Culture, Wine And Food Tour In Moldova

CULTURE, WINE AND FOOD TOUR IN MOLDOVA

Day 1: Arrival, visit of Asconi winery and Chisinau city tour

Chisinau - Puhoi - Chisinau

On arrival at Chisinau International Airport, you will be transferred to Puhoi village where you will enjoy an excursion, wine tasting, and dinner at Asconi winery. This is a family-owned winery, whose foundation is a long-standing tradition and experience in the production of Moldovan wine.

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.

After dinner, you will be transferred to Chisinau where you check-in at the hotel.

Next, you will enjoy a walking city tour of Chisinau which is the main administrative, scientific and cultural center 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.

HIGHLIGHTS: Asconi winery, Chisinau city,

Day 2: Caviar and Brandy Tasting in Tiraspol

Chisinau – Tighina – Tiraspol – Chisinau

In the morning, you will discover Tighina Fortress located in Tighina town and built in the 15th century by the prince of Moldova, Stephen the Great. Originally built as a small wooden fort, it was later fortified in stone by the prince of Moldova, Petru Rares.

Occupied by the Ottomans in 1538 (in a campaign led by the sultan Suleiman the Magnificent), the fort was strengthened in 1541 and became the center of an Ottoman "Raya" (which were included the surrounding Moldavian villages). In the 18th century, the fort was strengthened by Moldovan craftsmen under the direct supervision of Dimitrie Cantemir.

Tighina Fortress is an architectural ensemble of the irregular quadrilateral plan, surrounded by wide walls, 2-3 meters thick, made of limestone and brick.

Next, you will be transferred to Tiraspol where you will visit Aquatir Sturgeon Complex, one of the largest hatcheries in Europe. The complex is equipped with the latest technologies and the fish can reach the size of a man. You will get the chance to taste one of the most expensive culinary delights – black caviar accompanied with a glass of brut sparkling wine or vodka.

In the afternoon, you will have lunch at a restaurant in Tiraspol.

After lunch, you will visit Kvint wine and brandy factory where harmony, refinement, and tradition underlie the oldest and most genuine spirits. Here you will be acquainted with the taste of 8-25 years old spirits such as Nistru, Surprise, Tiraspol, Kvint Solnechny, and Victoria.

In the evening, you will have dinner at Vatra Neamului restaurant in Chisinau.

HIGHLIGHTS: Tighina Fortress, Aquatir Sturgeon Complex, Kvint wine, and brandy factory,

Day 3: Visit of Orheiul Vechi - a 40-thousand-year-old natural amphitheater and wine and food experience at Cricova winery

Chisinau – Curchi – Butuceni – Orheiul Vechi – Cricova – Chisinau

The day will begin with the visit to Central Market in Chisinau, where you will have the opportunity to taste and buy quality ecological products right from the local farmer and producer. Walnuts, almonds, honey, different kinds of greens, fruits, and vegetables are grown in the most ecological conditions.

The day will continue at Curchi Monastery. The monastery is surrounded by a high wall of stone, set with towers at each corner, creating the impression of a fortress. The Nativity of Virgin Mary Church built-in 1775 by Iordache Curchi is an example of a neo-byzantine style, while St. Nicholas Church has monumental forms built in classicism style with baroque elements.

In the afternoon, you will have lunch at a guesthouse in Butuceni village where you will taste dishes from the local cuisine.

After lunch, you will visit Orheiul Vechi (Old Orhei) - a natural amphitheater revealing a territory that 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 remnants of the first human settlements were found in the stone caverns from here.

On the rocky hill, you will find the ruins of a strong Geto-Dacian fortification, which acted as a sanctuary for celebrating religious holidays and rituals in this prehistoric community. The originality of the 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.

The journey will continue at 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 to Cricova winery on 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. You will also visit the unique production of sparkling wine, where a professional guide will tell you about all the processes of producing sparkling wines using the famous French-style Méthode Champenoise.

In one of the tasting rooms, the sommelier will explain the rules of wine tasting and help you better reveal the taste and bouquet of each type of wine. Moreover, you will have dinner at Cricova underground restaurant, so that you can experience all the splendors of this place.

HIGHLIGHTS:

Central Market in Chisinau, Curchi Monastery, Traditional dishes at Butuceni guesthouse, Cultural, Natural, and Landscape Reserve Orheiul Vechi, Cricova winery,

Day 4: Castel Mimi Winery – An Architectural Masterpiece in the World of Wine

Chisinau – Bulboaca – Chisinau

In the morning, you can enjoy visiting “Mihai Eminescu” Theatre Square, where you will be amazed by the souvenir market with national tourism brand “Moldova – discover the routes of life”, Viorica Cosmetics - cosmetic company store and Moldovan brands “Din inima”. Then, good places for shopping are “Sun City”, “Grand Hall” and “Jumbo” commercial centers and “Moldova” shopping centers.

The day will continue at Castel Mimi winery located in Bulboaca village - 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 grapevines on the place that would become legend over the years. Here, you will taste 5 types of Castel Mimi wines associated with different types of snacks.

After the visit to Castel Mimi winery, you will be transferred to Chisinau International Airport.

HIGHLIGHTS: Castel Mimi winery,