Also: Food Day Trips in Chisinau
Food destinations within easy reach of Chișinău, worth the early start.
Food destinations within easy reach of Chișinău, worth the train, the rental car or the early start.
Food experience to Cricova Winery
Best of Moldova: Cricova Winery & Old Orhei and Curchi Monastery
Famous for World's largest underground wine cellar (Guinness World Record, 1.5 million bottles), guided tour by electric train, on-site cellar restaurant
Mileștii Mici is the Guinness-record cellar 30 min south of Chișinău, with 200 km of tunnels, an electric-train tour and a dining room 57 m underground.
Drive south from Chișinău on E581 or via guided wine-tour van; advance reservation required
Famous for 120 km of underground avenues named after grapes, National Oenoteca, Soviet-era heritage labels and cellar-tasting halls
Cricova 15 km north of Chișinău is the labyrinth winery where the underground avenues are named after grape varieties, with tastings 70 m below ground.
Drive north from Chișinău on M2 or via wine-tour operator; advance reservation required
Famous for The only true Wine Castle in Moldova (1893, Constantin Mimi), White Owl fine dining, Wine Spa and chalets
Castel Mimi 40 km east of Chișinău is the only Wine Castle in Moldova, with the White Owl fine-dining room, a maze garden, a Wine Spa and cellar tours.
Drive east from Chișinău on M21 or via Castel Mimi shuttle; reservations recommended
Famous for 1827 estate, the home of Negru de Purcari (royal cellars), tasting halls and Wine Hotel on site
Château Purcari 110 km south-east of Chișinău is the historic 1827 estate that makes Negru de Purcari, with cellar tours, tastings and a Wine Hotel on site.
Drive south-east from Chișinău on M3 toward the Dniester; reservations required
Make a night of it
Hotels in Château Purcari
Famous for Family winery, French and indigenous varietals (Fetească Neagră, Rară Neagră), 12 thatched-roof chalets, Asconi and Sol Negru restaurants
Asconi 35 km south of Chișinău is the family winery on 500 hectares, with two restaurants, 12 thatched-roof chalets and a tasting flight of up to seven wines.
Drive south from Chișinău on R3; reservation required
Famous for Codru region winery (1995), French-château touring complex, 4 tasting halls, Cojușna Tower views
Château Cojușna 15 km west of Chișinău is the Codru winery built like a French château, with four tasting halls, a tower and a sit-down restaurant on site.
Drive west from Chișinău on M1; reservation required, Mon-Fri 10:00-17:00
Famous for Limestone-valley archaeological complex, rock monastery, Butuceni guesthouses with traditional Moldovan home-cooking and corn-husk crafts
Orheiul Vechi 60 km north-east of Chișinău is the limestone-valley village and rock monastery, with Butuceni guesthouses serving home-cooked Moldovan meals.
Drive north-east from Chișinău to Trebujeni and Butuceni villages
