Shopping One of my all time favourites… Whether you’re shopping for something in particular or just window shopping, Veliko Tarnovo has plenty for you! From the small and locally-owned boutiques, to the larger supermarkets and shopping centres, this town has everything you could ever want and more. Whether you are looking for an outfit for a night out in Veliko Tarnovo or a gift for a friend you can guarantee you will most certainly find it in town. The town centre is the main shopping area on Vasil Levski Street and Nezavisimost Street. If you’re looking for the freshest, tastiest fruits and vegetables, the town market is the place for you located on the corner Nikola Gabrovski Street and Bulgaria Boulevard. Behind the market you’ll find another supermarket. By now you should be spoilt for choice. Magro Market is the other supermarket along Vasil Levski Street amongst other various food stores within the area, decisions, decisions… It does not matter whether you live in Veliko Tarnovo town (click here for town properties) or in the village (see more resale properties). There are many public services and taxis which can bring you into town to come and see what [...]
Bulgarian Wine
Bulgarian Wine – a personal view. 3 . The Wine under Communist times
In the 1950′s winemaking became a “People’s Republic of Bulgaria” monopoly. This incorporated the practice of collectivisation which developed vineyards into large establishments and gradually the change into single variety plantations. This is a far cry from the little vineyards commonly found in the gardens of village houses in Bulgaria. However this enlargement plan of action and development of single variety was also essential for better quality control and introduction of quality standards. Enlargement made manual cultivation somewhat non profitable and the wide-row tall vine system of growing and training proved unsuitable or the traditional Bulgarian wine varieties. The introduction of machinery in the process forced intensive growing from the hills to the lower plains which reduced the quality of the wine as a result! During the 60′s and 70′s the wine production of Bulgariawas mainly distributed to the Soviet Union and other Eastern Bloc countries and many grape processing factories had capacities up to and in excess of 50,000 tonnes of grapes. The variety known as Rkatsiteli from Georgia became a popular white grape variety and also large areas went under Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. However at the same time some quality white grape varieties were started to be [...]
Bulgarian Wine – a personal view, 1. History
Romans and Greeks grew vines and transported wine around their respective empires in Amphora dating back to BC. Bulgaria holds a very important position in the European history of wine. Wine played a major part in the Thracian ancient culture, as important as their Gold and Silver which adorned their chariots and wine goblets alike. Bulgaria is reknowned for its Thracian gold jewelry but Homer’s Iliad refers to the “honey-sweet black wine”, which ships brought from the Thracian city of Ismarus (South Bulgaria) to the camps of the Achaeans outside Troy. Since Bulgaria was a predominant landmass in the “Palaeo-Balkan-Western Asia Minor”community, the Thracians undoubtedly played a significant role in the Greek culture, especially since the Happy God of Wine, Dionysus, originated from ancient Thrace, again according to Homer’s writings. It would appear that some of these popular Thracian wines were in fact some of the native varieties of Bulgarian wine still to be found in Bulgaria, such as; Red Misket, Dimiat, Gamza, Mavrud and the broad vine of Melnik. Gamza is particularly prevalent around Veliko Tarnovo, and many Bulgarian village houses have gardens containing vineyards of Gamza. Bulgaria continued producing wines and even the Bulgarian Khan Krum from the [...]
