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Drink

Some claim that grapes were first cultivated for wine around the Black Sea region and that the temple of Dionysus, Greek god of wine, was in Bulgaria. True or not, Bulgaria offers many excellent wines and as a result imports few from abroad.

Besides the widely available international varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc, there are some excellent local grapes. Recommended Reds are: Mavrud, a heavy red from Assenovgrad; Melnik, a fruity wine high in acidity and tannin; and Gamza. Local whites are Misket and Dimiat. A decent bottle of wine in a store costs around 1-1.5 GBP whilst for 2-3 GBP you can get a truly excellent wine.

Most of Bulgaria's breweries have been acquired by foreign companies and produce a good to high quality lager beer. The most popular brews are: Astika, Kamenitza, Zagorka, Shumensko and Pirinsko. Bar prices vary from 0.50 to 1.0 GBP for a pint.

Spirits such as vodka and whisky are popular with Bulgarians along with 'rakia', a potent traditional drink usually made from grapes but also from plums, apricots, pears, and other fruits. In winter, 'rakia' is served hot; in summer, it's drunk ice-cold, accompanied by a fresh salad.

In rural areas, you'll find unforgettable home-made wine and 'rakia' offered to you by the locals

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