In 1812 for the first time Bessarabia was taken away from Moldavia by the Russians after another war with the Turks. Since then Bessarabia was a ping pong ball between Moldavia and Russia, depending who was winning the Russian-Turkish wars.
In 1940, after the Ribbentrop Molotov understanding, Bessarabia was taken away for the last time. After the collapse of Soviet Union a new country, like many other ones, was born from the ashes of the old Soviet Empire. Unfortunately local problems and misunderstandings led to an independent Republic of Moldavia instead of its reunion with the mother country, Romania. So you will visit an 18 years old country, in which the most important assets are... The WINE!! and the COMMUNISM HISTORY, which is still living through a so called independent Republic of Transnistria.
We will try to show you except different wineries also traditions, culture, and history.
We will visit also the Republic of Transnistria, journey which will give you the feeling how it was in the communist era 20 years ago.
We will dedicate our last day to enjoy the Wine Festival in the capital of Republic of Moldova. You will have the chance to see the traditions connected with wine making and taste the new wine just in the main square of the city. Moldova has instituted a National Wine Holiday, which is held on the second Sunday in October. This formalizes an old tradition that, as soon as the new wine had settled, the winegrower invites friends and neighbors to taste the new wine. Everyone joins the winegrowers in the \"hora\" dances at wine holiday time.

Day 1, 06 Oct:

Arrival in Chisinau by plane from Viena or Frankfurt, accommodation in a 4* Hotel, and afternoon city tour of Chisinau. Free dinner.

Day 2, 07 Oct:

Day, 07 Oct: Departure to Tipova. The journey takes around 3 -4 hours, so we will arrive around noon. The road is not the dream of your life but is ok. We will check in a outstanding 4* venue, an old boyar house refurbished, which lies on the Nistru river. The landscape is fantastic and the food and services are at a very high level.
After lunch we will visit the Tipova cave monastery and after that we can enjoy the site, try to catch some fish, etc. Dinner and accommodation.

Day 3, 08 Oct:

Day trip in the north part of the country. We visit Soroca, have lunch in a private gypsy family. Here in Soroca still exists a small gypsy community which can be visited. Afternoon visit and wine tasting in the brand new winery Chateau Vartely and return to our paradise spot where we will enjoy a special dinner with folk program.

Day 4, 09 Oct:

Departure to south, back to Chisinau On the way we will stop at Orhei to see the most important historical site of Moldavia, having lunch in a traditional restaurant located in the forest. Afternoon we visit Capriana monastery, new refurbished (chance to see the old communist mentality at work...), and the journey continues at Hincu monastery where we will have dinner in the monastery.
Return to Chisinau where we can see if it is true that Chisinau is like New York, the city that never dies, one is saying that Chisinau has the biggest number of clubs/population.

Day 5, 10 Oct:

Day trip to Transnistria, visit of their \"capital\" Tiraspol, having a brandy tasting, a typical Ukrainian lunch, visit the modern football stadium Sheriff, and afternoon on the way to Purcari, we will stop and visit the Noul Neamt monastery. Dinner and wine tasting in Purcari and late arrival (if the driver didn’t taste too much... cognac or wine) back to Chisinau.

Day 6, 11 Oct:

The whole day is at your disposal. You can go shopping, you can rest, enjoy the wine festival, the \"new wine\", and anyway, in the evening we go to the world biggest wine cellar in the world (as stated in the Guinness book) and have dinner and obviously another wine tasting.

Day 7, 12 Oct:

Departure back home.