Codru · Mircești
Crama Mircești
Stone, tile, vineyard hills. The most atmospheric small stay in the west of the country.
- Stay
- Restaurant
Yes, go to a winery. Not this Saturday for all of them.
The ones we’d send a friend to, then the rest of the country in an order that actually helps.
The ones we would send you to.
Smaller, slower, better looking. Famous is a different chapter.
Codru · Sadova
Crama Tudor
Timber, forest, fire. The Moldovan stay you want when you do not want a château.
- Stay
- Restaurant
- Book ahead
Ștefan Vodă · Purcari
Domeniile Pripa
The counterpoint to Purcari: small, a nineteenth-century cellar, Moldovan oak.
- Book ahead
Ștefan Vodă · Crocmaz
Et Cetera
Grape to bottle, then dinner and a night among the vines. A stay, not a photograph.
- Stay
- Restaurant
Valul lui Traian · Vulcănești
Kara Gani
The wine is half the visit. The other half is a Gagauz table, in a family cellar.
- Stay
- Restaurant
- Book ahead
Codru · Ulmu
Vinăria Poiana
Contemporary architecture in the Codru hills. For a slow night, not an industrial cellar.
- Stay
- Restaurant
Still in the city.
No car. Still a real winery.
In the city · Chișinău
ATU
Moldova’s first urban winery. Serious wine, and you don’t have to leave Chișinău.
↗In the city · Chișinău
Minis Terrios
Tiny production in the city. For anyone who has already done Cricova and wants the opposite scale.
- Book ahead
The underground ones.
The Moldova story first-timers expect.
Codru · Cricova
Cricova
The underground city. If it is your first time in Moldova, this is why you go.
- Restaurant
- Book ahead
Codru · Mileștii Mici
Mileștii Mici
The other underground city. Scale is the story, plus the Golden Collection.
- Book ahead
Codru · Brănești
Brănești
A limestone mine turned cellar, a short hop from Orheiul Vechi.
- Restaurant
- Book ahead
Easy from Chișinău.
Half a day, or a night if you have the sense to stay.
Codru · Puhoi
Asconi
The easy weekend near Chișinău: wine, a Moldovan table, and a bed on site.
- Stay
- Restaurant
Codru · Bulboaca
Castel Mimi
The most complete wine stay near Chișinău: architecture, dinner, a night.
- Stay
- Restaurant
Codru · Cojușna
Château Cojușna
A classic cellar, a restaurant, and divin — an easy half-day from Chișinău.
- Stay
- Restaurant
Codru · Merenii Noi
Carlevana
Ice wine, botrytis, kosher — for unusual styles, not a weekend landscape.
- Book ahead
Codru · Ulmu
Vinăria Poiana
Contemporary architecture in the Codru hills. For a slow night, not an industrial cellar.
- Stay
- Restaurant
Codru · Orhei
Château Vartely
A resort near Orhei, easy to pair with Orheiul Vechi.
- Stay
- Restaurant
Codru · Sadova
Crama Tudor
Timber, forest, fire. The Moldovan stay you want when you do not want a château.
- Stay
- Restaurant
- Book ahead
Codru · Vorniceni
Vornic
Very small, a winemaker’s story, Floricica. The kind of stop that makes a list feel local.
- Book ahead
Ștefan Vodă.
Worth leaving town properly.
Ștefan Vodă · Purcari
Château Purcari
The 1827 estate. Far enough that a night on site makes more sense than rushing back.
- Stay
- Restaurant
Ștefan Vodă · Crocmaz
Et Cetera
Grape to bottle, then dinner and a night among the vines. A stay, not a photograph.
- Stay
- Restaurant
Ștefan Vodă · Purcari
Domeniile Pripa
The counterpoint to Purcari: small, a nineteenth-century cellar, Moldovan oak.
- Book ahead
Ștefan Vodă · Căușeni
GOGU
A tasting in the family courtyard, with the winemaker close by. The kind of stop that makes a guide feel chosen.
- Book ahead
Ștefan Vodă · Sălcuța
Sălcuța
A three-generation family producer. Useful in a full guide, not as a guaranteed stop.
↗South and west.
Days, not a Saturday.
Valul lui Traian · Tigheci
Fautor
More interesting if you care about the wines than about a resort.
- Restaurant
- Book ahead
Valul lui Traian · Plopi
Gitana
A respected producer with deep cellars. Not a packaged tourist stop.
↗Valul lui Traian · Vulcănești
Kara Gani
The wine is half the visit. The other half is a Gagauz table, in a family cellar.
- Stay
- Restaurant
- Book ahead
Valul lui Traian · Cazaclia
Kazayak-Vin
A historic southern producer. Better known than visited, until you confirm access.
↗Valul lui Traian · Lingura
NOVAK
A winery reviving nearly forgotten grapes. A better story than another generic tasting.
- Book ahead
Valul lui Traian · Slobozia Mare
Vinăria din Vale
Wine plus landscape: the Lower Prut. Too far for a day from Chișinău.
- Book ahead
Codru · Mircești
Crama Mircești
Stone, tile, vineyard hills. The most atmospheric small stay in the west of the country.
- Stay
- Restaurant