site.btaMelnik Wineries to Hold Open Days February 17 - 19

The traditional Open Days of the wineries of Melnik will be held on the weekend of February 17-19, marking the Feast Day of vine-growers' patron saint, St Tryphon Zarezan, the Bulgarian Association of Independent Winegrowers said on Wednesday.

Wineries in the southwestern region of Melnik open their doors to visitors who will be able to take part in ritual vine pruning, winery tours, tastings of new vintages, outdoor music and dance programmes focusing on local culture, wine and food. The shared mission of the winegrowers of Melnik is to promote high quality wine of local and international varieties and wine tourism opportunities in the region.

The "Melnik Wine Routes" map has been created for the convenience of visitors to the region. It includes all the main wine sites plus other tourist attractions in the region: the towns of Melnik, Sandanski and Petrich, the Rozhen Monastery, the villages of Rupite and Zlatolist, the ancient city of Heraclea Sintica, Samuil's Fortress, spa and mineral baths.