Words by Neeta Lal
Tucked away at the foot of seven mountains in southwestern Bulgaria, near the serene banks of the Struma River, Aya Winery Estate isn’t just a winery; it’s an experience. Nestled in a valley steeped in history and myth, the rugged landscape creates a dramatic amphitheater of rolling terrain and crisp alpine air. The valley’s unique microclimate—warm days, cool nights, and mineral-rich soils—makes it ideal for viticulture.
Aya is a world where wine, art, and nature merge seamlessly, redefining the concept of luxury for the modern traveler. I sipped organic vintages overlooking sun-drenched vineyards, relaxed and rejuvenated, and wandered through contemporary art installations that rival any European gallery. Every corner whispered of craftsmanship, creativity, and calm.
The Winery: A Symphony of Wine and Art
Opened in September 2025, Aya has already created a buzz for its visionary blend of wine and culture. Founded by a family of passionate vintners and art patrons, the estate sprawls across rolling hills lined with organically grown grapevines. Its design—a stunning interplay of glass, stone, and wood—mirrors the natural surroundings, creating harmony between architecture and landscape.
“We wanted to build more than a winery,” explained Irena Gergova, Aya’s art director. “Our goal was to create a space where people experience wine as an emotion—where taste, art, and nature become inseparable.”
The vineyards thrive under organic and sustainable farming practices. Grapes like Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, and local Bulgarian varieties are handpicked and processed with precision, producing wines that balance minerality, freshness, and depth. The Aya Reserve Red, aged in French oak, reveals dark berry notes with hints of spice, while the crisp Chardonnay bursts with citrus and honeyed undertones.
Covering 14,000 sqm, the estate offers versatile artistic spaces suitable for large-scale or more intimate events. The wines produced here have, for years, won awards at prestigious international competitions such as the Decanter World Wine Awards and Concours Mondial de Bruxelles. Committed to organic and biodynamic principles, Aya cultivates vineyards both in Melnik and near the Black Sea, uniting tradition, sustainability, and artistry into one of Bulgaria’s most unique wine destinations.
Inside the minimalist winery building, visitors find tasting rooms accented with sculptures, murals, and curated installations by emerging Bulgarian and European artists. The aesthetic—sleek yet soulful—mirrors Aya’s winemaking philosophy: minimalist intervention, maximum expression.
Wine tastings at Aya are immersive—often paired with music, poetry readings, or art walks. One signature event, ‘Wine and Light’, blends sound installations with candle-lit tastings at dusk, turning the act of sipping wine into a multisensory ritual.
Architecture and Design
What sets Aya apart is not only its terroir but also its ambiance. The winery’s architecture is designed to merge seamlessly into the surrounding hills, with green roofs and natural façades that create the impression of an ‘invisible’ building rising organically from the earth. This harmony with the landscape extends into the cellar and visitor spaces, where art and design are integral. Sculptures, light installations, and site-specific works transform the estate into a living gallery, where wine and art coexist as expressions of creativity.
Designed by the Bulgarian architecture studio WhATA, the winery is discreetly embedded in the hillside, its grass-covered roof and glass façade merging into the landscape—reflecting the vineyards like a living painting. Inside, natural light flows across three levels—from fermentation halls to barrel rooms to a wine bar—creating an atmosphere both expansive and intimate. This architectural masterpiece uses a gravity-flow winemaking system, allowing juice to move gently, untouched by machines. It is a building that doesn’t dominate the landscape; it belongs to it.
From its very beginning, Aya Estate Vineyards has embraced art as an essential component of its identity. Guided by the vision of Irena Gergova and curated by art experts Vessela Nozharova and Vesselina Sarieva, the estate showcases original works created specifically for this space by some of Bulgaria’s most celebrated contemporary artists. Their presence creates a powerful dialogue between nature, architecture, and wine—uniting these elements into a singular artistic experience.
Location: At the Crossroads of Nature and History
The nearby town of Sandanski is famed for its healing mineral springs, while Melnik, Bulgaria’s smallest town and a UNESCO-listed heritage site, lies just 30 minutes away. Melnik’s sandstone pyramids, Byzantine ruins, and centuries-old wine cellars make it a perfect day trip for guests looking to immerse themselves in Bulgaria’s ancient heritage.
Aya’s location—about two hours from Sofia—also allows for easy access to the Rila Monastery, one of Eastern Europe’s most magnificent spiritual landmarks, and the Pirin National Park, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve ideal for hiking and birdwatching.
The estate itself is surrounded by walking and cycling trails, olive groves, and wildflower meadows, offering guests an unspoiled window into rural Bulgaria.
Things to Do: Experiences Beyond the Glass
Beyond wine and wellness, Aya curates experiences that immerse visitors in local culture and creativity. Art remains central to Aya’s identity. Its Art Residency Program invites painters, sculptors, and performance artists from across Europe to create on-site, drawing inspiration from the landscape. Guests can visit open studios, attend workshops, or even participate in collaborative installations.
Outdoor enthusiasts can enjoy guided vineyard tours, mountain hikes, or horseback riding through nearby trails. The estate also offers hot air balloon rides over the valley—a breathtaking way to watch the sunrise cast golden light over the vines.
During harvest season, visitors can join in the grape-picking rituals, experiencing first-hand the rhythm of the winemaking calendar. Evenings often feature live jazz or folk concerts, blending fine wine with soulful music under a starlit sky.
For those seeking a slower pace, there’s the simple joy of sitting with a glass of wine on Aya’s terrace, watching the play of light over the hills—a quiet reminder of the estate’s essence: stillness, art, and sensory beauty.
A Final Toast
Aya Winery Estate is more than a destination; it’s a philosophy. It invites guests to pause, savor, and reconnect, reminding us that true luxury lies not in excess but in experience.
Whether you come for its award-winning wines or the immersive art, Aya offers something rare in today’s fast-paced world: the feeling of belonging to a place that nurtures both the senses and the soul.
As twilight fell over the vineyards and the first stars appeared, I realized that Aya’s magic lay not just in what I’d tasted or seen, but in how it made me feel: renewed, rejuvenated, and profoundly alive.
Factbox
Address: Aya Winery, Melnik District, Harsovo Village, Bulgaria
Email: [email protected]
Follow: @ayaestatevineyards
Neeta Lal, formerly the senior editor of The Times Of India, India Today, and The Asian Age, is a SOPA-nominated journalist exploring the intersections of art, culture, gastronomy, and travel in South Asia and beyond. She has traveled to 75 countries, and her work has appeared in over 150 publications including Forbes, Fortune, SCMP, The Guardian, BBC Travel, NatGeo Traveler, Travel and Leisure, Foreign Policy, Global Asia, The National, Gulf News, Khaleej Times, Nikkei Asia, and many more.
All imagery credit: Aya Winery Estate