Ten Legends Come to Life on the Barrels of Katarzyna Estate

The “10 Stories of Wine” project brings together tradition, art, and young talents in an inspiring creative journey.

Some stories are told with words. Others are painted. And there are those that come to life on the wood of barrels that have preserved the spirit of wine.

Ten impressive barrels, positioned in front of Katarzyna Estate, have been transformed into a unique open-air gallery. It is here, among the vineyards of the Eastern Rhodopes — a region with millennia-old winemaking traditions — that the “10 Stories of Wine” project comes to life, bringing together ancient legends with the talent and imagination of young artists from the New Bulgarian University.

The joint initiative of Katarzyna Estate and the lecturers and students from the Bachelor’s programme “Visual Arts” at the Department of Arts and Design of the New Bulgarian University breathes new life into the ten wine barrels — the heart of the winery. Large-scale artistic interpretations inspired by the legends, myths, and cultural heritage of wine come to life on their surfaces, transforming the space in front of the winery into a place where history, art, and wine culture meet.

It is no coincidence that Katarzyna Estate is the natural home of this project. Situated on land with more than two millennia of winemaking and viticultural history, the winery is renowned for its wines, which have received dozens of prestigious international awards. However, the philosophy of Katarzyna Estate has always gone beyond simply creating high-quality wines — it is rooted in preserving and promoting wine culture, respecting history, and supporting initiatives that create value for society.

For the students, “10 Stories of Wine” is a rare opportunity to step beyond the classroom and work on a real-life project of impressive scale, with a real audience and lasting impact. For Katarzyna Estate, it is a natural continuation of the belief that culture, art, and wine have always been closely intertwined. At its core lies the idea that young people should be given the space, trust, and freedom to bring their ideas to life. Initiatives like this create opportunities for talent to be nurtured not only in an academic environment but also through real projects that leave a lasting legacy.

This initiative is the result of months of research, creative exploration, and immense dedication. Behind each composition are dozens of hours of preparation, sketches, discussions, and hands-on work, transforming every barrel into an individual artistic story. Together, the ten artworks create a shared narrative about the place of wine in human civilization, mythology, and culture.

The themes have been carefully selected from the countless legends associated with the origins and influence of wine across different civilizations. Among them are the Thracian mysteries, where wine was a sacred drink and a means of communicating with the gods; the cunning of Odysseus, who managed to escape from the Cyclops Polyphemus thanks to powerful wine; the legend of Dionysus, who transformed pirates into dolphins; the stories of Cleopatra and her lavish wine feasts; the ancient Epic of Gilgamesh, in which the vine symbolizes the transition to civilization; as well as Balkan beliefs that associate red wine with protection against evil forces.

A particular challenge for the artists lies in the unusual shape of the canvas. The cylindrical surface of the barrels requires the compositions to be created with the viewer’s movement around the object in mind. In this way, the form and volume become an active part of the artistic narrative, and each barrel becomes simultaneously a painted artwork, a spatial installation, and a unique stage that gradually reveals its story.

The project is led by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Damyan Damyanov and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Kalina Hristova. Its realization involves lecturers together with students from the Bachelor’s programme “Visual Arts” at the Department of Arts and Design of the New Bulgarian University: Ivayla Stoyanova, Yulia Strumska, Kosara Yambolieva, Teodora Ivanova, and Kristiyana Kostadinova.

Today, the ten painted barrels invite every visitor to immerse themselves in a world where the history of wine is told in a new way — through the eyes of young artists inspired by a tradition that continues to live and evolve.

The “10 Stories of Wine” project demonstrates how history, education, and art can come together with the support of responsible business to create lasting value. Because true investment is not only about creating exceptional wines, but also about investing in the people who will shape the culture of tomorrow.