Wineries near Plovdiv: a tasting day with a driver

Updated: October 29, 2026

Most wineries near Plovdiv lie within 15 to 60 minutes of the city. Brestovitsa and Perushtitsa, to the south-west, are about 20 minutes away; Asenovgrad, the home of Mavrud, about 25 minutes; the Pazardzhik foothills about 45 minutes; and Starosel about 1 hour. Linking two wineries in the same direction makes a relaxed tasting day.

The Thracian plain around Plovdiv is one of Bulgaria’s main wine areas, with hot summers and the Rhodope foothills to the south. The local speciality is Mavrud, a dark, firm red grown around Asenovgrad, and you will also find Rubin, international varieties and blends. Wineries range from large estates with restaurants to small family cellars.

Wine areas around Plovdiv

Area	Direction	Drive from Plovdiv	Combines well with
Brestovitsa	South-west	about 20 min	Perushtitsa, Plovdiv Old Town
Perushtitsa	South-west	about 25 min	Brestovitsa, Krichim
Asenovgrad	South	about 25 min	Bachkovo Monastery, Asen’s Fortress
Ognyanovo and the Pazardzhik foothills	West	about 45 min	Brestovitsa on the way back
Starosel	North	about 1 h	Thracian temple, Hisarya

Ask each winery about visits before you go. Some wineries in these villages are household names, such as Todoroff in Brestovitsa or Bessa Valley near Ognyanovo; others are small estates with a tasting room open only by appointment.

Three routes for a tasting day

South-west: Brestovitsa and Perushtitsa

The shortest route. Two wineries a few kilometres apart in the foothills, with views back over the plain. Back in Plovdiv by mid-afternoon.

South: Asenovgrad and Bachkovo

Taste Mavrud in the Asenovgrad area, then drive 10 km up the gorge to Bachkovo Monastery and Asen’s Fortress. A good mix of wine and sights; see Bachkovo Monastery and Asen’s Fortress.

North: Starosel

A winery and a Thracian temple in the same village, an hour from the city. Described in Starosel winery and Thracian temple.

A sample day: Asenovgrad route

Time	Plan
10:00	Pick-up in Plovdiv
10:30	First winery near Asenovgrad: cellar and tasting
12:00	Bachkovo Monastery
13:00	Lunch by the river near the monastery
14:30	Second winery, Brestovitsa or Perushtitsa
16:15	Back in Plovdiv

Plan the order so that the larger tasting comes after lunch, not before. It makes the day more comfortable and the second winery more enjoyable.

Booking tastings

• Write or call each winery at least a few days ahead, and earlier for weekends.
• Tell them the number of people and the language you prefer.
• Ask what the tasting includes: number of wines, a cellar visit, food.
• Ask whether they can pack bottles for your flight home.

When to go

Spring and early autumn are the most pleasant seasons for a tasting day, with mild weather and green or golden vineyards. September and October are harvest time: lively, but wineries are busy, so book early. In high summer the plain around Plovdiv is very hot, and a morning tasting followed by a long lunch works better than an afternoon in the vineyards. In winter many smaller cellars open only on request.

Why a driver makes sense here

The wineries are close to Plovdiv, but not on bus routes, and most are reached by small roads between villages. With a driver everyone in the group can taste, and you can buy wine without thinking about how to carry it home. More about wine across the country is in private wine tours in Bulgaria, and other ideas from the city are in the best day trips from Plovdiv.

To book, enter Plovdiv and Asenovgrad (or your chosen area) in the form above, with the date and number of passengers, and list the wineries in the notes.