Moldova Wine Tour

A Wine Tour that will fulfill your desires for an unforgettable experience.

TOUR OVERVIEW

Moldova has a well-established wine industry, and its wine is considered one of the best in Europe, with a long tradition of winemaking. Wine is the country's biggest export, and it is exported throughout Europe, Asia, and the United States. Besides the commercial production, families in the villages produce their own wine using recipes and strands of grapes that have been passed down through the generations.

This tour is especially designed for the wine lover. We take you to visit the incredible wineries in Moldova, see the vineyards that spread across the country, explore Chisinau, the capital city, as well as excursions to nearby towns. The Moldova Wine Tour will introduce the wine connoisseur to some of the best wineries in the country for extravagant wine tastings and sumptuous Moldovan food. We will tour the famous wine cellars where the visitor can drive through miles of underground roads leading near the capital, Chisinau. You will delight your wine tasting with famous Moldovan wines such as Negru de Purcari, a famous high quality red dry Moldovan wine produced from Cabernet Sauvignon, Rara Neagră and Saperavi grapes and Romanesti. Also popular are French varieties such as Pinot Blanc, Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, Aligote, Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc, Gamay, and Muscat Blanc.

At the end of the tour, you will leave with a great appetite to return to Moldova to feast on its culture, beauty, and of course, its great wine selections. So, join us on this Moldovan exploration of great wine and sights of this Eastern European destination that is bound to make you want more.

DAY BY DAY ITINERARY

DAY 1 - ARRIVE IN CHISINAU, MOLDOVA

Tour participants fly to Frankfurt, Germany, and change flights to arrive in Chisinau, Moldova. Moldova 4Ever Tour Guides will meet tour participants at the Chisinau International Airport. After checking in your choice of accommodation (hotel or apartment), we'll go for a relaxing dinner at one of Chisinau's top restaurants.

Dinner

DAY 2 - CHISINAU ORIENTATION, WINE HOUSE, CHATEAU VARTELY

The day begins with breakfast at one of Chisinau's popular eating spots in the center of Chisinau. After that, a quick orientation of the city of Chisinau. We will take a walk down Stefan cel Mare, which is the main commercial street with shops, restaurants, and more. We'll visit the park, theater, and a shopping center to get a feel for Moldovan life in the city.

Before proceeding to our first wine tour stop, an expert will enlighten us about Moldovan wine, its history, and will prepare us for our visits to the wineries.

The Wine House, a modern complex of three specialized tasting halls, will kick-off our wine tour. Situated in the picturesque park region known as the "Valea morilor" ("Valley of Mills"), it is on the territory of the "MoldExpo" Exhibition Center. There we will enjoy National Moldovan and European cuisine for lunch.

After lunch, we head to Chateau Vartely for a wonderful experience of wine tasting at this beautiful winery.

Sightseeing
Wine Tasting
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Optional Activities: Concert, Dancing

DAY 3 - CRICOVA WINERY

Cricova, about 15 km (9 miles) north of Chisinau, is the second biggest winery in Moldova, after Milestii Mici. Its underground winery spans more than 100 km. We will drive around in the underground wine cellar which has streets named after various resorts. Wine enthusiasts can enjoy the wine of his/her choice in spacious and impressive tasting halls.

Sightseeing
Wine Tasting
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Optional Activities: Movie, Dancing, Bars

DAY 4 - MILESTII MICI WINERY

Milestii Mici is recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records as being the biggest winery in the world. It is located about 12 miles (19 km) southwest of Chisinau. Its underground wine cellar has about 2 million bottles of wine, and has over 124 miles (200 km) of underground streets. Local ancient underground galleries reach the Chisinau city borders. The tour here will include, naturally, wine tasting and lunch at the elegantly decorated restaurant, which is 196 feet (60 m) below ground.

After lunch, we will head to Purcari Winery, a beautiful chateau-style facility, where we will have dinner and stay for the night. This winery is one of Moldova's main tourist attractions.

Activities:
Sightseeing
Wine Tasting
Tennis
Fishing and Fire

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 5 - PURCARI WINERY

Vinăria Purcari is the oldest wine estate in Moldova. Established in 1827, it has a long and proud heritage. Negru de Purcari and Roşu de Purcari are two of the most authentic Moldovan wines that are produced there. The winery, small by Moldovan standards, is located in the southwestern corner of the country in the Purcari region. where outstanding red wine are produce. Since 2004, the winery has been awarded 29 medals and one Grand Prix at many of the world's top wine competitions.

At Purcari, you can fish for carp or trout at the lakes, and have your catch cooked for you right at the harbor. Chateau Purcari has a well-equipped tennis court if you want to take in some exercise while here, or just play a fun game of pool.

Activities:
Wine Tasting
See how the wine is made

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 6 - VILLAGE WINE TASTING IN ORHEI

Try homemade wine from several villagers' cellars. Moldova has a tradition of winemaking all over the country. Each home produces their own wine, and have their own makeshift wine cellar. We will visit a traditional Moldovan village and house, meet some of the villages and have a feast with them. The tour includes a visit to one of Moldova's oldest monastery-fortress built inside the mountain of this medieval city Orheiul Vechi. Take breathtaking pictures of this picturesque environment.

Our day continues to the town of Soroca for some great sightseeing. We will stay in Soroca for the night, and have some great traditional Moldovan food.

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 7 - SOROCA FORTRESS; LEISURE TIME, SHOPPING, AND ENTERTAINMENT

We start the day by visiting the Gratitude Monument, then the famous Soroca Fortress on the bank of the Nistru River. We finish our Soroca visit with a tour of the large Gypsy community and their magnificently built homes.

Return to Chisinau and visit Moldova's newest mall, Moldova Mall. Stop by the Chocolate Factory for some delicious treats. Have some free time, and meet for dinner in the evening.

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Optional Activities: Dancing, Bar Hopping, Casino

DAY 8 - RETURN HOME

Go to airport for the flight back home.

Tour Cost: * $980
The tour cost covers transportation, airport transfers, border fees, tour guides, interpreters, wine tasting, tips, all meals, entrance fees, and incidentals. It does not cover airfare, accommodations, dinner drinks (except soft drinks and juices), or evening activities/entertainment.

Trip Length: 8 days (option to stay for 10 days, if interested)

Tour Dates: May 26 - June 3; June 16-24

* Prices are per person.
Hotels: Room rates for hotels range from 55 Euro to 250 Euro per day. Hotel ratings cannot be compared to those in the US, although many have star ratings similar to that found in the US.
Apartments: Renting an apartment ranges from 35 Euro to 100 Euro per day. Apartments are fully furnished, are usually in or near center of downtown Chisinau, and range in comfort level. You can go from simple to very upscale. Several people can share the costs of the apartment, if desired.
Airfare: Typical airfare from the US-Frankfurt-Chisinau ranges $700 to $1,200 depending on the season. Night entertainment will range from $10-$25 per night.

Los Angeles Times Article: Exploring Moldova's Wine Caves.