3-Day Relaxing Wine Tour In Moldova

Day 1:

The tour will begin with a visit to, and exploration of the Milestii Mici Winery where you will descend to 80m below sea level either by bus or car into the largest network of underground wine caves ever dug by man. Measuring roughly 200km and holding an impressive collection of more than 2 million bottles, these caves have made it into the Guinness Book of Records. On admiring the flames of the fireplace, tasting 20-30 years old wines, and enjoying national cuisine you will certainly see why.

The next stop on the tour will be at Cricova Winery.

There are few wineries in the world that still produce sparkling wines according to the traditional Champenoise method and Cricova is one of them. During this tour you will explore its endless galleries, remarkable wine collection, a winemaking museum and even the underground church. After learning the remuage and degorgement process, you will have the rare opportunity to taste few types of white, rose and red sparkling wines.

Cricova is a unique underground complex that got renowned for both its huge labyrinths and excellent wines. For the last 60 years it creates the sparkling wine by the method of the famous monk Dom Pierre Perignon, which requires secondary fermentation in the glass and subsequent cuvée ageing. The wine maturation is done fully in the underground cellars, boasting 120 km in total length. Here, endless lines of stands are holding the bottles at a certain angle, waiting to be shaken every day, so they could become crystal clear. Currently Cricova is home to 1.3 mln bottles and 640 types of wine. The oldest wine in the collection and the only one of its kind in the world is the wine „Easter Jerusalem”, produced in just one batch in 1902. After the guided tour you will be invited in one of their tasting halls for a memorable sparkling wine tasting. It is here where the sommelier will tell you about the story of the bubbles in your glass.

Day 2:

Castel Mimi Winery – Step into elegance and history at one of Moldova’s most iconic wineries. Explore the beautifully restored wine chateau, stroll through its cellars, gardens, and courtyards, and learn about Moldova’s centuries-old wine tradition. Taste three premium wines, paired with traditional Moldovan snacks, for an unforgettable sensory experience.

Then you will continue your adventure and discover one of the most beautiful family owned wineries in Moldova, Asconi Winery. Founded in 1994 the winery achieved a lot, due to modernization of the manufacturing process, and regular equipment investments. Winemakers use up-to-date production facilities of the best Italian and French manufactures. The wines are made both from local and European grape varieties like Feteasca, Traminer, Chardonnay, Pinot Franc, Cabernet-Sauvignon and others.

Moreover, Asconi has one of the best traditional and Balkan cuisine restaurant in the country, so make sure that after the tour and wine tasting you take your time to taste their “placinta”.

Day 3:

An early morning start to discover Chateau Purcari. 

Purcari estate is located in a picturesque zone, in the south-east part of the country, at not more than 50 km from the Black Sea. Here you will find the legendary Purcari cellars, remaining unchanged since 1827; the cellars store a part of country’s heritage – the famous collection of vintage Purcari wines.

At the estate, built in the style of French chateau, you can experience the atmosphere of calm and luxury, and discover the innermost secrets of the creation of the legendary Purcari wines. The tour of the Purcari vineyards does not leave anyone indifferent – the fresh air, the sea breeze and the vines grown based upon the strictest canons of French viticulture.

In the afternoon you will head on to Branesti winery.

The Brănești Winery is located inside an old limestone mine with galleries extending over a distance of 75 km and occupying an area of 75 ha.

The entire architecture is constructed at a 60 meters depth, which makes it possible to maintain a constant temperature of 12-14 degrees and 90-92% humidity all year round. Next to the natural conditions comes the skilfulness of people which transform the grapes into a Bahic beverage. The winery possesses about 800 ha of vineyards located in a beautiful forest area, on the coast of Orheiul Vechi village, but also in the Romanești and Tudora villages.

Most wine production is exported to China, USA, Poland, Germany, Romania, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Baltic States, etc.

The winery is pioneering the first underground hotel in Moldova and is developing a unique “Stone Age” tourist complex. This will offer visitors an opportunity to experience life in a cave, as it would have been in the Stone Age, with small touches of the modern epoch. Here you can enjoy cave life away from the noise of modern civilization and eve-ryday worries.