DiVes Estate Winery — Attraction in Pomorie

We enjoyed a great trip to this winery yesterday. We were greeted by Vasilena, wife of the proprietor, and escorted to the lavender growing area around St Simeon's Mound, which the Winery sits on top of. Our guide introduced us to the whole concept of growing, harvesting and production of lavender oil. We were introduced to different strains of lavender plants and we're encouraged to smell the difference between the various types. This part of the tour was supplemented by information from Vasilena regarding the natural and environmentally friendly husbandry of the plants employed by the winery, contrasted with the ecological impact of certain fertilizers and pesticides used by mainstream farming not just in Bulgaria but around the globe. Then we moved to look at the wine production. We first visited the place where the initial processing began and followed it through to the time when bottling occurs. Vasilena provided a detailed and comprehensive explanation of the process which I found both informative and fascinating. She also explained the history surrounding the area and told the story of the Battle of Aheloy which occurred 1100 years ago between the Bulgarian Empire and Byzantium. One of history's bloodiest battles. We then went inside and were seated at a table and the wine tasting began. Vaselina explained more about the history of wine making in Bulgaria and then proceeded to provide details on the different wines we were to sample. We were also shown how to prepare the wine in the glass prior to drinking it. We were also presented with several different petit fours to aid in tasting and create different sensations on the palate. The wine tasting continued till we had sampled, white, rose, red and dessert wines. All were different and delicious. Following the tasting we decided to purchase several bottles. My favourites were the Muscat and the dessert wine. Lavender products were also available. I'm so glad we decided to make this trip. It's certainly been the highlight of our visit to the region and I would urge anyone to book the tour. I recommend Vasilena and DiVes Winery...

Frankly speaking I was reluctant to the idea when my daughter in law proposed the visit. My feelings turned upside down when we arrived and were welcomed by Dimitar the owner. Far from the pomposity of other places like this, DiVes offers down to earth authenticity of a modern winery that opens their doors without hiding their secrets! On the contrary - Dimitar as a guide shares with the visitors in depth knowledge and understanding about this ancient for that region and traditional for Bulgaria craft - wine production! I learned some new interesting facts that even the best restaurants sommeliers would be surprised about (unless they intentionally would hide it from you 😉). Testing different wines accompanied by the profound explanations from our host brought the palate experience to unexpected hights! Thank you DiVes! Apart from the wines the winery offers a tour through their lavender terraces - another unforgettable addition to the visit! Our family and the friends from our group highly recommend DiVes as a place to visit and enjoy during your holidays in Burgas, Nesebar, Sluntchev briag (Sunny beach), Pomorie or Sveti Vlas! 🥂 P.S. I forgot to mention the excellent short break for an imaginary historical walk through lecture Dimitar gave us - the hill is a vintage observation point to listen and imagine the largest battle between Bulgaria and Byzantine empire when over 60 thousands men heroically fought on the strip between the hill and the sea. The hill DiVes is situated on is known as King Simeon's Hill in honour of the Bulgarian king and his...

Our visit to Dives Winery, located near Burgas and Slantsjev Brjag in Bulgaria, was nothing short of exceptional. This family-owned winery provided us with a memorable tour led by the owners themselves, who are clearly passionate about their craft. They took the time to explain the meticulous processes they use to produce their wines, ensuring the highest quality and a variety of unique flavors.

During the tasting, we sampled their rosé, white, and red wines, and each one was unbelievably flavorful. As a big wine enthusiast, I’ve rarely come across Bulgarian wines that impressed me—until I visited Dives Winery. Their wines immediately changed my perspective on the region's potential. We couldn’t resist taking a few bottles home, and not only were they very affordable, but they also ranked among the best wines we’ve had in this price range.

It’s no surprise to me that their (2012 merlot barrique) wine has achieved the maximum score at Decanter (Decanter World Wine Awards 2014, London, UK - Gold medal for Merlot Barrique 2012 Special selection). The owners are not just professional; they are warm, kind, and deeply passionate about their family business. They’re more than happy to engage in a great conversation about wine and are eager to share their knowledge about the industry.

I would highly recommend a visit to Dives Winery to anyone, whether you’re a wine connoisseur or simply looking for a warm and tasty experience. It’s truly a hidden gem in a region not typically known for winemaking, and it was one of the most enriching winery visits...