There is nothing like a relaxing evening at Zlaten Rozhen Winery Hotel after exploring Bulgarian wine country. Yes, it was the end of an adventurous wine country day when we arrived at the Zlaten Rozhen Winery Hotel in Kapatovo. Since it was my first time in Southwestern Bulgaria's Struma Valley our visit that day was filled with exciting wine discoveries. Earlier we were introduced to Struma Valley wines when we visited Villa Melnik and Orbelus Winery. Now it was time to checkout the wines at Wine Cellar Zlaten Rozhen during our stay at their winery hotel.
Note: This expense paid press trip was sponsored by #dwcc15 and our Bulgarian hosts.
While in the Struma River Valley wine region Spaswinefood also visited:
1. Villa Melnik
2. Obelus Winery
3. Sintica Winery
4. Orbelia Winery
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| Zlaten Rozhen Hotel, Kapatovo © Spaswinefood |
Zlaten Rozhen Winery Hotel
It was indeed fitting that our last stop for the day was the Zlaten Rozhen Winery Hotel, which is associated with the Wine Cellar Zlaten Rozhen. While we did not visit Zlaten Rozhen Winery we did do a wine tasting at their hotel.
Wine Tasting
After check in at the hotel we had a wine tasting in their charming tasting room.
Wine Tasting
After check in at the hotel we had a wine tasting in their charming tasting room.
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| Tasting Room, Zlaten Rozhen Winery Hotel © Spaswinefood |
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| Wine Tasting, Zlaten Rozhen Winery Hotel © Spaswinefood |
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| Cellar Zlaten Rozhen Wines © Spaswinefood |
Southwest Bulgaria's Struma River Valley wine region, situated between the Pirin Mountains and the Struma River, is a small but a very significant wine region. The indigenous grape Shiroka Melnishka Loza (Broadleaf Melnik) is what makes this region unique. The grape takes its name from the town of Melnik near where it is found. Wine made from Melnik grapes is highly valued for its full-bodied flavor, ruby-red color and its aging potential. Whereas Melnik 55 (Early Melnik), a hybrid Bulgarian grape was developed because the Broadleaf Melnik often ripens late. The Mediterranean influenced climate of this wine region is also ideal for growing international grape varieties, such as Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.
Wine Cellar Zlaten Rozhen produces wines from the red grape varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, Melnik 55, Melnik Ruby (Melnishki Rubin) and Broadleaf Melnik. Their white grape variety is Sandanski Misket. Our wine tasting that evening included:
1. Zlaten Rozhen Sandanski Misket, PGI Thracian Lowlands 2014
2. Zlaten Rozhen Rosé, PGI Thracian Lowlands 2014
This Rosé wine is a blend of Broadleaf Melnik and Melnik 55.
3. Zlaten Rozhen Cabernet Sauvignon & Merlot 2013
4. Zlaten Rozhen Syrah, PGI Thracian Lowlands 2013
5. Zlaten Rozhen Melnishki Kupazh, PGI Thracian Lowlands 2013
This wine is a blend of Melnishki Rubin, Melnik 55 and Cabernet Sauvignon. My understanding is that Melnishki Rubin is red grape variety produced from Shiroka Melnishki x Cabernet Sauvignon.
There was a temping platter of cheese and meats to go along with the wine tasting.
It was indeed a pleasant wine tasting. Founded in 2010 the winery is still quite young.
Zlaten Rozhen: A Struma Valley Delight
The wine tasting was followed by dinner at the hotel's restaurant. Dinner that evening included dishes, such as the following:
Next morning we ate a delightful breakfast in a wine inspired breakfast room.
It was indeed a pleasant wine tasting, dinner, breakfast and a relaxing stay at Zlaten Rozhen Hotel. Guests will find their wine inspired rooms to be very inviting. Each hotel room is named after a wine. In addition to wine inspired decorations, there were hunting motifs displayed throughout the hotel.
Zlaten Rozhen Hotel, a three star boutique hotel, is conveniently located in the centre of Rozhen Village, close to Rozhen Monastery. In fact some members of our group took the time to visit the monastery before breakfast. After breakfast we were off to visit two more Struma River Valley wineries before returning to Sofia. Zlaten Rozhen Hotel makes a perfect wine country stay given it is located just 6 km from Melnik. I would so loved to have spent an extra day before moving onwards. I was not surprised to discover that this hotel gets great reviews on Tripadvisor and other online hotel booking agencies. Spaswinefood is so looking forward to writing future posts on Bulgarian wine country. I invite you to join me in my travels in Bulgaria and elsewhere at Spaswinefood, or visit my travel column at the Examiner.
Wine Cellar Zlaten Rozhen produces wines from the red grape varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, Melnik 55, Melnik Ruby (Melnishki Rubin) and Broadleaf Melnik. Their white grape variety is Sandanski Misket. Our wine tasting that evening included:
1. Zlaten Rozhen Sandanski Misket, PGI Thracian Lowlands 2014
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| Zlaten Rozhen, Sandanski Misket 2014 © Spaswinefood |
2. Zlaten Rozhen Rosé, PGI Thracian Lowlands 2014
This Rosé wine is a blend of Broadleaf Melnik and Melnik 55.
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| Zlaten Rozhen Rosé, PGI Thracian Lowlands 2014 © Spaswinefood |
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| Zlaten Rozhen Rosé, PGI Thracian Lowlands 2014 © Spaswinefood |
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| Cabernet Sauvignon & Merlot, PGI Thracian Lowlands 2013 (center) © Spaswinefood |
4. Zlaten Rozhen Syrah, PGI Thracian Lowlands 2013
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| Zlaten Rozen Syrah, PGI Thracian Lowlands 2013 © Spaswinefood |
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| Zlaten Rozen Syrah, PGI Thracian Lowlands 2013 © Spaswinefood |
5. Zlaten Rozhen Melnishki Kupazh, PGI Thracian Lowlands 2013
This wine is a blend of Melnishki Rubin, Melnik 55 and Cabernet Sauvignon. My understanding is that Melnishki Rubin is red grape variety produced from Shiroka Melnishki x Cabernet Sauvignon.
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| Zlaten Rozhen Melnishki Kupazh, PGI Thracian Lowlands 2013 © Spaswinefood |
There was a temping platter of cheese and meats to go along with the wine tasting.
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| Cheese & Meat Plate, Wine Cellar Zlaten Rozhen © Spaswinefood |
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| Cellar Zlaten Rozhen Wines © Spaswinefood |
The wine tasting was followed by dinner at the hotel's restaurant. Dinner that evening included dishes, such as the following:
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| Salad, Restaurant Zlaten Rozhen Hotel © Spaswinefood |
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| Kebab Platter, Zlaten Rozhen Hotel © Spaswinefood |
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| Fish Plate, Restaurant Zlaten Rozhen Hotel © Spaswinefood |
Next morning we ate a delightful breakfast in a wine inspired breakfast room.
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| Breakfast Room, Zlaten Rozhen Winery Hotel © Spaswinefood |
It was indeed a pleasant wine tasting, dinner, breakfast and a relaxing stay at Zlaten Rozhen Hotel. Guests will find their wine inspired rooms to be very inviting. Each hotel room is named after a wine. In addition to wine inspired decorations, there were hunting motifs displayed throughout the hotel.
 |
| Zlaten Rozhen Winery Hotel © Spaswinefood |
Zlaten Rozhen Hotel, a three star boutique hotel, is conveniently located in the centre of Rozhen Village, close to Rozhen Monastery. In fact some members of our group took the time to visit the monastery before breakfast. After breakfast we were off to visit two more Struma River Valley wineries before returning to Sofia. Zlaten Rozhen Hotel makes a perfect wine country stay given it is located just 6 km from Melnik. I would so loved to have spent an extra day before moving onwards. I was not surprised to discover that this hotel gets great reviews on Tripadvisor and other online hotel booking agencies. Spaswinefood is so looking forward to writing future posts on Bulgarian wine country. I invite you to join me in my travels in Bulgaria and elsewhere at Spaswinefood, or visit my travel column at the Examiner.
Note: This expense paid press trip was sponsored by #dwcc15 and our Bulgarian hosts.
While in the Struma River Valley wine region Spaswinefood also visited:
1. Villa Melnik
2. Obelus Winery
3. Sintica Winery
4. Orbelia Winery
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