Top 12 Wine Tours in Sofia

1.Wine Tasting in Heart of Sofia

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 545 reviews · 1 hour (approx.) · from $36Our pick

Meet Kalin at Tempus Vini in Sofia’s Old City Center for a one-hour tasting of five Bulgarian grape varieties: Misket, Melnik, Mavrud, Gumza, and Rubin. You’ll sample wines from small producers, sometimes including Kalin’s own bottles, with local cheeses, craft bread, and a clear introduction to Bulgaria’s wine past and present.

“Very enjoyable, small (5) gathering. Very interesting, starting from white through to red. The shop had so much variety - really enjoy the Bulgarian wines. I felt the wines of the shop owner were the most delicious.”

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2.Wine and Tapas Boutique Bulgarian Wine Tasting

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 25 reviews · 1 hour (approx.) · from $33Best value

Meet in central Sofia at Vineria Wine Bar & Shop for a guided tasting of about five or six Bulgarian boutique wines, paired with local meats, cheeses, bread, and olive oil. Lyubomir and Maria lead an informal look at Bulgarian wine, regional grapes, and the country’s wine industry. The group is limited to eight people.

“Thoughtful presentation and tasting of Bulgarian wines, including historical context and details on the origin of each bottle, with emphasis on regional emerging varieties. Two whites, an “orange”, and two reds. All extremely flavorful and enjoyable. A charcuterie plate for each guest complemented the wines very well. I recommend.”

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3.Special Selection Bulgarian Wine Tasting

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 20 reviews · 1 hour (approx.) · from $56

Meet at 6 pm on Tsar Shishman Street for a one-hour tasting hosted in English by Sofia Social Adventures. You’ll try five Bulgarian wines with traditional cold cuts and cheeses while Yohanna or Radoslav shares stories about Bulgarian wine and history in a stylish, aristocratic setting near central Sofia.

“This experience provided a great introduction to Bulgarian wine. Tried five delicious wines and enjoyed local meats and cheeses that paired well with the wines. My host, Yohanna, was very informative and personable. Highly recommend!”

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4.Sofia Wine Walk

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 18 reviews · 2 hours to 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $66

Join Pavlin Ivanov at 7 pm for a private Sofia wine walk beginning near Russian Monument Square. You’ll visit three wine-focused venues, sample Bulgarian wines, enjoy light nibbles, and hear about local winemaking, culture, and modern life. The route lasts about two to two and a half hours, with venues subject to change.

“I had a wonderful time on this experience. We walked to two small and cozy wine bars and one restaurant. Each location was very unique and not a place I would have found on my own. We sampled two wines and had some snacks at each location. Pavlin, the host, is very knowledgeable on Bulgarian wines and provided a great deal of info on the subject. But was also had a great discussion of modern Bulgaria and his personal experiences. I highly recommend this tour!”

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5.Plovdiv and Thracia Valley with Wine Tasting

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 15 reviews · 10 hours (approx.) · from $174

Travel from Sofia to Plovdiv with a guide such as Niki, Nely, Stoyan, or Victoria, explore the Old Town and Roman theater, then visit Villa Yustina in the Thracian Valley for a one-hour wine tasting. Hotel pickup, transport, and drop-off are included.

“La visita di plovdiv vecchia e la degustazione vini presso villa justina Ottima la guida Maria che nonostante il nostro poco inglese è stata molto chiara”

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6.Rila Monastery and Melnik Small Group Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 13 reviews · 11 hours (approx.) · from $36

Leave Sofia at 8 a.m. by air-conditioned minivan for Melnik’s cobbled streets, wine cellar, and sandstone pyramids, then visit UNESCO-listed Rila Monastery. An English-speaking guide leads the day, with groups capped at 15. Bring cash for Kordopulova House, plus food and drinks.

“This is my third Viator excursion and it was excellent as were the others. My small group driver Radi with Traventuria spoke excellent English, good personality, lots of interesting information. Rila Monastery and the autumn colors along the highway were outstanding! Must see.”

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7.Bulgarian Prime Cuts and Wine Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 9 reviews · 1 hour (approx.) · from $56

Meet Rado near Sofia’s Serdika metro station for an intimate one-hour tasting of four organic beef, veal, and pork cuts with premium Bulgarian wine. The setting has vintage, aristocratic character, and the conversation covers Bulgarian food, culture, and history. You’ll leave with practical suggestions for eating around Sofia.

“This was my introduction to sofia, as I had just arrived a few hours prior. Rado was fantastic. He runs a hostel and I met him at his bar area. A very cool spot w some unique artistic decor. The prime cuts and cheese were beyond amazing. The spicy sauce was so good I ended up buying his last bottle from him. He was an amazing host and gave me many enjoyable facts about bulgarian cuisine and some reccomendations on places to try. Highly reccomend this tour and I'm sure any other tours that Rado runs is also A+++!!!!”

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8.Rila Monastery and Wine Tasting Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 9 reviews · 8 hours (approx.) · from $203

Leave Sofia by air-conditioned minivan for the Rila Mountains and the UNESCO-listed Rila Monastery. Your guide, such as Georgi or Victor, explains the monastery’s art and Bulgarian past before you taste five wines at Medi Valley Winery. Hotel pickup, drop-off, guiding, and wine tasting are included.

“I really enjoyed this tour. It was me, my husband and the guide. This is a nice side tour when visiting Sofia. It gets you out of the city and you are able to explore more of Bulgaria. The Monastery was beautiful and our guide was able to explain things to us that I would have missed otherwise if I went on my own. We also had time on our own to explore. After the monastery we went to a winery, had a tour and got to taste several wines...they were tasty so we brought some home with us as a souvenir won't last long.”

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9.Plovdiv and Perushtitsa Day Trip with Wine Tasting from Sofia

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 6 reviews · 9 hours (approx.) · from $172

Leave Sofia at 9:00 a.m. for a nine-hour guided trip to Plovdiv, Perushtitsa, the Red Church, and Villa Yustina. Expect a walking tour of Plovdiv’s Old Town, early Christian architecture, Bulgarian wine, and transport for up to 15 people. Guides have included Filip, Demetri, and Maris.

“The tour was informative thanks to the tour guide, Maris is an encyclopedia of information concerning Bulgaria and other countries nearby”

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10.Rila Monastery and Melnik, Day Tour from Sofia with Pickup

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 6 reviews · 9 to 10 hours (approx.) · from $101

Travel from Sofia in a comfortable minivan with English-speaking guide Ventsislav or Ventsi. Explore Rila Monastery, Bulgaria’s great Orthodox landmark, then visit Melnik’s old houses, wine cellar, Kordopulova House, and nearby sandstone pyramids. The group is limited to seven, with hotel pickup and drop-off.

“We did a private tour to Rila Monastery and the town of Melnik. Both places are fantastic! Love the structure and architecture of Rila Monastery with so much history and learned about the paintings of the interiors of the church. Ventsi is patient to explain all the details clearly and we took nice photos of the surroundings. We made our way to Melnik and is impressed by the quiet town which speaks by itself with the traditional old stone and wooden houses. Visited a house museum and tasted some lovely Melnik wine after wandering an underground cave cellar. Highly recommended for some unique experience!”

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11.5 Days Guided Motorcycle Tour Wine, Nature and Traditions

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 4 reviews · from $599

Ride from Sofia through Koprivshtitsa, Plovdiv, the Rhodope Mountains, Melnik, Bansko, and Rila Monastery with a professional biker guide. Expect about 120 to 220 kilometers of riding each day, small groups of up to eight, local guesthouses, Bulgarian food, wine tasting, and plenty of mountain roads.

“Totally recommended! Me and eight friends did a seven day custom motorcycle tour with Adrian as guide. Bulgaria is revelation for those who have only travelled in 'western' countries. Brilliant organisation, communication, accommodation, flexibility, best-in-world biking roadRead more”

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12.Wine trip with The Jolly Vintners near Sofia

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 3 reviews · from $89

Spend about five hours near Sofia tasting local wines and traditional food beside the Iskar River and the Ritli rock formations. You will hear stories about Bulgarian grapes, local people, and old legends, then walk among ancient ruins and hills. A longer hike is available for energetic walkers. Pickup is offered, but private transport is not included.

“One exiting trip with the train to the wine valley of Jolly Vinters. Wonderful place, great hosts and day full of joy and laughter. Taste of wine and traditional meal.”

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