Celebration

Moldova National Wine Day, which is the biggest wine festival, takes place each year on the first weekend of the month of October in the capital Chisinau. The festival celebrates the fall harvest and brings attention to the country’s long and rich history of winemaking by bringing winemakers to town from around the country. The holiday was established in 2001 to recognize the significance of wine-making and viticulture. The festival is marked with colorful fairs, wine tastings, competitions, open-air performances, and other events. Many winemaking companies participate in activities to promote their wines. Vendors decorate their stands with wine barrels, flowers, traditional clothes, as well as baskets full of pumpkins, grapes and other seasonal fruits.

Some people wear national clothing on the occasion of the festival, honoring the country’s cultural traditions. Many dancing groups from all cities join in the festival by dancing to our traditional music. National Wine Day celebrations attract many thousands of people, both Moldovans and foreign tourists. Among the tourists there could be wine tasting specialists who are from Europe or other parts of the world. They take part in organized competitions of the tastiest wine, the oldest wine, and the tastiest champagne or other alcoholic drinks. This is an excellent opportunity for the winning wine-making companies to promote their products through word of mouth and to sign contracts in order to distribute Moldovan wine all around the world. Many tourists also attend various wine tours throughout the country, including world famous and Guinness record-holding underground cellars Cricova and Milestii Mici, which have the largest wine collections in the world.

If you have an opportunity to visit Moldova, my advice is to come in October to see and to experience this unforgettable festival. Otherwise, the wine cellars are open all year round and Moldovan people will welcome you any time of the year.