TRAVEL TO THE LAND OF WINE – MOLDOVA

7 days / 6 nights
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FEEL THE TASTE OF MOLDOVAN WINES!

Travel to the Land of Wine in Moldova and discover the most important wineries in the country! Travel in the tourist train at Cricova winery and discover the Stone Age Complex of Pivnitele din Branesti winery. Visit Asconi family winery and have a stop at Castel Mimi winery - a destination of interest unique in Moldova currently listed among the most beautiful architectural masterpieces in the world of wine. Taste one of the most expensive culinary delights – caviar with sparkling wine or vodka at Aquatir Sturgeon Complex and 5 types of aged brandy including Victoria (25 years old) and Jubilee (30 years old) in Transnistria and discover the oldest winery of southern Moldova - Vinuri de Comrat winery, in Gagauzia. Relax at Et Cetera family winery and taste the legendary wine “Negru de Purcari” at Château Purcari winery.



Highlights

Chisinau city

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Pivnitele din Branesti...

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Cultural, Natural and...

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Cricova winery

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Alexander Pushkin Museum

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Asconi winery

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Castel Mimi winery

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Et Cetera winery

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Château Purcari winery

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National Gagauz Museum of...

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Karagani winery

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Comrat city

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Vinuri de Comrat winery

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Aquatir Sturgeon Complex

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Kvint wine and brandy...

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Itinerary A day-by-day plan to guide your journey. Download PDF

Day 1: Arrival day

Chisinau

On arrival at Chisinau International Airport, you will be transferred to your accommodation in Chisinau. After settling in, you can have a walk through downtown and explore the city centre on your own.

Day 2: Wine tasting at Pivintele din Branesti and Cricova wineries

Chisinau – Branesti – Trebujeni – Orheiul Vechi – Cricova – Chisinau

The day will begin with the city tour of Chisinau which is the main administrative, scientific and cultural centre of Moldova. During the tour, you will discover pieces of history and culture of the city such as the Nativity of Christ Cathedral, the Bell Tower, the Arch of Triumph, the Monument of Stephen the Great, etc.

The day will continue at Pivnitele din Branesti winery where you will enjoy an excursion and wine tasting. The Stone Age Complex of Pivnitele din Branesti winery is situated in an old limestone mine at a depth of 60 meters. Thanks to the absence of internet and mobile communications guests can escape from civilization and city noise.

You will have lunch at a local guesthouse in Trebujeni village.

After lunch, you will set off on a time travel to Orheiul Vechi (Old Orhei) to see a natural amphitheater revealing a territory which was first inhabited 40 000 years ago. The Cultural, Natural and Landscape Reserve Orheiul Vechi includes a series of historical and cultural monuments as well as natural landscapes in the gorge of the Raut River. Ancient fortifications, cave monasteries, monks and hermits – here you can follow the history of this region. The originality of Orheiul Vechi landscape is due to the gorge of the Raut River, dug under the form of a canyon in the limestone layers of the former Sarmatian Sea, about 14 million years ago.

You will continue your journey to Cricova winery – the only wine enterprise that was awarded the highest state prize “The Order of the Republic” and has been declared by law a national cultural heritage. During the excursion at Cricova winery in the tourist train, at a depth of 80 m, you will discover the wonders of this place. Cricova underground galleries are formed by over seventy streets covering an area of nearly 120 km, each bearing Bacchic names: Sauvignon, Cabernet, Cahors, etc. The jewel of the underground treasure is the National Collection, including over 600 types of wine totaling about 1 million bottles. Here you will admire the oldest bottle of wine - "Jewish Easter Wine", dating from 1902, discover the tastes of Cricova wines.

After discovering Cricova wines you will enjoy dinner at a local restaurant in Chisinau.


HIGHLIGHTS: Chisinau city, Pivnitele din Branesti winery, Cultural, Natural and Landscape Reserve Orheiul Vechi, Cricova winery

Day 3: Asconi family winery and Castel Mimi winery - architectural masterpiece in the world of wine

Chisinau – Puhoi – Bulboaca – Chisinau

In the morning you will have an excursion at Alexander Pushkin Museum, an important cultural monument in Chisinau.  The great Russian poet A.S. Puskin was sent into exile to Moldova for a period of 3 years (1820 – 1823). While staying here, the poet gifted the world of literature the immortal poems like, "To Ovid", "The faithful Greek woman does not cry", "Eugene Onegin", "The Queen of Spades" and others.

You will continue the day at Asconi winery founded in 1994 and located in Puhoi village. The winery achieved a lot due to modern wine making technologies. Nowadays at Asconi estate European varieties are grown, but special attention is paid to indigenous varieties such as Rara Neagra, Feteasca, etc. One of the features of Asconi winery is that they pick up the grapes mechanically at night when the grapes are still cold. During the excursion, wine tasting and lunch at the winery you will be able to discover the wonders of this place.

Next stop will be in Bulboaca village at Castel Mimi winery - a destination of interest unique in Moldova. Castel Mimi 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. Here, you will an excursion and taste Castel Mimi wines.

In the evening, you will have dinner at a local restaurant in Chisinau.



HIGHLIGHTS: Alexander Pushkin Museum, Asconi winery, Castel Mimi winery

 

What's included

  • 6 nights accommodation in a double (DBL) or twin (TWN) room at the hotel of your choice in Chisinau;
  • Breakfast at the hotel of your choice;
  • Lunch on day 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 of the itinerary;
  • Dinner on day 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 of the itinerary;
  • Excursions on the entire itinerary;
  • Entrance fees according to the itinerary;
  • Tasting of 3 types of wine at Pivnitele din Branesti winery, 4 types of wine at Cricova winery, 3 types of wine at Asconi winery, 5 types of wine at Castel Mimi winery, 5 types of wine at Et Cetera winery, 4 types of wine at Château Purcari winery, 5 types of wine at Karagani winery and 5 types of wine at Vinuri de Comrat winery;
  • Transportation during the entire itinerary;
  • English speaking guide.