Deep roots Deep flavor
Hi! We are Kate and Diyan, the founders of Vetus Distillery. We hail back from Bulgaria — the homeland of yogurt, rose oil, and many more. And not in last place — rakia), a traditional fruit brandy originating in the Balkans back in the 11th century.
Kate & Diyan, Founders of Vetus Distillery
Kate moved to the States in 2006, right after graduating college in her hometown — the beautiful city of Varna, on the coast of Black sea. She graduated with a degree in Hotel and Restaurant Business Management and had several jobs in the field before pursuing a career in banking that continued for over a decade. As the face of the tasting room, she welcomes guests, leads tastings, and ensures every visitor feels at home. Many of our guests from Monroe and the Charlotte area meet Kate first and remember Vetus Distillery because of her warmth, knowledge, and attention to detail.
Diyan, our co-founder, grew up in a village called Chintulovo, in the “Valley of Peaches”. He helped his dad in his small furniture shop. He also helped with the traditional harvesting, gathering, fermenting and distilling rakia. In the outskirts of every Bulgarian village, there is a dedicated spot with several handcrafted copper stills. There, the people from the village go to distill their own rakia using the fruits they harvested. It's a tradition. It's a way of life. The tradition has been passed down from generation to generation - picking the right fruit, fermenting the right way and distilling with the precise cuts of heads, hearts and tails. Each person added or changed something to their liking. Diyan, too, has made a small change here and there so the final product fits his taste perfectly.
Diyan graduated The National High School of Applied Arts - over 100-year old school in the picturesque town of Tryavna situated in the northern slopes of the Balkan range. He was taught drawing, art history, wood carving, interior design, etc.
In addition, Diyan’s father is a furniture maker and a master woodcarver who passed down this craftsmanship to Diyan.
Arriving to the states in 2007, Diyan’s desire was to continue with his trade - building custom furniture. But life took a turn and in 2010 he became a plumber apprentice. Fast forward to 2016 Diyan opened his own plumbing company , Charlotte Plumbing Masters.
Kate and Diyan met in 2015 on a flight to Bulgaria, and a few years later their son was born. Watching him grow, Diyan’s desire to continue the Balkan craft spirit tradition on North Carolina soil reached its peak, culminating in the founding of Vetus Distillery in 2023.
The couple brings the hospitality and guest experience to life at Vetus Distillery. With a background in hotel and restaurant management, Kate oversees tastings, events, and day-to-day operations. Whether visitors are discovering Bulgarian rakia for the first time or returning for a favorite spirit, she ensures every tasting is welcoming, educational, and memorable.
From the Valley of Peaches
Diyan's great-grandparents — where the tradition began.
Diyan as a child, sitting in a chair built by his father. The chair won first prize at a National wood carving and furniture making competition.
Diyan with his dad (standing up) in their family furniture shop in Chintulovo.