site.btaArt and Wine Co-exist in AYA Estate Vineyards Winery

BTA will present dozens of Bulgarian wineries in the New BG WINE Leads the Way series ahead of the 9th UN Global Conference on Wine Tourism, which will be hosted in Plovdiv. The forum is organized by the Ministry of Tourism in partnership with the UN World Tourism Organization.

On September 27, 2025, the AYA Estate Vineyards winery was officially opened - a destination unique to Bulgaria and the region, combining wine and art. Located at the foot of seven mountains, near the Struma River, the winery blends modern architecture, contemporary art, and top-class winemaking, Gergana Georgieva, Corporate Communications Manager at MFG, told BTA.

AYA was founded by two families (Stanimir and Dilyana Vasilevi, and Nedelcho and Irena Spasovi), united by their love of wine and art. Their concept is to create a place where wine and art speak the same language - that of inspiration, emotion, and beauty.

The vision includes not only the production of high-quality wines, but also turning the winery into a cultural destination, with large sculpture and art installations, artistic spaces, and programs, curated so far by Vesela Nozharova and Veselina Sarieva. The art director and main driver of the AYA collection and the development of the cultural space is Irena Gergova-Spasova.

The complex boasts a winery, an art gallery, and an estate that will include a horse stable, farm, orchard, amphitheater, restaurant, and hotel.

The story of AYA Estate Vineyards begins with a clear vision that art is not just artistic expression, but creation itself. That’s why the founders created a place where art and wine live together. Inspired by the rich history and traditions of the Melnik region, the creators of AYA Estate Vineyards are turning the location into a wine-cultural center. The exhibitions that AYA will host will include both works by artists inspired by the region and artworks by international artists.

The winery spans 14,000 sq m and is built on the principle of gravity-flow winemaking, where the juice moves naturally between floors without mechanical intervention. This allows for an extremely delicate approach to wine production. The complex consists of three levels, with a production capacity of 250,000 bottles.

AYA owns 45 hectares of certified organic vineyards in the Melnik region, where the climate and sandy soils create ideal conditions for winemaking. Some of the vines are over 50 years old. The hilly terrain sits at 250–330 meters above sea level, and the vineyards have predominantly southern exposure.

“Our greatest asset is the over-50-year-old vineyards of Cabernet Franc and Broad-Leaved Melnik Vine,” said Gergana Georgieva.

“To add color and diversity, we also planted Syrah, Cinsault, Early Melnik Vine, Merlot, and Sangiovese.”

Their portfolio includes white, rose, and red wines, created with the aim of expressing harmony between tradition and innovation.

Even before the official opening, AYA's wines had already earned recognition, with medals from international competitions like the Decanter World Wine Awards and the Concours Mondial de Bruxelles (for Syrah and Cabernet Franc), as well as high ratings from wine critics.