Founded in 1952, Cricova winery is a genuine underground wine kingdom located in Cricova town and known worldwide for its huge underground galleries. They are formed by over seventy streets covering an area of nearly 120 km, each bearing Bacchic names: Sauvignon, Cabernet, Feteasca, Chardonnay, Codru, etc., assigning Cricova the distinction of the second largest wine cellar in the world. The tunnels appeared since the 15th century as a result of the limestone extraction used for building Chisinau city. Cricova winery is one of the most important tourist attractions in the country. Accompanied by an experienced guide, at a depth of 35-80 m, you will enjoy an amazing excursion in the tourist train during which you discover the wonders of this place.
The jewel of the underground treasure is the National Collection, including over 600 types of wine totalling about 1.3 million bottles. Unique exhibits including 158 brands from Burgundy, Moselle, Tokay, the Rhine, are part of the precious heritage both of the winery as well as the country. Among those are the trophies of the Second World War, which include wines from Hermann Göring’s private collection, such as Burgundy, Moselle, the Rhine and other wines dating from the first half of the 20th century. Here, you will be able to admire the oldest bottle of wine – the “Jewish Easter Wine”, produced in 1902 in a single batch. Currently, in the world, only one bottle of this wine has been preserved and it can be found at Cricova winery.
The constant temperature of about +12° C and the humidity of 97-98% represent ideal conditions for the preservation and maturation of high quality wine and sparkling wine produced using the French-style Champagne Method (Méthode Champenoise). At Cricova, you will have the possibility to visit the unique production of sparkling wine and find out about all the process of producing it.
Cricova holds over 150 medals obtained at the most prestigious competitions and wine tastings of the world. The galleries have been visited by presidents of various states, government delegations, as well as by the cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin, the first human to journey into outer space in 1961. Yuri Gagarin, who visited Cricova in 1966 said: “There is a great abundance of wonderful wines in these cellars. Even the most fastidious person will find here wine to their liking. I wish you to fill the existing cellars with a multitude of medals for excellent wines. If there is not enough metal one the Earth to imprint medals, I will deliver it from the moon or other planets”.
The constant temperature of about +12° C and the humidity of 97-98% represent ideal conditions for the preservation and maturation of high quality wine and sparkling wine produced using the French-style Champagne Method (Méthode Champenoise). At Cricova, you will have the possibility to visit the unique production of sparkling wine and find out about all the process of producing it.
Cricova holds over 150 medals obtained at the most prestigious competitions and wine tastings of the world. The galleries have been visited by presidents of various states, government delegations, as well as by the cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin, the first human to journey into outer space in 1961. Yuri Gagarin, who visited Cricova in 1966 said: “There is a great abundance of wonderful wines in these cellars. Even the most fastidious person will find here wine to their liking. I wish you to fill the existing cellars with a multitude of medals for excellent wines. If there is not enough metal one the Earth to imprint medals, I will deliver it from the moon or other planets”.
Milestii Mici winery was founded in 1969 in Milestii Mici village. It appeared after the extraction of limestone deposits and has become famous for its “Golden Collection”, holding over 1.5 million bottles that was registered in the Guinness World Records, as the biggest wine collection in the world. The total number of bottles stored in the underground cellars of Milestii Mici is over 2 million. Moreover, measuring about 200 km, all the underground streets make up the largest network of caves ever dug by a human being, assigning Milestii Mici the title of the largest wine cellar in the world. While travelling through Milestii Mici galleries, at a depth of 40-85 m, you will discover a huge underground wine city full of wines made from crops of various years, beginning with 1969, including Pinot, Traminer, Muscat, Riesling, Codru, more
etc. Before you enter the cellar, you will notice another interesting thing. Have you ever seen fountains that run wine? At Milestii Mici, before entering the cellar, you will see two wine fountains: one fountain runs red and the other one white wine. The limestone maintains in the galleries a constant humidity (85 - 95%) and temperature (+12 - 14 °C) throughout the year that ideally contributes to the wine preservation. The longer some specific red wines are stored in such ideal conditions, the more they improve. Some wines are stored for several decades in this ideal microclimate before being sold. You will feel the spirit of the old times in this wide tunnels, and the fire of sun and vigour of earth in the tasted wines.
Château Purcari winery located in Purcari village is the oldest winery in Moldova being founded in 1827. Purcari village has the advantage of being situated near the lower course of the Dniester River, in the southeastern wine region. The climate conditions are favourable for growing red grape varieties such as Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and the local variety Rara Neagra, from which aged wines are produced, which have a well-balanced taste and rich aromas. The red wines produced from grapes grown on Purcari vineyards soon became famous for exceptional taste with intense and complex bouquet. The winery is famous all over the world for its legendary wine “Negru de Purcari” - the elixir that in 1878 was highly appreciated on the international arena by being awarded the gold medal at Paris World Exhibition. French oenologists were deeply impressed by the rich flavour and intense colour of a dry wine, more
thinking that it was a Bordeaux wine. It was a big surprise when they found out that it had originated in a small village on the banks of the Dniester River. In such a way, “Negru de Purcari” wine won its first gold medal at an international exhibition and surpassed even the wines of Bordeaux. If you visit Château Purcari winery, you are highly recommended to choose the package including among other wines, the tasting of “Negru de Purcari” wine. The wines “Rosu de Purcari” and “Negru de Purcari” have been the choice of some of the world’s most recognized dignitaries.
If you are a wine enthusiast or just love to be in beautiful, pristine surroundings and listening the songs of birds, Purcari estate is definitely the place you need to visit. On the territory of the French style château, comprising a rustic hotel and 2 restaurant rooms where traditional and European dishes are served, you will see a terrace, a playground for children, tennis courts and 2 lakes with swans. If you intend to spend the night at the chateau, you can choose between a standard room, a “barrel” to sleep in or a sky house. No matter what kind of room you choose, you will surely have a pleasant stay.
Castel Mimi winery located in Bulboaca village is a destination of interest unique in Moldova. The château is currently listed among the most beautiful architectural masterpieces in the world of wine. The story of the castle begins at the end of 1893, when Constantin Mimi, the last governor of Bessarabia, plants the first grape vines on the place that would become legend over the years. He was an important personality of the 20th century and dedicated his life to wine. By applying the knowledge he acquired in Western Europe, Constantin Mimi managed to build the impressive castle in Moldova. This led him to produce great wines and raise the standards by implementing new technologies. During the guided tour at Castel Mimi winery, you will discover the Time Table that will take you back in time and will shade some light on the events the chateau witnessed throughout the history. more
Here, you will also have the possibility to spend the night at one of the seven stone chalets that combine traditional with contemporary design and overview the swimming pool. The swimming pool is 25 meters long and is ideal to spend some quality time during the hot summer days. A mini-pool is also available for small children. Here, you can enjoy lunch or dinner at Castel Mimi restaurant and try some Moldovan specific dishes, such as “baba neagră” - a local dessert of Moldovan cuisine. At the winery, the cake is garnished with Cabernet Sauvignon “Castel Mimi”, local plum jam and vanilla sauce. The wine list includes exquisite beverages, such as Castel Mimi Malbec 2015, matured 16 months in oak barrels or Pinot Gris 2016, a silver medallist at Mundus Vini in 2017.
Château Vartely winery was founded in 2008 in Orhei town. It produces wine following the full cycle: beginning with growing vines on its own vineyards and ending with wine production and bottling. Owing huge vineyards, the winery cultivates different grape varieties: white varieties such as Chardonnay, Muscat Ottonel, Sauvignon Blanc, Traminer, Feteasca Regala and red varieties such as Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Rara Neagra, Malbec, Feteasca Neagra, Syrah. Chateau Vartely stands out by its Ice Wines made of different grape varieties frozen directly on the vine with aromas revealing notes of exotic fruit. After the grapes are pressed, the pure and sweet grape juice turns into an unforgettable wine. The exclusive Taraboste wines with aristocratic notes, produced in limited quantities, are a tribute to the ancestors who have developed Moldovan viticulture traditions. more
Château Vartely is a modern complex, which comprises 4 hotel-type houses, 2 restaurant rooms, 3 tasting rooms, and a huge inner yard. In the cellars and then in tasting rooms you will be acquainted with the particularities of Château Vartely wines and you will learn how they are made, kept and served.
Château Cojusna (Migdal-P) winery founded in 1995 is located in the heart of Codri, in Cojusna village. Own vineyards cover about 400 ha and the cultivated varieties are Merlot, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Cabernet. The winery is known for its dessert wines collection: Jerez, Marsala, Cabernet Sauvignon, Riesling, White Muscat and Cahors, that impress both by their dark amber colour and by their mature bouquet and sweet taste. During the tour through the complex, you will discover the underground streets, the tasting rooms and climb to the roof of the château where you will see the panorama of Cojusna village and the vineyards of the winery. The wines produced in Cojusna can be tasted in one of its special rooms. You can choose between a tasting room that has an atmosphere of Medieval Moldovan cellar and is trimmed with natural tree and stone and a tasting room that has a European classic style. more
At the tourist complex with its underground wine galleries, you are invited to learn about the Moldovan history and traditions and to taste some of the most valuable collection wines produced by the winery.
Asconi is a family-owned winery founded in 1994 in Puhoi village that achieved a lot due to modern wine making technologies. Nowadays at Asconi estate European grape varieties are grown, but special attention is paid to indigenous varieties such as Rara Neagra, Feteasca Alba, etc. On the vineyards located near Geamana village (10 kilometers far from the winery) reaching over 500 hectares, such grape varieties, as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Muscat Ottonel, Riesling, Malbec, Pinot Noir, etc., are grown. One of the features of Asconi winery is that they pick up the grapes mechanically at night when the grapes are still cold. In addition to tours and wine tastings, all the guests are invited to have a relaxing lunch or dinner at the traditional restaurant that serves traditional Moldovan dishes. more
There are outdoor terraces to enjoy the pleasant and warm weather, or you can choose to stay in the stone and clay built restaurant and enjoy the authentic decor.
“Pivnițele din Brănești” (Branesti Cellars)
Branesti Cellars are located in Branesti village, in a beautiful forest area near the Cultural, Natural and Landscape Reserve “Orheiul Vechi”. The winery covers an area of 75 ha, and has 58 km of underground cellars, reaching depths of 60 m below ground. There are two tasting rooms at Branesti, one of which is located underground. They have an impressive architecture being decorated with wood and metal and reproducing images related to grape-growing and winemaking. Here the guests are able to enjoy white and red wines, sparkling wines, traditional dishes, as well as taste the mineral water “Poiana Branesti” bottled at a depth of 75 m below ground.
The Stone Age Complex offers you the possibility to escape from civilization and city noise.
In Ulmu village, in the very heart of Codri, in a picturesque forest zone with a beautiful meadow, Poiana winery is located. The legend says that in one of the autumn days, a beautiful deer came to the vineyard. Eating out of the sweet grapes, his horns tangled in the vine. His yell attracted the pickers, who helped him to free himself and offered him another sweet grape. The deer ran to the forest, but at the edge of it stopped and turned to the people looking gratefully. The locals decided to name the vineyard of Ulmu - “Poiana Codrilor” (Codri Meadow), while the image of the deer became the symbol of Ulmu vineyard.The main goal of Poiana winery is to use all of the natural resources that Codri forest area has to offer. This is why, an area called “Eco Areal” was created where different grape varieties are grown with old technologies. more
Poiana winery is a relatively small establishment that produces 20,000 bottles per year. However, it is already famous outside its home country. Here, you can enjoy tasting wines and/or taste a wide range of dishes during lunch or dinner while admiring the beautiful vineyards and Codri. You can also engage in active forms of tourism such as hiking.