Home of local varieties
Local Bulgarian grape varieties
Local grape varieties grown here for centuries, shaped by our climate and our soils. At Зимникъ we pour them and tell their stories, in a bar by NDK in Sofia.
Our climate and our soils give local varieties a character of their own. Generations of growers have selected and refined them, and that is how a taste is born that belongs to one place.
Below are the varieties in our range. Each lists the wines from Bulgarian producers, named as they appear in our catalogue. The list follows our stock: a variety that sells out disappears from it, and a new one appears with the next delivery.
The varieties in our range
Mavrud
Wines: Мавруд / Димитрови Amortentia 2023 · Мавруд / MiniMum · Загреус · Мавруд / Фамили · Загреус · Мавруд / Петнат Розе · Загреус · Бял Мавруд / Тиара · Загреус · Мавруд · Манастира
Melnik 55 (Early Melnik Vine)
Wines: Мелник 55 / 2022 · Ая · Мелник 55 / Резерва · Виа Верде · Мелник 55 / Аплауз Резерва · Вила Мелник · Мелник 55 · Орбелия
A local variety, a cross between Shiroka Melnishka and the French variety Valdiga (as described for the Vila Melnik wine).
Shiroka Melnishka (Broad-leaved Melnik Vine)
Wines: Широка мелнишка лоза / 2022 · Калвент · Широка мелнишка лоза · Орбелус
Shiroka Melnishka / 2022 · Calvent: peppery, with rose leaf, tobacco and red forest fruit; soft tannins and a long finish.
Kaylashki Rubin
Wines: Кайлъшки рубин / Резерва 2023 · Горун
A variety in its own right (not the same as Rubin), bred at the Institute of Viticulture and Enology in Pleven. Kaylashki Rubin / Reserve 2023 · Gorun: ripe blackberry, black cherry and dried plum, soft and harmonious, with a long finish.
Rubin
Wines: Рубин · Граматик · Рубин / Oak Barrel 2023 · Типченица · Рубин · Типченица
Rubin / Oak Barrel 2023 · Tipchenitsa: blueberry, mulberry and blue plum.
Gamza
Wines: Гъмза / Естейт · Бонония · Гъмза / Резерва · Горун · Гъмза · Свищов · Гъмза / Розе · Таратанци
Gamza / Estate · Bononia: juicy, fresh and fruity, with a strong varietal character; the producer calls it the “most Bulgarian variety”.
Dimyat
Wines: Димят · Бонония · Димят и Ракацители / Петнат · Загреус · Димят и мускат / Стари лозя 2025 · Ценино · Димят / Гранд резерва 2024 · Ялово
Dimyat and Muscat / Old Vines 2025 · Tsenino: white flowers and white stone fruit on the nose, fresh, with lively acidity.
Pamid (Kara Pamid)
Wines: Кара памид / 2025 · Драгошинов · Памид · Загреус
Pamid is an old local Balkan red variety, believed to have been grown here since Thracian times. Kara Pamid is a dark form of Pamid. Kara Pamid / 2025 · Dragoshinov: a light red with a translucent colour, a fresh taste and very light astringency.
Vrachanski Misket
Wines: Врачански мискет · Бонония · Врачански мискет · Жарава
Varnenski Misket
Wines: Варненски мискет · Жарава · Варненски мискет / Лявата Ройчова · Таратанци
Sandanski Misket
Wines: Сандански мискет · Виа Верде
Keratsuda
Wines: Керацуда / Парт · Виа Верде · Керацуда и Мускат · Виа Верде
A local variety. Keratsuda / Part · Via Verde: hand-picked near the village of Ilindentsi, dry, medium-bodied.
Tamyanka
Wines: Тамянка · Жарава
Bouquet
Wines: Букет · Боровица
Shevka
Wines: Шевка / Златни ръце 2024 · Ялово
Evmolpia
Wines: Евмолпия · Младенова изба
Award: Double Gold — Balkans International Wine Competition 2026
Ruen
Wines: Руен / Редки сортове · Вила Мелник
A local variety from the Melnik region, derived from Shiroka Melnishka (as described for the Vila Melnik wine, “Rare Varieties” series).
Melnik 1300
Wines: Мелник 1300 / Jubilee Редки сортове · Вила Мелник
A local variety, a cross between Shiroka Melnishka and the Georgian variety Saperavi (as described for the Vila Melnik wine, “Rare Varieties” series).
Not a grape variety, but a herbal wine
Pelin is not a grape variety but a style of wine: a wine base flavoured with herbs. We include it because it belongs to Bulgarian wine tradition.
Red Pelin and Nalozhen Pelin
Wines: Червен Пелин · Горун · Наложен пелин · Ялово
Nalozhen Pelin · Yalovo follows a recipe over 200 years old from Kalofer: white wine, apples, quince and 22 herbs.
The list follows our stock. Wines change, so please ask at the bar what is available today.
Where to taste them
Зимникъ is at 73 Vitosha Blvd in Sofia, a 2–3 minute walk from NDK. The guided tasting (€30 per guest, up to 7 guests, in English) is built around our wines by the glass, which rotate from time to time, so the exact varieties on the day depend on the glass selection. Our online shop is coming soon.
Questions
Which local Bulgarian grape varieties does Зимникъ offer?
Our range includes wines made from Mavrud, Melnik 55 (Early Melnik Vine), Shiroka Melnishka (Broad-leaved Melnik Vine), Kaylashki Rubin, Rubin, Gamza, Dimyat, Pamid (Kara Pamid), Vrachanski Misket, Varnenski Misket, Sandanski Misket, Keratsuda, Tamyanka, Bouquet, Shevka, Evmolpia, Ruen, Melnik 1300.
Where in Sofia can I taste local Bulgarian grape varieties?
At Зимникъ, 73 Vitosha Blvd, next to NDK. There is a guided tasting of Bulgarian wines for €30 per guest, and live music on Sundays. The exact wines in the tasting depend on the wines by the glass on the day.
Can I buy local Bulgarian grape varieties online?
The Зимникъ online shop is coming soon. Until then you can taste and buy the wines at the bar.