On the surface, the town of Cricova looks like any other modest Moldovan settlement—quiet streets, Soviet-era architecture, and a slow pace of life. But 100 meters below ground, a hidden city hums with activity. This is Cricova Winery, the second-largest wine cellar on the planet, and it has become the undisputed crown jewel of Moldovan tourism. But what makes a wine cellar such a massive draw? The answer lies not just in the wine, but in a surreal underground experience that blends history, visit cricova winery with a private guide.

The first thing that strikes visitors is the sheer scale. The Cricova cellars stretch for 120 kilometers (75 miles) of limestone tunnels, creating a true underground "wine city". These aren't natural caves; they are old limestone mines dating back to the 15th century, when stone was excavated to build the capital city of Chișinău. In the 1950s, winemakers realized these tunnels maintained a perfect constant temperature of 12–14°C (54°F) and 97% humidity—ideal conditions for aging wine.

Today, these tunnels function like a small town. The "streets" are named after the wines they store—Cabernet Street, Fetească Street, and so on. Visitors ride electric trains or minibuses through the labyrinth, passing by 1.25 million bottles resting in carved limestone niches. Some of these bottles are over a century old, including the legendary "Jerusalem of Easter" vintage from 1902.

What truly transformed Cricova from a functional winery into a tourist magnet is its extraordinary guest list. During the Soviet era, Cricova was the designated "official delegation" stop for anyone visiting the USSR. The most famous legend involves cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin, the first man in space. According to winery lore, Gagarin entered the cellars in 1966 and didn't emerge for two days—his guides had to help him find his way out after an extended tasting session.

The political star power continued after the Soviet collapse. Vladimir Putin celebrated his 50th birthday deep inside the Presidential Tasting Room at Cricova, and he reportedly maintains a private wine collection (and even a gold-plated mini-car) within the tunnels. Other visitors have included Angela Merkel, John Kerry, Joe Biden, and Petro Poroshenko. Perhaps most macabre of all, the cellars also house the personal wine collection of Hermann Göring, which was seized by the Red Army in Berlin after World War II.

In 2003, the Parliament of the Republic of Moldova declared Cricova a Cultural-National Heritage site, cementing its status as a point of national pride. The winery produces over 150 styles of wine but is most famous for its sparkling wine, crafted using the classic Méthode Traditionnelle—the same labor-intensive process used in Champagne, France.

Tours are meticulously organized, typically lasting 2-3 hours. Visitors explore the underground galleries, learn about the traditional riddling process (where workers rotate up to 35,000 bottles by hand daily), and finish with a tasting in one of five themed halls—including the "Sea Bottom," "Fireplace Room," and the exclusive "Presidential Hall".

Practical Tip: Tours at Cricova are incredibly popular and often sell out. Book well in advance online, especially if you require an English-speaking guide. The winery offers various tasting packages, from basic samplings to premium experiences that include rare museum wines.

Cricova Winery has become a big attraction because it is not just a place to drink—it is a place to journey. It is an underground world where you can touch the limestone walls dug by 15th-century hands, gaze at bottles that survived World War II, and sit in the same room where a Russian president celebrated his 50th. For travelers seeking the extraordinary, Cricova delivers an experience that is uniquely, unforgettably Moldovan.

I hope you learn how to get to Cricova winery from Chisinau.