The Wine Fair St George The Victorious is being held at the Grand Hotel Sofia from May 4 to 9.
The ambition of its organisers is for the event to become the greatest on Bulgaria’s wine calendar.
While wine fairs (there are two annual events – Vinaria in Plovdiv and Salone del Vino at Sofia’s InterExpo Centre) are more engaged with the producer – distributor relationship, this wine fair is intended to cater to consumers, wine lovers, professionals and amateurs who want to better their understanding of Bulgaria’s wine culture, and who enjoy wine tasting or buy quality, high-class wines.
The wine fair is open to all and entrance is free of charge. Visitors will have the chance to meet and talk to the biggest names in Bulgaria’s wine industry. Special guests at the event are to include representatives of Macedonia’s Tikvesh Winery, the biggest winery on the Balkans. The company Wine Spirit will present the most expensive high-class Italian wines. In addition, the largest Bulgarian wine producers and wineries will participate in the event. The programme includes wine and special cuisine tasting. On May 8, there will be a public auction of selected collector’s item Bulgarian wines and a unique St George hand-woven carpet by young designer Izabella Bankova. The funds from the auction will go to Green House Association for its project Green House – Sitovo. The project provides for the reconstruction of an old building in the Rhodope village of Sitovo, to convert it into a creative art and demonstration eco centre with craft shops and accommodation.
The Wine Fair St George The Victorious is organised by the Bulgarian Wine Society (BWS) and National Wine and Spirituous Beverages Research Institute.
Beverages Research Institute is responsible for the wineries participating in the event and for the expertise on offer at the fair. The institute has a 55-year history and conducts chemical analysis and a research and consultation service for wine producers.
Georgi Ganchev, BWS managing partner, said that the event was unique for Sofia because it was the first time that the gap between consumer and producer would be shortened in this way.
