and cultural events, are gaining popularity. A thriving food and wine scene is following the city's current trajectory of growth and quality.

Experiencing history and culture with fine wine and delicious cuisine. Plovdiv and the surrounding region are a wine lover's dream. The Maritsa River region is where the greatest winemakers cultivated their grape types 5,000 years ago, and these wines were acclaimed by numerous chroniclers during antiquity. Plovdiv is the ideal location for a genuinely unforgettable cuisine experience. The city is a popular tourist destination and an excellent starting place for wine and traditional culinary trips. Travelers seeking gastronomic experiences will appreciate the mix of great wines, friendly people, and the relaxed ambience of wine bars and wine tasting establishments in Plovdiv's Kapana Creative District, Old Town, and other prominent areas.

There are several options, ranging from classic high-end restaurants with polished decor to intimate, romantic places. Whatever tourists pick - gourmet cuisine or homestyle meals - it will be complimented by a diverse wine list from the country's largest wine area. Aside from its history and culture, Plovdiv is becoming well-known for its culinary festivals and as a destination for wine and gastronomy experiences. Every year, the city plays home to a number of major events, including the International Exhibition of Viticulture and Wine Production - Vinaria, the Wine and Gourmet Festival (in May), and the Young Wine Festival (during November). Plovdiv has held some of the world's most prominent events, including the Digital Wine Communications Conference, Concours Mondial de Bruxelles, and Concours Mondial de Bruxelles Spirits Selection.

Location: Bulgaria

The Alentejo wine area, located between the Algarve and Lisboa regions, encompasses more than 30% of Portugal and is the biggest in the country. It is noteworthy not just in size, but also in wine production and the ongoing legacy of Talha's millenary wines. The region is divided into eight subregions, each with a multitude of delectable foods, fine wine, and sensory-pleasing tourism experiences. Alentejo has something for everyone, from vineyards that reach to the horizon to mountain ranges and beaches.

The Alentejo wine area was first recognized across Portugal for its cork production. This began to change in the 1980s, when the European Union offered funds to Alentejo wine cooperatives in order for them to create high-quality wines. The assistance of EU financing resulted in a winemaking renaissance in Alentejo, bringing innovations to an area with millenary wine traditions. As a result, by 2020, the wine area will produce the majority of the country's premium Portuguese wines.

The Alentejo wine region's sunny villages protect the old art of Talha winemaking. Talha Wine is a living tradition that dates back over 2000 years. This unique custom has been passed down from generation to generation, and Talha wines are still made in clay Amphoras, just as they were in Ancient Roman times. While Georgia is known for its ancient winemaking and amphora wines, Portugal is the only country with an appellation dedicated just to amphora wines. Vinho de Talha complements white Alentejo wines with natural scents, minerality, and a rich golden color with an orange tint. Red Alentejo wines have a deep purple hue with powerful scents of red and black fruit.

White wines from the Alentejo region have a strong structure and are full-bodied. These wines have a very fragrant character. White wines from the Alentejo wine area have notes of oranges, lime, lemongrass, lemon, rose, basil, and tangerine. These Alentejo wines are notable for their mild acidity. The Alentejo wine area is known for its white, rosé, and red wines. The red wines produced in the Alentejo wine area are generally prepared by combining a variety of varietals. They can be described as full-bodied, color-rich wines with just the right amount of acidity. The tannin and alcohol levels in Alentejo red wines are perfectly balanced.

Location: Portugal

The Douro Valley is one of the world's most distinctive and attractive wine areas. Vines on high slopes are split by the flowing Douro River, which is located 90 minutes east of Porto in northern Portugal. Beginning approximately 1750, valley winemakers invented Port, a sweet red wine fortified with brandy. The barrels were then carried onto boats and transported downriver to Porto for storage and bottling. Then, in the 1960s, the region began to witness some contemporary developments, such as highways connecting Porto and Douro and the production of table wine. Because of these two elements, the Douro Valley is easily accessible to visitors and wine enthusiasts of various tastes.

From Porto, there are three ways to get to the Douro: car, train, or boat. We recommend hiring a car because it is necessary to travel about in the Douro. The train is the next best choice. If you're driving, try not to get distracted by the breathtaking landscape. The roads are narrow, and the incline is high, so you'll need all of your concentration here. The Douro Valley is a 95-mile length that begins at Peso de Regua and finishes at the Spanish border. Grapes begin to grow considerably further west in the Vinho Verde region; because this location is closer to the ocean and much colder than the torrid Douro Valley, you'll find more white wine makers here.

Do yourself a favor and start your journey to the Douro with these nicely balanced and expressive Vinho Verde wines. Tony, the proprietor, is quite charming, and their wines are among our favorites in the valley. They make white wines from their estate and reds from Douro grapes. If time allows, you can even arrange to spend a few nights on the vineyards.

Another little producer that people adore is located a bit further east, towards Peso de Regua, but still in Vinho Verde. The property dates back hundreds of years and even has vines that predate phylloxera! The service is excellent, and the staff will walk you through their light and approachable (though very distinguished) wine list. While you're waiting for your flight, request a walking tour.

Location: Portugal

Tuscan wine (Italian Toscana) is a kind of Italian wine produced in the Tuscany area. Tuscany, located in central Italy along the Tyrrhenian coast, is home to some of the world's most famous wine regions. Sangiovese grapes are used to make Chianti, Brunello di Montalcino, and Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, and Vernaccia grapes are used to make white Vernaccia di San Gimignano. Tuscany is also known for the dessert wine Vin Santo, which is manufactured from a type of grapes native to the region. Tuscany has 41 Denominazioni di Origine Controllata (DOC) and 11 Denominazioni di Origine Controllata e Garantita (DOCG).

In the 1970s, a new category of wines known as "Super Tuscans" arose. These wines were produced outside of DOC/DOCG rules yet were of excellent quality and commanding high prices. Many of these wines went on to become cult classics. Many of the original Super Tuscans now qualify as DOC or DOCG wines due to the reformation of the Italian classification system (such as the new Bolgheri label), while other producers prefer the declassified ranks or the Toscana Indicazione Geografica Tipica (IGT) designation. Today, Tuscany offers six sub-categories of IGT wines.

Tuscany is a region in central Italy that extends from the Apennines to the Tyrrhenian Sea. Tuscany is an undisputed leader in worldwide tourism thanks to its beauty, artistic legacy, and standout cities, most notably Florence. Nature has numerous faces in this region, beginning with the shore, which varies between long and sandy beaches, such as the Versilia beach, and rocky cliffs and high headlands. The Tuscan Archipelago's islands are unparalleled, surrounded by Mediterranean greenery, a crystal-clear water, and rich seabeds. The Apuan Alps and various protected areas, like the Orbetello Lagoon, provide views of unspoiled nature and are home to several kinds of migrating birds, including pink egrets.

Location: Italy

The Champagne wine region in northeastern France is best known for the production of champagne, the sparkling white wine that carries the region's name. Most nations' and the EU's rules limit the word "champagne" only for wines from this area, which is around 160 kilometers (100 miles) east of Paris. The area's commercial centers are the cities of Reims and Épernay. Reims is well-known for its cathedral, which served as the site of the coronation of the French monarchs and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The history of the Champagne wine region, located on the northern outskirts of France, has played an important part in the creation of this distinctive terroir. The region's proximity to Paris aided its economic success in the wine trade, but it also placed the towns and vineyards in the line of moving troops on their route to the French capital. Despite the frequency of these military conflicts, the region established a reputation for high-quality wine production in the early Middle Ages and was able to maintain that reputation when the region's producers began producing sparkling wine with the arrival of the great champagne houses in the 17th and 18th centuries. Chardonnay, Pinot noir, and Pinot Meunier are the main grapes farmed in the region.

In the 17th century, the peculiar chalky topography of the Champagne wine region and the consequent agro-industrial system led to the creation of sparkling wines such as champagne. As a result, several of the region's production sites and wineries were added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2015 as part of the Champagne slopes, homes, and cellars site.

Location: France

Eger wine area is a wine region in Hungary's north-eastern region. It is well-known for its red blend, Egri Bikavér, as well as various whites such as Egri Leányka, Debri Hárslevel, and Egerszóláti Olaszrizling. The town of Eger serves as its epicenter. Eger and its environs are a well-known historical wine area. For about a thousand years, the locals have been active in grape and wine cultivation, producing wines such as Egri Bikavér, Egri Leányka, Debri Hárslevel, Egri Chardonnay, Egri Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon, Egri Merlot, Egri Kékfrankos, and Kékmedoc. Following the government shift, the Eger wine area saw unprecedented growth.

The town had an important role in the early centuries of the Hungarian Middle Ages: one of the greatest bishoprics had its seat in the castle, to which not only Heves County, but the whole north-eastern half of the nation belonged. The commencement and growth of winegrowing may be attributed to the church's key, controlling role, as wine is an essential component of church rites. The king's proclamation required tenths and tithes from winegrowing to be paid to the church and worldly organizations. The earliest cellars were constructed to house the tithe. Serbs fleeing the Turks carried with them the method of fermentation sur marc, red wine production, and the Kadarka type.

The area of the vinelands has increased greatly due to the re-planting of old and new kinds in the finest productive zones (Nagy-Eged, Pajdos). The AOC system, which is used in established, western wine cultures, has been implemented. In addition to the one big state winemaking firm, the emergence and growth of several hundred medium- and small-sized wine-companies has substantially increased the quality of the wine region's wines. Despite the fact that the oldest wine cellars date back over 400 years, new caves are continuously being carved even today.

Location: Hungary

Catalan wines are those produced in Catalonia's wine regions. The appellation is occasionally given to French wine produced in the Catalan region of Roussillon and adjacent territories, often known as Northern Catalonia or the Pays Catalans. Barcelona is Catalonia's capital, and despite not being in a wine region (though a portion of the Penedès is in the greater comarca of Barcelona), it is the focal point of the Catalan wine industry: a primary consumer market, its port serves as an export function, and it is a source of financial resources and investment. The Penedès is Catalonia's largest wine-producing area.

The region has a long winemaking history, and the sparkling wine Cava was established in the early 1870s in Sant Sadurn d'Anoia by Josep Raventós of Codorniu Winery. The Catalan wine industry was at the vanguard of Spain's rise as a world leader in quality wine production at the start of the twentieth century, being the first Spanish wine area to employ stainless steel fermentation tanks. The region is also a significant cork production location, with output mostly geared towards the region's Cava establishments. Catalonia is now Spain's second-largest wine producer, with about 5.5 million hectolitres produced.

Catalan wines include sparkling Cava, dry white wines, and robust reds known as "black" wine or vi negre in Catalan because of the color of the vine. The region's grapes include Cava and white wine varietals Macabeo, Parellada, and Xarello, as well as red wine grapes Garnacha, Monastrell, and Tempranillo known as Ull de Llebre in Catalan. Sparkling white wine production is the greatest contribution to the Catalan wine sector, followed by still red wine production and finally still whites. While Cava blends account for the majority of the region's wines, various varietal wines are also produced.

Location: Spain

The Piedmont wine region should be at the top of your list of places to visit in Italy, especially if you enjoy both cuisine and wine. Take advantage of the region's bustling towns, gorgeous rural landscapes, and refined gastronomy, which includes everything from rice to white truffles and world-class wines. Piedmont is located in Italy's northwest quarter. The region is one of the most significant wine producing regions in the country, and it is well-known for the production of Barolo and Barbaresco wines. Aside from its excellent reputation in wine production, the Piedmont wine region has much more to offer.

Turin's thriving modern art and electronic music scene is rounded off by exquisite mountain hiking routes, rural villages, and valleys that may be home to Italy's greatest red and white truffles. The UNESCO World Heritage Site includes five separate wine-growing districts in Piedmont with magnificent scenery and castles. The Piedmont vineyards, located between the Alps and the Apennines, are without a doubt one of the most significant wine-growing regions not only in Italy, but also in the world. The Piedmont wine region has boundaries with Liguria and Lombardy in Italy, while the Alps provide a natural boundary with the Provence area in France. The variety of Nebbiolo from which the wines Barolo, Barbaresco, and Roero are made ensures the region's prominence.

The community roughly 15 kilometers southwest of Alba is named after the famed Barolo wine. For some years, the traditional style has taken a back seat as its wines require an average of more than ten years to produce aromas of black cherries and spicy notes, and the powerful tannin structure progressively broadens. Modern Barolos, which are largely aged in oak barrels and have fewer tannins due to a substantially shorter maceration period, may be drunk after the vintage is released, even if they can be stored for more than 15 years.

Location: Italy

The Rhone wine region in Southern France is located in the Rhone valley and produces a wide range of wines under several Appellations d'origine contrôlée (AOC) labels. Côtes du Rhône AOC is the region's most important appellation in terms of production volume. The Rhône is separated into two sub-regions, the Northern Rhône and the Southern Rhône, each having its own vinicultural heritage. The northern sub-region provides red wines made from the Syrah vine, which is often combined with up to 20% white wine grapes, as well as white wines made from the Marsanne, Roussanne, and Viognier grapes. The southern sub-region produces a wide range of red, white, and rosé wines, many of which are mixes of various grapes, like at Châteauneuf-du-Pape.

When the Romans left, there was no longer any interest in the region's wine. When the Popes and their immense purchasing power relocated to Avignon in the 13th century, wine production increased dramatically. The wines were so heavily trafficked that the Duke of Burgundy prohibited the import and export of non-Burgundian wines.

Over 6,000 wine producing properties, including 1,837 individual wineries and 103 cooperatives, produce the diverse AOC wines of the Rhône Valley area. Vineyard owners who do not vinify their own wines sell their grapes in quantity to a winemaking cooperative, such as Cellier des Dauphins, or to one of the 51 négociants (wine makers and merchants) who mix, distribute, and export on a large scale. Every year, the Rhône area produces around 4 million hl of wine, more than half of which is designated as Côte du Rhône and Côte du Rhône-Villages. The famous Northern Rhône appellations produce fewer than 5% of all Rhône wines.

Location: France

Grapevines appear to have been introduced to Istria by the Fenicians and Greeks. The Histri, the native settlers at the time, successfully nurtured this fine vine and mastered wine making. The tradition goes that the Argonauts, famed Greek seamen in quest of the Golden Fleece, yelled kalavojna, which loosely translates from Greek as fine wine. Where? On the eastern coast of Istria, at a location along the Bay of Raa that still maintains that name.

What has made Istria synonymous with fine wine? Man's labor, of course, but it's the natural traits that ensure high-quality grapes. These include position, soil, climate, and relief, since each adds to the allure of fine wine to varying degrees. On the Istrian peninsula, there are two primary types of soil suited for wine production: red soil (terra rossa) and marly soil or flysh, often known as white soil. According to experts, the red soil is suitable for high-quality red variety plantings (producing powerfully structured, full-bodied wines), whilst the flysh soil is ideal for white varieties, providing mellow wines that preserve their freshness as well as the delicate scent. Istria's hilly territory with moderate slopes is perfect for winegrowing, especially slopes exposed to the sun, where the larger variation between day and night temperature contributes to the future wine's distinctive strength.

Location: Croatia

Santorini is a Greek wine area located on the Santorini archipelago in Greece's southern Cyclades islands. Wine has been produced on the island since antiquity, but it was during the Middle Ages, thanks to the influence of the Republic of Venice, that Santorini wine became recognized internationally. The Italian influence may still be found in current Santorini winemaking: the most renowned Tuscan sweet wine, Vin Santo, is named after Santorini's Vinsanto/Visanto (labeled such to differentiate it from the Tuscan wine). It is produced in the passito manner from sun-dried grapes after harvest. Santorini also makes blended and rosé wine from white grapes including Athiri, Aidini, and Assyrtiko, as well as red grapes like Mandelari.

Santorini wines were widely exported throughout the Mediterranean and Europe under Venetian dominance, with this enormous commercial network and marine control. Because of its sweetness and high alcohol content, the wine was especially coveted for its ability to endure the month-long sea trips. Santorini wines were so highly regarded during this period that when the Ottoman Turks invaded the region in 1579, they continued to allow the uninterrupted commerce of the wine despite the fact that their Muslim faith normally prohibited alcohol. When the Russian Orthodox Church designated Santorini wine as the church's official Eucharistic wine, the Ottomans permitted the island's growers to trade freely with Russia, even throughout the two empires' repeated battles.

Santorini is most renowned for its indigenous white grape varietals Assyrtiko, Athiri, and Aidani, while there are also wines made from foreign species as well as indigenous red grapes such as Mandilaria and Mavrotragano. Around 1,200 hectares of land are under vine, but the continual conflict with Santorini's tourism sector threatens to reduce this limited amount even more.

Location: Greece

Mosel is one of 13 German wine areas known for producing high-quality wines, and it gets its name from the Mosel River. Prior to 1 August 2007, the region was known as Mosel-Saar-Ruwer, but it was renamed to a more consumer-friendly moniker. The wine area is Germany's third biggest in terms of production, but some consider it to be the most prestigious on the international stage.

The region encompasses the Mosel, Saar, and Ruwer valleys from near the Mosel's mouth at Koblenz upwards to the neighborhood of Trier in the federal state of Rhineland-Palatinate. The steep slopes of the region's vineyards facing the river are well-known. The steepest known vineyard in the world is the Calmont vineyard on the Mosel, which belongs to the hamlet of Bremm and is hence referred to as Bremmer Calmont. The Mosel is most known for its Riesling wines, although Elbling and Müller-Thurgau also contribute to the region's output.

Red wine production, particularly from Spätburgunder, has surged in the Mosel and throughout Germany over the last two decades, piqued the worldwide wine community's attention. Because of the Mosel's northern position, Riesling wines are frequently light, with lower alcohol content, sharp acidity, and "flowery" notes rather than or in addition to "fruity" scents. Its most prevalent vineyard soil is formed mostly from various types of slate deposits, which tend to give the wines a clear, mineralic look, with remarkable depth of flavor.

Location: Germany

The Tokaj wine area is a historically significant wine region in northeastern Hungary and southeastern Slovakia. It is also one of Hungary's seven largest wine districts. Hegyalja means "foothills" in Hungarian, and this was the region's original name. The region is made up of 28 named communities and 11,149 hectares of categorized vineyards, 5,500 of which are currently planted. Tokaj Wine Region Historic Cultural Landscape was designated as a World Heritage Site in 2002. Its popularity, however, predates this distinction because it is the birthplace of Tokaji asz wine, the world's oldest botrytized wine. Because to the Treaty of Trianon, Slovakia currently owns a lesser portion of the ancient wine area.

Tokaj wine is a premium product with a significant attraction to the worldwide market due to its distinct flavour. The conflict began in 1964, when the then-Czechoslovakia shipped its enormous output of Tokaj wine to Austria, a market that had hitherto been supplied entirely by Hungary. The conflict of interests was resolved by a bilateral agreement in which Slovakia was only permitted to sell its excess Tokaj wine to Hungary at the expense of a Czech beer-related concession on the side of Hungary.

The Hungarian and Slovak governments achieved an agreement in June 2004 on the usage of the Tokaj name in Slovakia. This arrangement allows wine produced on 5.65 km2 of land in Slovakia to bear the Tokaj name. However, the Slovak side failed to follow through on their legally bound commitment to implement the same requirements contained in Hungarian wine regulations since 1990. It is yet to be determined who will monitor and enforce these laws. The disagreements prompted Slovakia to join an international litigation over the brand name "Tokaji" filed by Hungary and five other nations (Italy, France, Australia, Serbia, and Slovenia).

Location: Hungary

Lavaux is a wine appellation in the western Swiss canton of Vaud, located on the northern banks of Lake Geneva, also known as Lac Léman locally. This region, which is on the lake's eastern shore, is noted for making steely white wines, mostly from the Chasselas grape, also known as "Fendant" across the country. The Lavaux appellation has 760 hectares of vineyard that runs along the lakefront from Lausanne to Montreux and farther east. Lavaux borders the commune of Villeneuve and the larger Chablais appellation, which marks the beginning of the Rhône valley, at its eastern end. The Valais wine region is around 35 kilometers upstream.

La Cote, on the western side of Lausanne, has vineyards that are mainly south-facing and view the lake and the Alps beyond. While the vines in Lavaux are visually comparable to those in northern Burgundy, they have more in common with traditional German wine areas such as the Mosel. The hillsides here are so steep that substantial terracing is required, rising immediately up from the lakefront. The tallest vineyards stand 350m above the lake and are among the steepest in the world, rivaling even the Mosel's most vertiginous.

This UNESCO World Heritage Site's grapes are spread on terraces between Lausanne and Montreux. The steeply inclined vineyards provide breathtaking vistas of Lake Geneva and the Alps. This is a beautiful place to walk. You may organize a trip from one end of the wine area to the other, stopping at several vineyards along the way. Those opinions are surely worthwhile!

Location: Switzerland