Alive Legend of Moldova

Founded in 1952, «Cricova» is the biggest Moldovian producer of sparkling wine using the traditional method; the wine ageing is done fully in the underground cellars. The «National Vinotheque» is kept at Cricova; this is an outstanding collection of legendary wines both local and foreign, which originate from the Goering's wine collection, among which the well-known wines Moselle, Bourgogne, Bordeaux, and Porto. The oldest wine in the collection and the only one of its kind in the world is the wine «Easter Jerusalem», produced in just one batch in 1902.

Cricova cellars are an attraction for the thousands of tourists and also for notorious personalities, politicians, opinion leaders and famous people all over the world. It was visited by Iurie Gagarin, Angela Merkel, John Kerry, etc.

Cricova has been declared a national cultural patrimony by law.

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In the ancient period and at the beginning of the informational century Cricova cellars really could pretend to be registered in the rows of the most fascinate miracles of the world. Why not? They being placed under the whole Cricova city, represent a real underground city. Prospects, streets — and only the names they have are unusual: Cabernet, Riesling, Feteasca, Aligote, Sauvignon — to each street it corresponds the name of the wine that is kept in the adjacent niches.

They appeared after the historic extra-active activity from these places, the Cricova cellars are in fact ex construction stone mines. Many buildings from Cricova, Chisinau, Balti and other cities of the Republic of Moldova were built from the limestone that was extracted from here. In some arms of the galleries the excavations are still in full function, so that this big underground city continues to grow!

 

Cricova Underground City

Having become an emblem of the Moldovan winemaking, the underground wine city Cricova has galleries stretching on 70 km, with streets named symbolically: Dionis, Feteasca, Cabernet-Sauvignon, etc.  Situated 11 km away from the capital Chisinau, the limestone undergrounds located at 35-80 m depth house 30 million liters of wine at a constant temperature of 12-14°C and 97-98% humidity.

WHAT IS CRICOVA? (MOVIE)