FROM THE BALTIC TO THE BLACK SEA
Wine Tour of Moldova Small Group Tour 2022
For wine aficionados who love new travel experiences and pioneering wine tasting!
Moldova is a relatively new wine destination for many, but is fast being recognised for excellent wines. Moldova has been the most awarded Eastern European country at several different International Wine Competitions in the last couple of years. Come and experience Moldovan wine culture, wine making, and wine tastings in Moldova’s key wine regions.
Our exceptional guide will make sure you experience the very best of winery visits with educational, comparative wine tastings and also explore the most picturesque sites of this sunny country. Come and enjoy the most unique experiences of meeting local wine producers and specialists, visiting homes of Moldovan families and learning about our special wines, our daily life and cultural traditions.
6 nights * Dep 19th April 2022 * Specialist wine tour of Moldova * Lots of wineries, vineyards & wine tasting * Small group tour * From EUR pp
Day 1: Arrival to Chisinau
Upon arrival at Chisinau airport you will meet your local guide and wine connoisseur. Drive to and check-in at your 4 star hotel in the centre of Chisinau. Enjoy a special welcome dinner in a local wine restaurant specialising in quality Moldovan wines by small producers from the three main wine growing regions. We will have a professional introduction to Moldovan indigenous grape varieties and learn how to pair them with traditional food.
Day 2: Chisinau - MIMI Wine Castle
After breakfast, we will participate in the Wine Festival and take a guided walking tour of Chisinau. The tour will include highlights such as The Central Park, the Alley of Moldovan literature classics, the monument of Steven the Great, Great National Assembly Square, the Triumph Arch, the Nativity Cathedral, the Organ Hall, the souvenir market and more. Lunch time is free to try a local restaurant.
Later in the afternoon we will drive to Bulboaca Village and visit MIMI Wine Castle, which is currently listed among the most beautiful architectural masterpieces in the world of wine. Learn about how in 1893 Constantin Mimi, the last governor of Bessarabia, planted the very first grape vines here. This area of Codru has a unique micro climate and a very good soil, producing intense and aromatic wines. Today the Castle Mimi winery produces classical wines like Chardonnay, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and also indigenous wines like Feteasca Alba, Feteasca Neagra and Rara Neagra. Enjoy a tour, wine tasting, dinner in the castle and then return to Chisinau to the same hotel.
Day 3: GOGU Winery - Purcari Chateau Winery
Because the best way to understand how wine is made is to visit a winery and talk to the winemaker today we will stop for a tasting to the family run Gogu Winery. Here we will meet the owner, a trendsetter and a young winemaker who is practically revolutionizing the wines in Moldova. We will go down into the wine cellar, and see what fermentation really looks and smells like, followed by a traditional lunch and tasting of their exclusive wines.
Next we visit Purcari Chateau and check in. Purcari Chateau winery encompasses centuries-old traditions in viticulture and wine making of the Purcari area, which formed the basis of the modern wine-making enterprise - Purcari. The Purcari vineyard 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 modern hi-tech mix, and take note that Purcari wines are now listed on Her Majesty the Queen of England wine list. Enjoy a tour, wine tasting and dinner before our overnight stay here.
Day 4: Etcetera Winery - Transnistria - Kvint Distillery
Today's adventure will be visiting the vineyards of 'Et Cetera ', that were planted in 2003 in the village of Crocmaz, Stefan Voda region, with a unique micro-zone ideally fit for growing great vineyards. The winery was built in 2009 and at the moment is surrounded by more than 50 ha of vineyards, giving a picturesque view to the visitors. The owners of the winery are two brothers - Alexandru and Igor Luchianov. Etcetera is one of the best wineries in Moldova, as in 2016 they won second price at 'Decanter' with their Chardonnay. We take wine tasting and lunch at Etcetera.
After lunch, we explore something different and unique about Moldova. Drive to Transnistria - a breakaway territory within the internationally recognized borders of Moldova, that still retains the look of a Communist state and it's called “the last remaining Stalinist dictatorship in Europe”. First we will visit Bender Fortress: an impressive fortress built by the Turks in 16th century and the place where in 1713 Charles XII of Sweden had taken refuge after his defeat in the Battle of Poltava.
We end the day with a brandy tasting at 'Kvint'. This distillery is one of the oldest Moldovan enterprises established in 1897 in Tiraspol which produces yearly more than 20 million bottles of wine, brandy, liqueur and vodka. The brandies from Tiraspol won 3 Super-Grand-Prix, 21 Grand-Prix and over 180 gold and silver medals in international and regional tastings and contests.
Overnight in 4* hotel in Tiraspol. Independent dinner.
Day 5: Tiraspol - Cricova Wine Cellars - Chateau Vartely Winery
Today let's discover one of the most unique places in Europe - Tiraspol, the capital of the breakaway state of Transnistria. In Tiraspol we set off on foot to view the numerous war memorials including those commemorating the 1992 Civil War and Trans-Dniester War, and the Supreme Court, Statue of Lenin, De Volan Park etc. On the opposite side of the central square, a monument plaza features a Soviet T-34 tank, commemorating the Soviet victory in World War II.
Continue with a visit to the world-famous Moldovan Cellars - Cricova, which is a real underground wine city with wide streets, warehouses, tasting rooms. The total length of its galleries is 120 km. The constant annual temperature of + 12ºC and 82-95 % humidity are perfect conditions for aging quality wines there. Moldova is recognized for its good wine and back in the Soviet era the country was known as the 'the vineyard of the USSR'. They've been producing wine here since the 1950s and have a number of wines that have won prestigious awards. Cricova is also well known for brilliant sparkling-wines produced by the classic French method. Tasting of Cricova sparkling wines is included.
Our wine journey through Moldova continues as we visit Chateau Vartely, a modern company, that combines the latest technology in grape cultivation and processing with the passion for quality wine production. Own vineyards in the Codru and Bugeac steppe regions of Moldova guarantee the exquisite quality of wine. Its first-class wines made from both European and local varieties have placed “Château Vartely” high in the top of Moldovan winemakers and among the top preferences of consumers in Moldova and abroad. They produce a range of fine wines that have obtained a considerable number of appreciators all over the world. Experience a tasting of sweet wines and learn about the 4 major types of dessert wine: White and Red Liqueur Wines, Late Harvest Wines, Ice Wines, but also rich in taste enobled wines with a touch of noble rot.
(And we will bring an Aszu wine from Tokaj to top up the experience!)
Dinner and overnight at Chateau Vartely.
Day 6: Orheiul Vechi - Local Cookery - Chisinau
No trip to Moldova is complete without a visit to Orheiul Vechi (Old Orhei) - an Open-Air Museum Complex, which is “arguably Moldova's most fantastic sight”. First let's stop and visit a family for a cooking masterclass and learn how to prepare the traditional Moldovan pies - 'Placinte'. While the pies bake in the oven, we will visit an Orthodox cave monastery called “St. Maria Dormata” expanded and modified inside the cliffs by the monks over the centuries ago and preserved in a functional state. Coming back to our hosts we will enjoy a very special lunch, trying also the “placinte” we have made. Traditional dishes will be served with the best local wine, while the organic herbal tea, accompanied by homemade jams will surprise you with their amazing taste.
Back to Chisinau. A farewell dinner and to complete our Moldovan Wine Adventure, a tasting that will teach us that a proper glass makes any wine taste better! Whether your wine is white, rosé, red or sparkling, the bouquet plays a vital role in its overall presentation. Each wine style has specific characters in terms of acidity, fruitiness, tannins and alcohol, and the different glass shapes intensify or softens those attributes. So, let's explore Moldovan Winemaking potential and how choosing the right wine glass can enhance your wine-drinking experience. Bottoms up!
Day 7: End of the tour
Check-out from the hotel and our guide and driver will take you to the airport for your flight home. End of the tour! KIV
Overview
DEPARTURE DATE 2022
Tour Departure Date - Tour End Date
19th - 25th April 2022
HOTELS
Chisinau - 4* central hotel
Tiraspol - 4* central hotel
Vineyard Chateau hotel
Notes
FLIGHTS
Flights are NOT included. We are happy for you to book your own flights, or if you prefer, we can do this for you. Please contact us for flight options and prices.
TAILOR THIS TO SUIT YOU
All our individual itineraries can be altered to suit you. If you don't see the trip you want, please contact us to discuss your plans - we can arrange anything!
GROUPS & SMALL GROUPS OF FRIENDS
For groups of friends we can offer discounts on our itineraries, or tailor an itinerary to better suit your group! Please contact us directly to discuss your plans.
More Reviews
THE TRIP TO MOLDOVA WAS UNIQUE AND TRULY GREAT IN EVERY SENSE, AN UNFORGETTABLE EXPERIENCE!
The trip to Moldova was unique and truly great in every sense, an unforgettable experience! We had a fantastic time and enjoyed every minute. The two guides, were not only exceptionally nice and forthcoming, they went an extra mile to give us the best possible experience. We would give them 5 out 5 stars! Accommodation and restaurants were excellent. The two highlights for us were the sturgeon farm in Transnistria and the wine tasting in Chisinau. We also ordered some wine now through the guide, who will send everything in the coming days. Thanks for your quick response and for organizing this trip. I will certainly contact you again before our next trip.
MR PERNET, MOLDOVA TAILOR-MADE PRIVATE TOUR, OCTOBER 2021
AN OUTSTANDING TRIP TO MOLDOVA
Just returned last night from an OUTSTANDING trip to Moldova. My daughter and I genuinely fell in love with the country and the inhabitants. A key factor was the top professional and very wonderful [guide]. She was the best guide ever and I cannot recommend her enough.
MS KAAS, MOLDOVA PRIVATE TOUR, AUGUST 2021
TRANSNISTRA WAS THE MOST UNUSUAL
I had a really good time. My tour of Chisinau was led by Christina and Vladimir and they did a great job. The wineries and the monasteries fun. And, of course, Transnistra was the most unusual. I have been to both the Soviet Union and Russia, and this was really a step back in time.
MRS DERINGER, MOLDOVA PRIVATE TOUR, MAY 2016
THANKS AGAIN, AND KEEP UP THIS HIGH STANDARD!
We have returned from our trip to Moldova and Transnistria and just wanted to tell you that it was excellent and far exceeded even our high expectations. The tour guide (Elena) and the driver were exceptionally good throughout. We also much appreciated the time we spent with local peasant families, sharing meals with them, or learning more about their ancient customs. Thanks again, and keep up this high standard!
MR & MRS SPINKS, MOLDOVA PRIVATE TOUR, AUGUST 2018
A MEMORABLE TRIP TO A LARGELY UNKNOWN PART OF THE WORLD
Just wanted to say that the recent Moldova trip was an excellent introduction to a fascinating, beautiful country with a complex history but the most friendly, hospitable people and culture. The traditional food was great and the wines amongst the best I have ever tasted. Transnistria was like going back in time and the Victory Day Parade was surreal but highly entertaining and poignant at the same time, especially the Immortals parade. Thanks again to you and the team for a memorable trip to a largely unknown part of the world.
MR LANCASTER, MOLDOVA VICTORY DAY TOUR, MAY 2018
WE WOULD CERTAINLY RECOMMEND VISITING MOLDOVA
It is indeed now sometime since we arrived back from our holiday in Moldova but we still have very fond memories of the trip. My wife was especially touched by Vladimir's young daughter presenting her with a picture which she had painted as a birthday gift. The hotel in Chisinau was excellent and lived up to its 5 star rating. Chisinau has many interesting places to see and we enjoyed going around the city by the local trams and buses. Other highlights were the visit to the Milesti Mici wine cellars and the fascinating trip to Transnistra. All the arrangements worked well and we would certainly recommend visiting Moldova to people who would like to gosomewhere different and interesting and to use Baltic Holidays to do so.
MR & MRS PENFOLD, PRIVATE TOUR OF MOLDOVA, MAY 2017
THEY WERE VERY KIND AND MADE OUR TOUR VERY SPECIAL
We liked very much our tour! I would like to tell you that we liked specially the guides from Ukraine, Belarus, Kaliningrad and Vilnius. They were very kind and made our tour very special. In general, we liked all the hotels! Thanks a lot!
FABRICIO, TAILOR-MADE TOUR TO UKRAINE, MOLDOVA, BELARUS, KALININGRAD & LITHUANIA, AUGUST 2017
A MEMORABLE TRIP TO A LARGELY UNKNOWN PART OF THE WORLD
Just wanted to say that the recent Moldova trip was an excellent introduction to a fascinating, beautiful country with a complex history but the most friendly, hospitable people and culture. The traditional food was great and the wines amongst the best I have ever tasted. Transnistria was like going back in time and the Victory Day Parade was surreal but highly entertaining and poignant at the same time, especially the Immortals parade. Thanks again to you and the team for a memorable trip to a largely unknown part of the world.
MR LANCASTER, MOLDOVA VICTORY DAY TOUR, MAY 2018
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