This is a GREAT store if you love excellent wines and cheeses. I drive from Wicker Park to load up on both, sometimes buying 2 cases of wine.
Bulgarian wines are virtually unknown in the US (the Europeans snap up most of each year's production), and the immediate reaction to the uninitiated when serving them is "uh,,,.. okay...." .
The overwhelming reaction after tasting is "OMG, this is absolutely AMAZING! Where did you GET this?". Now you know what they know: I bought it at Sofia Liquor.
My bias is toward dry, full-bodied reds, among which Bulgaria (and Sofia liquors) offers several world-class, international medal-winning varieties -- unbelievably, all available in the $9-$16 range.
If your taste for reds runs like mine, you MUST check out the following brands/varieties at this store:
1. Unigato Rubin (the Rubin grape is a cross-breed of Syrah and Nebiola vines unique to Bulgaria). Spectacular.
2. Burgas Cabernet (my fav among the Burgas brand and truly outstanding). Look for the "B" on the front of the bottle
3. Burgas Merlot (I pref cabs to merlots generally, but this is the BEST Merlot I've ever tasted) Look for the "B" on the front of the bottle
4. No Man's Land (can't remember the variety -- not one of the common ones like merlot -- but I think it has a silver label)
In whites, there are several outstanding choices (the staff is helpful in guiding your selection) but one brand that I recall is Chateau Euxinograde (this was the private vineyard of Bulgaria's Czars until the 1946 Communist overthrow). I really love one variety which goes by a 4-digit number (you'll know it when you see it)
If you like a good cheese, check out the Kashkeval (creamy, gouda-like in texture and flavor but with a delicious, unique taste that everyone to whom I've introduced it really loves.
Also, the Bulgarian feta is the best feta I've ever encountered, and I'll bet you'll agree.
There is always plenty of angled parking spaces within 50 feet of the store, so no worries there. I'm going to load up tomorrow!
Bottom line, finding this store and its products was like finding buried treasure. Put down your mouse, pick up your shovel, and start digging! read more