Cricova - for wine lovers

The Cricova Winery is a place that makes Moldova very special for the wine lovers.

The largest underground wine cellar in the world is “hidden” here. Cricova currently has top name recognition in Moldova.

Just 15 km North of Chisinau, the capital of Moldova, Cricova mines lay deep underground. The mined limestone has been used for centuries to build the city of Chisinau and surrounding towns.

It is a labyrinth of subterranean streets, named after wine types, so you can stagger along Cabernet Street before crawling east into Pinot Noir Street and then on Chardonnay, Sauvignon, Feteasca, Aligote, Muscat Streets and so on. You need to have a guide not to get lost. The most fun is to drive a car in this world of large oak barrels filled with aged wine. It is so spacious down there that even a large truck can drive in.

Cricova’s museum stores the country’s national collection of 1.2 millions of bottles of 653 names of local and world brands. The oldest wine is from 1902 named «Jewish Easter Wine» and the oldest bottle of liqueur is from the same year «Yan Bekher Liqueur».

At the end of your tour you are invited to taste 7 types of wine and  cheese variety in one of the tasting hall.