Beciurile Cricova Travel Guide

Cricova Winery, located just outside Chișinău, is more than just a winery; it's an underground city with a rich history and a vast network of tunnels stretching over 120 kilometers. These tunnels, originally carved out in the 15th century as limestone mines to build Chișinău, were transformed into a wine emporium in the 1950s. Today, half of these roadways are used for wine storage, with streets named after the wines they house, such as Cabernet, Feteasca, and Sauvignon.Descend to depths of up to 80 meters below ground, where the temperature remains a constant 12-14°C and humidity hovers around 97-98%, creating ideal conditions for aging wine. Explore the cellars by electric mini-train, and discover the National Oenotec, a remarkable collection of over 1.3 million bottles of wine, including unique exhibits like the "Jerusalem of Easter" vintage from 1902. Legend has it that cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin once spent two days exploring these cellars, and Vladimir Putin celebrated his 50th birthday here.Cricova produces sparkling wines using the traditional French method, "Méthode Traditionnelle," and is the first company in Moldova to do so. The winery also boasts five underground tasting halls, each uniquely decorated, including the European Hall, Casa Mare, and the Presidential Hall. Visitors can also see the underground cinema, museum, and even a chapel.