Romania & Moldova Wine Festival Group Tour 2025

Day 1 - Arrival in Bucharest

(29th September 2025)

Upon arrival at Bucharest airport you will meet your local guide and driver. After check-in at your 4 star hotel in the centre of Bucharest you will have a short city tour if time allows. This evening you will will enjoy a welcome dinner and wine tasting plus a presentation about Romanian wines, vineries and have the chance to talk to a professional somelier.

Day 2 - Bucharest - Peles and Bran Castle - Brasov

(30th September 2005)

After breakfast, departure to the Carpathians. On the way we will see Peles Castle in Sinaia (the summer residence of the Romanian kings, at the foot of the high Carpathians - the most beautiful mountain range of Eastern Europe). At the famous Dracula's Castle near Bran lots of tourists hope to see for a second the shadow of the feared vampire. This fortified Castle, designed in the Gothic style (14th century) and located on the top of a rock in the pass between the Bucegi and Piatra Craiului Mountains was used during the Middle Ages as a defence against the Ottoman raids. Arrival in Brasov and overnight accommodation in a 4* downtown hotel.

Day 3 - Brasov - Fagaras - Sighisoara

(1st October 2025)

A morning walking tour of Brasov will lead you to The Black Church and up Strada Prundului to Piata Unirii. Here you'll find the beautiful Church of St. Nicholas and The First Romanian School, situated on its grounds. Depart for Sighisoara, the most beautiful medieval citadel from Eastern Europe. On the way we visit Cincsor Fortified Church and enjoy a very special lunch to a Saxon family. Arrival in Sighisoara and city tour. Sighisoara was for several centuries a military and political stronghold. City highlights include: the Clock Tower (Council Tower), built in the 14th Century, Vlad the Impaler (Dracula) House, Wooden Covered Staircase, Hill Church, etc. Enjoy a short walking tour, see the famous birthplace house of Vlad the Impaler or simply Dracula, ruler of Walachia from 1456 to 1462. It was Vlad who inspired Bram Stoker's fictional creation, Count Dracula. Overnight stay in Sighisoara at a 4* hotel.

Day 4 - Sighisoara - Bicaz Gorge - Gramma Winery - Iasi

(2nd October 2025)

After breakfast, we will continue our way through the impressive sheer limestone walls of the Bicaz Gorges in the Eastern Carpathian Mountains. Before arriving to Iasi, one of Romania's most important cultural cities, we shall discover Gramma winery. Its location at the northern limit of the vine culture, in a cold climate, offers freshness and specific complexity to Gramma wines, helping to outline a unique personality. Special wine tasting. Transfer to downtown Iasi, check in to a 4* hotel and some free time. In the evening! Surprise! Dinner in a monastery where we will enjoy a blessed wine... and have the opportunity to listen to the Byzantine church music sang by a student's choir from the Iasi Theological University.

Day 5 - Iasi - Mircesti Winery - Curchi Monastery - Chateau Vartely

(3rd October 2025)

After breakfast enjoy a city tour of Iasi. Visit of the the Metropolitan Cathedral, Culture Palace, Golia Monastery, Trei Ierarhi Church etc. The city was the capital of Moldavia from the 16th century until 1861 and of Romania (Romanian Kingdom) between 1916-1918 during World War I. Departure from Iasi, first stop to Mircesti Winery, distinguished by a picturesque view called “Little Tuscany of Moldova”. The vineyards here stretch within a unique region, suitable for the production of exceptional wines. The climatic conditions here are comparable to the wine regions of southern Germany (Rhine Valley) and with those in northern Italy. Crama Mircesti includes a white mansion, which once belonged to a landlord and which in 2011 was restored and brought back to life. At present, the vineyard covers an area of 15 hectares and as of 2020 the winery opened the doors of its own guesthouse with traditional cuisine. Continue to Curchi Monastery, a real pearl of our religious life. Here you'll visit some churches, and among them - the “Virgin's Assumption” Cathedral, built by the drawings of genius architect Bartolomeo Rastrelli. Monastic complex of Curchi consists out of: summer stone church of “The Blessed Virgin Birth”, winter churches of “The Saint Dmitrii” and “St Nicholas”, fruit garden, a lake, stone pond and monastery cemetery, a yard and a monastic building of brothers monastic cells, prior's chamber and household constructions. During the Soviet regime this place of worship was transformed into a psychiatric hospital. Until 1999 the monastery was left to its own devices, being deserted and almost ruined. Finally we arrive to Chateau Vartely, considered one of the best Moldovan wineries. Here we will enjoy dinner and a wine tasting that will also include their flag product - the ice wine. Accommodation in Chateau Vartely.

Day 6 - Chateau Vartely - Old Orhei Complex - Cricova winery - Chisinau

(4th October 2025)

Start the day with a visit to Old Orhei - a museum complex that presents the remains of different civilizations established between the Nistru and Prut rivers. Here we will discover the ruins of the “New town” of the Golden Horde called Shehr-al Gedid (XIII-XIVc.), an Orthodox cave monastery called “St. Maria Dormata” that was expanded and modified inside the cliffs by the monks over the centuries and has been preserved in a functional state. Continue to Chisinau, the capital of Republic of Moldova. Later this afternoon you will visit and try the wines of one of the biggest underground wine cities from Europe “Cricova”. Here, underground lies a real city of wine - with wide streets, warehouses, tasting-rooms and so on. The total length of the underground galleries in Cricova exceed 60 km out of the total of 120 , and the constant annual temperature is +12o C. With an average humidity of 97-98% these are perfect conditions for keeping some 30.000.000 liters of high quality wine. In Moldova only Cricova cellars employs the strict classic French technology of champagne wine production. So Cricova is a highlight of any visit to Moldova. The “Grand Cellars of Cricova” house a varied collection of wines, The National Oenotec. The unique exhibits (“Jerusalem of Easter” vintage 1902, the liqueur “Jan Becher” vintage 1902) together with other 158 brands from Burgundy, Moselle, Tokay, the Rhine, are in the collection of the establishment as well as of Moldova in general, comprising nowadays a total of about 1.3 million bottles. Among those are the trophies of the Second World War, which include wines from the collection of Hermann Göring. After the Soviets seized his private wine collection, a part of it was transferred to Crimea and the rest was brought to Cricova. Arrival to Chisinau and free time to enjoy Chisinau city by night. Accommodation in 4* hotel.

Day 7 - Wine Festival and discover Chisinau

(5th October 2025)

After breakfast you'll have a city tour about the capital of Moldova - Chisinau. Including the Central Park and the Alley of Moldovan literature classics, the monument of Steven the Great and Saint, Great National Assembly Square, the Triumph Arch, the “Nativity” Cathedral, the Organ Hall, the Market of souvenirs. Next, you shall have free time to enjoy the first day of the National Wine Festival. The National Wine Day is the biggest holiday dedicated to the product of national pride, the Moldovan wine. Nearly 100 wineries, thousands of visitors, including tourists from all around the world gather on this day in the central square of Chisinau. In the evening enjoy a special dinner with wine pairing. The local will accompany us for this meal and present the best Moldovan wines produced by small producers. You will stay in the same accommodation as the previous night.

Day 8 - Transnistria region

(6th October 2025)

Today we invite you to discover TIRASPOL (capital of Transnistria) - the old USSR is still alive and well in Transnistria. It is a breakaway territory within the internationally recognised borders of Moldova. Our first visit for today - to “Aquatir” Sturgeon Farm. Its main activity is the breeding of sturgeon pure species of Caspian and Azov-Black Sea populations, as well as the production of natural black caviar of Russian sturgeon, Sterlet, Bester (Beluga x Sterlet) and Beluga. Next, we will enjoy a visit to the main street of Tiraspol with its parliamentary building boasting a relatively new Lenin statue. Opposite, a T-34 tank from the Great Patriotic War era forms part of a monument which also contains soil from the pivotal battle of Stalingrad. You probably won't miss the Soviet-style banners either! Contrary to popular perceptions, Tiraspol is a quiet and peaceful city with no military activity since 1992. Back to Moldova and further drive to Chateau Purcari. This is also your accommodation for the evening. Centuries-old traditions in viticulture and wine making of Purcari area formed the basis of a modern winemaking enterprise, which is the only owner and keeper of Purcari zone elite wines production. The Purcari wine-making enterprise looks like a real chateau and it is the only place where people can get a notion of peculiar natural conditions along with the knowledge about the history, secrets and traditions of making legendary Purcari wines. You'll be impressed by the combination of the chateau's royal-like interiors and HI-Tech. Tour, wine tasting and dinner at Purcari winery. Overnight stay at Chateau Purcari.

Day 9 -Goodbye Moldova!!

(7th October 2025)

Transfer to Chisinau airport for your flights. End of your tour!

• 2,289 EUR per person = based on two people sharing a double/twin room
• 2,668 EUR per person = staying in a single room

• 29th September to 7th October 2025

• 8 nights in handpicked 4 star hotels
• 8 x breakfasts
• 1 x lunch
• 5 x dinners
• Wine tasting as per the itinerary
• Airport transfers
• Transport & English speaking guide as per the itinerary

• Please note flights are NOT included in this package. If you wish to add flights to your booking please contact us, or you are welcome to book them yourself.
• If required, we can book additional nights at the start or end of your tour, or arrange an add-on pre/post tour to any of our other destinations.
• The tour is guaranteed (min 2 people) and we expect between 6 and 10 guests.