St. Valentine's Day is the most long-awaited holiday for lovers and the Bulgarians have a special advantage as we can combine it with Trifon Zarezan- the holiday of wine. And when there is wine, there is love. This wonderful symbiosis is felt especially strongly in the region of ​​Bulgaria’s smallest town – Melnik. In one of the most picturesque corners of south-western Bulgaria, traditions, nature and hospitality intertwine in an unforgettable experience.

Local winemakers are organizing "Open Door Days in the Wineries of the Struma Valley". This year they will be held from February 14 to 16 and include a rich program, including tastings, folklore performances and farmers' markets. Militsa Zikatanova, owner of a family winery in the village of Harsovo near Sandanski, told us why this weekend is so special:

"Our family winery in Harsovo has been open for 11 years now. And from the very beginning, every year for this holiday we organize Days of Open Doors. In the past 5-6 years, other winemakers from the region joined the initiative and together we announce the festive days for the wineries of the Struma Valley. Each winery offers a special program during the weekend, but the emphasis remains the traditional pruning of the vineyards, which symbolizes the new beginning in the winegrowing year."

The wineries in the region of Melnik, Petrich, Sandanski, Ilindentsi have prepared rich programs. For example, the winery in Harsovo will welcome its guests on February 15 with a concert of famous folklore singer Nikolina Chakardakova, while educational tours of the winery will be organized every half an hour. In the village, there will be a folklore festival, a farmers' market, etc. In other wineries, there will be folk dances, performances and traditional dishes, accompanied by the best wines of the region.

Love and wine have always been connected and in the wineries of Melnik this connection is felt even stronger. The wineries here are not just a place for tasting, but a place for romantic gestures, especially on Valentine's Day.

"We have already witnessed several marriage proposals in our winery and for several years we have been holding weddings in the summer,” Militsa Zikatanova says. And the best thing is when a young couple is inspired by the beautiful view as we have a 360-degree view of the vineyards, Pirin and Belasitsa. They make their step towards a new life together and after some time they return to us with a baby stroller."

When there is wine, people share emotions, dreams, think about love and things happen quite naturally, says Militsa, adding that guests also come because of the wonderful opportunities for relaxation and walks in the surroundings.

"We have a very nice map called "Melnik Wine Routes". In it we have marked all the producers in the region who have wineries open for visits, as well as the main tourist sites - Heraclea Sintica, Rozhen Monastery, Rupite. The region offers not only wine, but also spa centers, opportunities for paragliding and mountain hiking. This is a place where you can spend not just a weekend, but a whole week and experience something new every day," Militsa says.

• St. Trifon Zarezan, a day that begins with the pruning of vines and ends with the drinking of wine

And for those who are still hesitating how to celebrate Trifon Zarezan and Valentine's Day, the Melnik wineries have prepared the best offer - a tasting of local wine varieties, including Broad-leaved Melnik Vine, Melnik 55 and Sandanski Misket. The weekend of February 14-16 will be filled with taste, aroma and warmth, as: "Whoever says wine, says love!".

Read also:

• Small group tours, higher prices and boutique experience - a rising trend in Bulgarian wine tourism

• Taking a break with wine, spa and adventures – the perfect weekend combination

• Where Thracian legends meet cutting edge winemaking technologies

Publication in English: Al. Markov

Photos:villamelnik.com, Facebook /Wine Routes Melnik, Villa Melnik Winery