Cricova

Cricova is an underground winery in Moldova that sprawls across networks of interconnected passages carved from natural stone. The facility sits at considerable depths where wine bottles rest in stable, cool storage conditions year-round.

The facility was born in the 1950s when two wine specialists recognized that abandoned stone quarries could serve as ideal storage spaces. This transformation marked the beginning of large-scale wine storage methods in the region.

The underground passages remain a working center where Moldova's wine tradition continues through daily production and storage. Visitors experience firsthand how wine is woven into the local way of life through the aging process and tastings in the chambers.

Comfortable shoes are recommended since exploring the passages involves walking through corridors that can be uneven underfoot. Guided tours are available daily and include time in the underground rooms with demonstrations and tastings.

The cellars hold a significant collection of wine bottles spanning different eras and origins that have accumulated over decades. This assembly represents how international wines came to rest in these passages and reflect the site's history as a storage destination.