Cricova, Chisinau

Cricova is a renowned winery located in the town of Cricova, which is approximately 15 kilometres north of the capital city, Chişinău. The wine cellars of Cricova are the second largest in Moldova, and it is considered a must-visit attraction for wine enthusiasts and tourists alike.

The cellars of Cricova are a sprawling labyrinth of underground tunnels that stretch over 120 kilometres. The tunnels were originally excavated in the 15th century to extract limestone to construct the nearby city of Chişinău. However, they were transformed into an impressive underground wine emporium in the 1950s.

The wine cellars are divided into different areas, each named after the wines that they store. Half of the tunnels are used for wine storage, and the temperature is maintained at a constant 12 °C (54 °F), which is ideal for wine storage. The tunnels go as deep as 100 metres underground and hold up to 1.25 million bottles of rare wine, with the oldest wine dating back to 1902.

The "Grand Cellars of Cricova" house a remarkable collection of wines, including the National Oenotec. The collection includes rare wines such as "Jerusalem of Easter" vintage 1902 and the liqueur "Jan Becker" vintage 1902, as well as over 158 other brands from Burgundy, Moselle, Tokay, the Rhine, and more. The winery's own wines, bearing the name "Cricova," have won over 70 national and international awards as of 2008 and are a source of pride for the establishment and for Moldova as a whole.

One of the most intriguing aspects of Cricova's history is its role during the Nazi invasion of the Soviet Union. According to legend, Jews were hidden in wine barrels in the cellars to protect them from the Nazis. This has led to the winery being known as a symbol of hope and protection in Moldova.

Cricova is also famous for being the location where Yuri Gagarin, the first human to journey into space, spent two days exploring the cellars in 1966. In addition, Russian President Vladimir Putin celebrated his 50th birthday at Cricova.