How visiting the village of Natsovtsi brings us back to our roots

Our family winery in the village of Natsovtsi, located south of Veliko Tarnovo, is much more than a place for wine tasting. For the third year now, we have the pleasure of welcoming guests from Israel, many of whom have Bulgarian roots. For us, as hosts, this is not only an opportunity to share our wines, but also to connect with people whose families once left Bulgaria, bringing part of the culture and traditions of the homeland.

After the Second World War, many Bulgarians from the Jewish community emigrated to Israel, but even today their children and grandchildren continue to keep the traditions of their grandparents. When our guests from Israel arrive at the winery, we welcome them with Bulgarian dishes, prepared according to old recipes, which awaken memories and stories of their childhood. We often hear how these flavors and aromas remind them of the home-cooked food they’ve tasted back home. Homemade lutenitsa, banitsa, gyuvetch — these foods become a bridge to the past.

Among the many exciting moments, the visit of an elderly gentleman who was born and spent the first seven years of his life in Sofia stands out. When he tried our homemade lutenica, he was moved to tears – the taste took him back in time to his mother’s food prepared for winter time. He told us about his return as a 20-year-old young man to Sofia, when he met an old neighbor who recognized him, and both of them plunged into memories of childhood games on the streets of Sofia. This meeting was like a trip back in time for us listening to the story as well.

Another unforgettable event was the visit of three brothers with Bulgarian roots, together with their families. Although born in Israel, they still understood and spoke a little Bulgarian, and this trip to Bulgaria was their way of paying tribute to their parents. Under the shade of the grand walnut tree next to the winery, they shared our wines with traditional dishes such as banitsa and gyuvetch and told each other stories from their youth. Their children listened with interest to the stories, and the youngest even sang a Bulgarian song, immersing everyone in the magic of the moment.