Urlați

Enjoy an epic day trip from Bucharest, following the ancient wine road built by the Romans 2,000 years ago. Re-opened to the public after almost a century of “hibernation”, the road displays beautifully restored manors, cellars, and old monasteries. Along the way, you’ll visit two wine museums, stop for lunch in a traditional manor and enjoy wine tasting sessions at two prestigious wineries, surrounded by the endless vineyards of Dealu Mare – Romania’s most famous wine region. Short history: Romania is a country with a long-standing tradition in winemaking, and the world’s 13th wine producer, despite losing half of its arable lands and suffering a loss of prestige several decades ago, when communists favored mass production over quality. Nowadays, the country has gone through a process of mass restoration, aiming to reclaim its rightful place among the top 10 wine producers. Itinerary description: 1st stop: Bellu Manor Wine Museum Your guide will pick you up from the hotel and drive a bit over 1 hour to Dealu Mare, Romania's most famous wine region. As soon as you enter the Old Wine Road, you'll stop for a guided tour at the beautifully restored Bellu Manor – a marvel of old Romanian architecture. Built by Baron Alexandru Bellu in the 19th century, the manor is not just a great art collection, but also an important wine museum. With a great passion for wine and even owning a sparkling wine factory, the baron stored precious tools in the manor’s great cellar. It's the oldest wine press in Walachia with enormous barrels and extremely old wine-making tools going back to the 2nd and 3rd centuries AD. 2nd stop: Lacerta Winery After learning about the long history of winemaking in Romania, it’s time for some actual wine tasting at Lacerta Winery. Same as Bordeaux and Toscana, Lacerta’s vine estate stretches along the 45th parallel and thus has the ideal climate for producing wines with a rich, complex and silken taste. Lacerta is one of the most modern wineries in Romania, with production techniques based on gravitational principles meant to limit the usage of pumps. You’ll be able to taste 6 types of high-quality Romanian wines alongside small plates of cheese and dry sausages in a fairytale location, surrounded by the endless vineyards covering the hills of Dealu Mare, at one of the most beautiful wineries in the country. 3rd stop: Casa Colinelor - 1000 Chipuri Winery The third and final stop of the day is at Casa Colinelor (Hill House) where the 1000 Chipuri (1000 Faces) Winery is located. Here you will first serve lunch and then tour the property. During the wine tasting, you will admire the beautiful vineyards surrounding the house, and visit the winery and also the cellars. There will be 6 glasses of wine, served alongside typical wine snacks. All the wines come from 1000 Chipuri, one of the most highly praised boutique wineries from the Dealu Mare wine region.

See why Romanian culture is intertwined with a love of wine on this guided day trip to Dealu Mare, one of the largest wine regions in Romania. Along with a tasting of delicious local wine, learn more about the region with a private guide taking you through the Bellu Mansion and Thracian tombs.  Following your pickup in the morning, travel to the first destination, an aristocratic mansion embodying historic Romania: the Bellu manor in Urlati. Located in a stunningly picturesque area and surrounded by a park with old trees, the Bellu manor was built in the middle of the 19th century, in the old Romanian style. It was the home of Baron Alexandru Bellu, a descendant of a wealthy Macedonian family who settled in Urlați. After a tour of the mansion interior and pavilion, take a walk to see the vineyards stretching out across the hills.  The trip then continues to the Lacerta winery in Dealu Mare for the wine tasting. But first, take a walk through the serene vineyards and see where the grapes originate. It’s sure to help you appreciate the wine even more: the tasting includes 3-5 varieties of wines, and a specialist will describe each of their differences. Learn about the history of the wines local wines and the production process. The last stop will be on the top of the vineyard hills. Admire the breathtaking view before exploring the ancient stone church, built of the famous Naeni stone extracted from the nearby quarry, and the Thracian necropolis, with tombs dating back 2600 years. After the full day, you’ll be dropped off at your Bucharest accommodation.

Embark on a wine tasting tour from Bucharest, and explore the region of Urlati. Discover the old Bellu Manor and admire its architectural style, taste wines in the local village, enjoy a local lunch in a traditional Manor, and partake in some great conversation. Get picked up from your hotel in Bucharest, and drive towards Ploiest, just north of the capital. Here, begins the tasting tour, as you arrive at Bellu Manor in Urlati Town. Built at the half of the XIX century, admire the typical Romanian architectural style and marvel at its prowess. Then, stop in a nearby village and take a guided tour through the local winery and wine cellar there. The visit down into the cellar includes 6 tastings of the best wines available in the country. Drive afterward to a traditional Manor, with stunning restored and preserved construction, nestled in a beautiful location. Eat a traditional meal made by the locals, and revel in good food in a magical environment. On your way back home, take the opportunity to discuss your experience and share opinions, before being dropped off at your hotel.