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Wine and Culture trip in

Romania and Moldova 

Wine is part of this nation’s culture and if someone came to Romania and would not taste our wines, it would be like looking at a church from the outside and not going inside! During this tour you will meet, feel and taste the wines of the most famous wine regions in Romania and the Republic of Moldova, which was split  in two parts after World War II, one is the Romanian region of Moldova, the other one being the Old Bessarabia, nowadays known as the Republic of Moldova. But both regions are linked through their famous and good wines! We will start this adventure with a Moldovan wines tasting.

Day 1: Arrival in Bucharest. 

If time allows, a short city tour will be organized, and in the evening we’ll enjoy  dinner accompanied by a tasting of Romanian wines and presentation about vineyards. We’ll also have the chance to talk to a professional sommelier. Accommodation in NH 4* Hotel downtown Bucharest.

Day 2: Bucharest – Peles and Bran Castle – Brasov. 
After breakfast we depart for the Carpathians. On the way we’ll visit Peles Castle in Sinaia (the summer residence of the Romanian kings, at the foot of the high Carpathians). Lunch and sparkling-wines tasting in the Rhein & Azuga Cellars, recognized between the two World Wars as “The Supplier of the Royal Court of Romania”. Here we’ll discover the story of an unbelievable sparkling-wine.

At the famous Dracula’s Castle in Bran lots of tourists hope to see for a second the shadow of the feared vampire. This fortified castle, designed in the 14th century, is located on the top of a rock in the pass between the Bucegi and Piatra Craiului Mountains and was used during the Middle Ages as a defense against the Ottomans raids.

Arrival in Brasov and accommodation at a 4* hotel located in the downtown.
Day 3: Brasov – Fagaras – Sighisoara. 

Early departure for Sighisoara, the most beautiful medieval citadel in Eastern Europe. On the way we will visit Fagaras fortress, Cincusor, Cincu and Agnita Fortified Churches.

Special lunch in Fagaras, where we will taste Romanian dishes made after old traditional recipes.

Arrival in Sighisoara and a city tour. Sighisoara was for several centuries a military and political stronghold. The city highlights include: the Clock Tower built in the XIV century, Vlad the Impaler (Dracula) House, the Wooden Covered Staircase, the Hill Church etc. Enjoy a short walking tour, in which you will see the famous birthplace of Vlad the Impaler or simply Dracula, ruler of Wallachia from 1456. It was Vlad who inspired Bram Stoker’s fictional creation, Count Dracula. Accommodation at Hotel Cavalerul 4*.

Day 4: Sighisoara – Bicaz Gorge – Iasi – Hermeziu winery 
After breakfast, we will continue our way through the impressive sheer limestone walls of the Bicaz Gorges in the Eastern Carpathian Mountains.

Late in the afternoon we will get to Iasi, the most important historical, economic, and cultural center in northeast Romania. City tour and visit of the the Metropolitan Cathedral, the Culture Palace, the Golia Monastery, the Trei Ierarhi Church, etc.

The city was the capital of Moldova from the 16th century until 1861 and of Romania (The Romanian Kingdom) between 1916-1918 during World War I.

Day 5: Iasi – Soroca – Tipova. 
Departure around 9:00 to the Republic of Moldova. We start our trip to Soroca town known for its sizable Roma minority. On arrival you’ll visit the fortress which is a monument of defensive architecture in Europe. Soroca Fortress built in the Middle Ages at the Nistru river bend was part of a huge Moldovan defensive system. Initially wooden, the fortress was built of stone between 1543-1546 according to the “Golden section” supreme law of harmony that made it unique among the examples of European military architecture. It has a perfect round shape with a diameter of 37,5 m and with 5 equidistant bastions. Then we will drive to the Roma’ district of Soroca, famous for its “posh” palaces. Here you’ll have the possibility to visit a local family in order to get familiarized with the Roma way of life.

Further on we depart for Japca Monastery, known as the only monastery in Moldova that was not closed during the Soviet Period. Drive to Tipova monastery, one of the most visited sites located on a rocky bank of the Dniester River. Japca Monastery was devastated in 1959 and about to be closed but reopened in 1964 through Moscow interventions. Today it is one of the best decorated monasteries in Moldova, being repaired a few years ago. Accommodation and dinner in a special pension next to Tipova Monastery.

Day 6: Tipova – Branesti Winery – Old Orhei  – Cricova Winery – Chisinau. 
After breakfast we depart to Branesti Winery, to visit the wine complex and have a wine tasting.J. This winery is considered one of the best Moldovan wineries from the Center of our Republic.
We will continue with lunch in a peasant house and visit to Old Orhei – a museum complex that presents the remains of different civilizations established between the Dniester and Prut rivers. Here we will discover an Orthodox cave monastery called “St. Maria Dormata” that has been expanded and modified inside the cliffs by the monks over centuries.
Before getting to Chisinau, the capital of the Republic of Moldova, you will visit and taste the wines of one of the biggest underground wine cities in Europe – “Cricova”. It has a huge collection of more than 1 million vintage wines, including French, Italian and Spanish wines, and samples from many other countries.
Arrival in the capital of Moldova and city tour, during which we will also enjoy the Wine Festival. Nearly 100 wineries, thousands of visitors, including tourists from all around the world, gather in the central square of Chisinau on this day. The biggest part of Chisinau sights is concentrated around the city’s main avenue that commemorates the name of Moldova’s greatest king Stefan cel Mare: Chisinau City Hall, the Cathedral Complex, the House of Government etc. Dinner in “Carpe Diem”, the best wine restaurant in Moldova. Free time to enjoy yourselves. Chisinau city by night.

Accommodation in 4* Hotel Flowers in downtown Chisinau.

Day 7: Wine Festival at Asconi,  Chateau Purcari and Et Cetera Winery. 

Let’s celebrate the new Wine and spend the day by discovering the best wine producers from Moldova. First stop will be at Asconi. The Winery was founded in 1994 and to this day remains a family business.

All their vineyards (more than 500 hectares) are located in the vicinity of the Geamana village, in the county of Anenii Noi, at a distance of approximately 10 kilometers from the winery.

The foundation of their wines is built on French varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Muscat. But in the past years they also planted other sorts such as Riesling, Malbec, Pinot Noir and of course the two local varietals of Feteasca Alba and Feteasca Neagra. During the tour of the winery you will see the whole process of winemaking. You can see how the harvested grapes are pressed, how the juice is fermented and transformed into wines, how the wines evolve after fermentation either by aging in oak barrels and/or in the bottle.

Afternoon departure to Purcari winery, the best one in southeastern Moldova. The Purcari wines were present at the tables of historic figures such as Russian Emperor Nicholas II, British King George Vth and British Queen Victoria.

An another adventure will be visiting the wineyards of Et Cetera, that were planted in 2003 in the village of Crocmaz, Stefan Voda region, a unique microzone, ideal by its climatic condition for growing best wineyards. The winery was built in 2009 and at the moment it is surrounded by 50 ha of vineyards, givind a picturesque view to the visitors. The owners are two brothers, Alexandru and Igor Luchianov, professionals and real amateurs of their work. Special wine tasting, dinner and accommodation at Et Cetera.

Day 8: Crocmaz – Transnistria. 
Today we invite you to discover TIRASPOL (the capital of Transnistria) – the old USSR is still alive and well in Transnistria. Transinistria is a breakaway territory within the internationally recognized borders of Moldova.

During the city tour we will stop at different monuments in the city and, if time allows, we will visit the museum dedicated to the Transnistrian conflict. The highlight for today is the possibility of tasting different types of caviar in a local sturgeon complex.Transfer airport/Bucharest and departure home.

SERVICES INCLUDED:

Minibus with AC

Meals & wine tastings accoring to the program

English-speaking guide services

Entrance fees

Printed info about the sites visited

Meetin with the marketing managers of different vineyards

Price: 1490 Euro per pers, single suppl 200 Euro