We will take you on a trip north of the Balkan Range, to the small town of Lyaskovets, at the foot of the Arbanassi Plateau, both in the close vicinity of Bulgaria’s old medieval capital of Veliko Tarnovo. This is one of Bulgaria’s oldest settlements, whose population has for centuries been engaged in vine growing and wine making. 

Many ancient documents testify to that fact, as well as the recently discovered Roman grape-press device used in the making of wine. The grape press dates back to the 3rd century. Lyaskovets is also the place where one of the first viticulture associations in Bulgaria was inaugurated. The year was 1863. Later, in 1955, local producers were the first in Bulgaria to start making the naturally sparkling wine under a classical French technology. Lyaskovets was the place where in 1959 the first factory was opened for the bottling of stabilized wine brands. The rich past and the traditions of the region in the making of wine and the growing of vines can be seen at the “Vinprom-Lyaskovets” Museum. The romantic flavor of this ancient occupation can even be felt better in a legend local people pass on from generation to generation.

“Lyaskovets Monastery is overhanging the town perched on a steep rock above it. The rock has become a symbol of the strong and persistent spirit of the people from Lyaskovets, “ tells the story Yordanka Golakova, wine-tourism organizer from “Vinprom-Lyaskovets”. Legend has it that the first vines in the locality of Lyaskovets sprang to life from the tears of Princess Tamara, the sister of Bulgarian King Ivan Shishman, who gave her in marriage to Turkish Sultan Murhad. The legend has been interpreted by local masters in a wall-carpet, kept to this day in the St. St. Peter and Paul Monastery. It shows how Murhad is taking Tamara away. The night before, the Princess stood at the verge of the rock where the monastery was later built, with the intention to jump and put an end to her life. But her sense of duty to the people and her responsibility to her brother overtook and she decided to make this self-sacrifice in the name of the better future of the Bulgarians. Then she shed amber-like tears that rolled down the rock and fell on the flat ground below to give birth to the first vines in the place.”

In the winery guests can learn more about production processes and if they happen to be visiting in September, they can even take part in the grape-picking ritual. Yet the most unforgettable memories they derive from the wine tasting in the cellars, among burning candles and huge barrels made of the special Stranja Oak.  There visitors can taste the youngest and the oldest wines. Wine-makers know that with every tasting of wine human contacts are very important and in order to be able to unveil the magic of this divine drink you need to know the subtleties of human soul. Yordanka Golakova is the right person to introduce guests to the magic of Lyaskovets wines, as she adds to their taste the mystery of ancient legends and stories, sayings and proverbs related to the vines and wine, as well as stories about the culture and every-day life of local people. According to her wine is like a woman – you have to caress it to make it tell its story, while man is like the cork; if the cork is not good enough, the entire bottle gets spoiled.

“We give our guests the opportunity to taste very old wines that have to be passed through a decanter first. That is, you have to separate the sediment first in order to show their quality at its best. In the right conditions for this process, we let one of the guests, someone who shows certain knowledge of wines or just someone who is especially excited about the procedure, decanter the wine. He then pours himself a glass and passes the decanter to the rest in a round, from right to left, until the vessel returns to him. So, everyone has poured himself a glass to taste, becoming part of this sanctifying-like ritual, because tasting such old wine is something you just don’t do everyday!”

The local winery has a 30-years old tradition in welcoming guests from around the world. One of them was movie star Jean-Claude van Damme and representatives of the Chancellery of Prince Charles.

“Wine tourism, just like wine itself, is true magic, the success of which depends on the ability to live the moment together, to combine the wine with the right appetizers typical of the place and the right atmosphere for guests to relax. They differ a lot – by nationality and occupation – like the professional wine-makers from Germany, Spain, France and Portugal, who come to learn the secrets of our trade and are interested in the minutest of detail, to the ordinary fans of white and red wines like the curious Japanese, and our guests from Australia, Thailand and China and many other countries the world over.”