Would you like to plunge into Moldova’s genuine life? Then this itinerary, dedicated to small wine producers is an invitation to taste soulful wines and enjoy the hospitality of the Moldovans, savour the unique taste of their oven-baked food, discover their traditions and follow in the footsteps of the villagers. Over the years, the small wine producers have steadily improved the quality of the product, i.e. the home-made wine, mainly used for own consumption, which grew into artisanal wine, appreciated by experts and good wine lovers. The itinerary runs for almost 200 km through the heart of the country. The adventure itinerary could be expanded by taking part in a pottery workshop at the ceramics centre “Ceramica Triboi” or by tasting the honey at the “Conacul Mierii” pension. Or, you could even stay overnight in one of the locations included in the itinerary or in a rural pension in Old Orhei – one of Moldova’s iconic tourist attractions.
Tourist attractions of the route
Mihai Sava Winery
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The Mihai Sava operation is named for a man who is so passionate about vintage making that he turned his house and yard in the Pojogana Hills into a small winery. The vineyards’ beauty and the operation’s mom-and-pop size and authenticity have been attracting a growing number of visitors. Mihai was so intent on producing...
The Mihai Sava operation is named for a man who is so passionate about vintage making that he turned his house and yard in the Pojogana Hills into a small winery. The vineyards’ beauty and the operation’s mom-and-pop size and authenticity have been attracting a growing number of visitors. Mihai was so intent on producing some of Moldova’s best vintages that he studied wine making in Anjou, France, in 2011. The owners of small operations there suggested he pair wine making with hosting tourists. Those who visit Mihai’s operation love taking a stroll on the winding paths near the winery. As lovely as the scenery is, the best part of visiting the winery is tasting his products. Bianca is his pride. Mihai produces Moldova’s only bottled version of this vintage, made from grapes with the same name.
Tronciu Winery
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Nicolae Tronciu takes pride in saying that he operates one of Moldova’s smallest wineries. His idea is to make small batches of excellent vintages that reflect the passion he puts into his product. Founded in 1997, the Tronciu Winery obtains its grapes from the modest-sized, two-hectare vineyard that Nicolae planted. The Tronciu family likes entertaining...
Nicolae Tronciu takes pride in saying that he operates one of Moldova’s smallest wineries. His idea is to make small batches of excellent vintages that reflect the passion he puts into his product. Founded in 1997, the Tronciu Winery obtains its grapes from the modest-sized, two-hectare vineyard that Nicolae planted. The Tronciu family likes entertaining visitors with terrific wine and lots of stories. Adding to visitors’ enjoyment is fresh-baked bread that Nicolae’s wife, Galina, makes in an outdoor oven.
Another point of interest to visit on this route is the Ceramica-Triboi center, a pottery workshop that gives life and color to the clay, but also caresses its guests with delicious dishes.
Ceramica Triboi handcrafting Center
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At the “Ceramica Triboi” Center you can participate in a pottery master class with master Zaharia who learned this art 30 years ago, but also his son Adrian, who is committed to combining old pottery traditions with modern and minimalist trends. In Ciorești you can admire the collection of handicrafts, buy or order a personalized...
At the “Ceramica Triboi” Center you can participate in a pottery master class with master Zaharia who learned this art 30 years ago, but also his son Adrian, who is committed to combining old pottery traditions with modern and minimalist trends. In Ciorești you can admire the collection of handicrafts, buy or order a personalized clay creation. The center also has a restaurant where visitors can enjoy delicious traditional dishes.
On the way to Tudor Winery, you should make a stop at the Honey Mansion, a guesthouse that, in addition to accommodation, also offers natural honey tastings for both the young and the old, as well as other activities that will take you out of your daily routine.
Conacul Mierii
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If you love honey, and are curious about how bees are raised, you will adore the Conacul Mierii – or Honey Mansion – inn. Surrounding the inn are fruit trees that burst into bloom in spring and dozens of brightly painted boxes containing bee colonies. You will find the area quiet, except for some soft...
If you love honey, and are curious about how bees are raised, you will adore the Conacul Mierii – or Honey Mansion – inn. Surrounding the inn are fruit trees that burst into bloom in spring and dozens of brightly painted boxes containing bee colonies. You will find the area quiet, except for some soft buzzing. Your hosts, Victor and Ana Ciolacu, work daily with the bees to produce the sweetest and healthiest honey you will ever find. They love to tell their guests – including curious little ones – about the bees’ everyday lives and how they produce honey.
Tudor Winery
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Tudor Aghenie inherited his wine-making passion from his family, which has been producing exquisite vintages for six generations. He loves showing guests his operation and having them taste his wine. Recently he decided to offer visitors a country-living experience as well. He built rustic wooden houses along the edge of woods near his vineyards where...
Tudor Aghenie inherited his wine-making passion from his family, which has been producing exquisite vintages for six generations.
He loves showing guests his operation and having them taste his wine. Recently he decided to offer visitors a country-living experience as well. He built rustic wooden houses along the edge of woods near his vineyards where visitors can enjoy the sounds of birds and crickets and breathe the clean air. Each house is decorated with traditional Moldovan carpets and towels. And each has an oven for cooking sarmale -- cabbage stuffed with pork, tomatoes and sauerkraut – and little cakes called plăcinte.
Tudor’s wine cellar contains thousands of bottles for guests to choose from, and the meals that go with the accommodations are yummy.
We hope you have some time left, because just 9 kilometers away from the Tudor Winery there is another craft winery to visit - Vornic Winery. We recommend that you contact the hosts in advance to book a trip or a tasting.
Vornic Winery
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Vinăria “Vornic” s-a născut dintr-un dor de plai, datina strămoșească și dintr-un destin familiar vornicenean în anul 2016, odata cu înființarea gospodăriei țărănesti “Miron Vladimir Gheorghe”. La baza piramidei stau cei 36 de ani dedicați vinificației de către Vladimir Miron inima și creerul acestui proiect. Iar Grigorii Miron, agronom de specialitate și frate bun,este permanent...
Vinăria “Vornic” s-a născut dintr-un dor de plai, datina strămoșească și dintr-un destin familiar vornicenean în anul 2016, odata cu înființarea gospodăriei țărănesti “Miron Vladimir Gheorghe”. La baza piramidei stau cei 36 de ani dedicați vinificației de către Vladimir Miron inima și creerul acestui proiect. Iar Grigorii Miron, agronom de specialitate și frate bun,este permanent alături. Activitatea economic-financiară este dirijată de soția Natalia, licențiată în finanțe si contabilitate.
Pomușoară Dulcișoară
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What do IT, design and winemaking have in common? This question can be answered by the Lupascu family, where Geo, an IT professional, and his wife Victoria, creator of a women's clothing brand, managed through a lot of work and enthusiasm to launch in 2017 a winery right in their household from Cojusna. Although they...
What do IT, design and winemaking have in common? This question can be answered by the Lupascu family, where Geo, an IT professional, and his wife Victoria, creator of a women's clothing brand, managed through a lot of work and enthusiasm to launch in 2017 a winery right in their household from Cojusna. Although they are still small, the family of entrepreneurs managed to renovate the old cellar where they can receive guests all year round. They even have a restaurant with dishes designed by a famous chef. Pomușoara Dulcișoară Winery has an unexpected history behind it, but also many plans for the years to come.
