Today we leave Bucharest in the morning and we will go to the Wine County.

We will first stop to Urlati where we will discover – Conacul dintre Vii - that beautiful, boyar house, perched on top of a hill in Urlati (Prahova county), surrounded by the smell of sweet and fragrant grapes; hence its name, from the vineyard that surrounds the old boyar mansion, built around the end of the 19th century.
We will taste special wines and we will visit the vineyard with a beautiful view, relaxing atmosphere. You can walk as much as you want among the vineyards, in the cherry orchard, among the vegetables that disappear from the garden and turn as you clap into boyar dishes, incredibly tasty, sprinkled with local wines served in silver carafes.

Accommodation in the area for the first 2 nights.

Today we will explore Dealu Mare region located in the Southern Carpathian hills, being positioned on the 45° parallel, exactly like Bordeaux and Tuscany.
Within the large wine-growing area of the vineyard, the following vine-growing centers are defined: Boldeşti, Valea monks, Urlaţi-Ceptura, Tohani, Breaza-Buzau, Merei and Zoresti.
The white wines produced in the Dealu Mare are well known for a high level of extract, a velvety structure, and medium acidity. In some areas, the soil favors the cultivation of aromatic grape varieties like Tămâioasă Românească and Muscat Ottonel due to the concentrated content of calcium carbonate.
The red wines produced in Dealu Mare are versatile, for any type of taste. They are well-balanced, full-bodied, with a smooth texture, a long aftertaste, and aromas like berries, spices, morocco, coffee, cocoa or chocolate. The majority of the red wines here have great aging potential. 
The natural factors (terroir) favorable to growing red varieties: 
• Red-brown soils rich in iron with a medium texture; 
• Very good heliothermic resources; 
• Temperate-continental climate with hot summers and mild dry autumns which ensure the ripening of red grapes. 

We will continue the wine tasting during this day and the visits to the most representative cellars. 

Tohani. ”In Tohani, the land speaks and the people listen. And then, we make wine.”

Since 1773, Tohani has attracted gifted people who have had a love for the vine, toiled for it, understood it, and amplified its creative force. It is from here, from the heart of Dealu Mare region, that wine has been created for over 200 years.
Located in the middle of the Dealu Mare region, Tohani spreads on 7 sunny hills, blessed with a very special climate. Oriented towards the South-East, the hills are being warmed by sunlight for a longer time. Thus, the grapes enjoy 14 more days of sun than in any other vine area in the country. Reaching maturity earlier, the grapes have more time for developing qualitative features. 
Tohani vineyard is located on the 45° parallel, like the famous Bordeaux vineyards. The Mediterranean micro-climate – which allows for the fig tree and almond tree to grow in Tohani – offers the vine special growth conditions giving our wines their intense color and flavor, corpulence and organoleptic balance.
Tohani has had a long history; documents attesting the vineyard go back to 1773.
It has always been a powerful place that has influenced destinies and changed the course of history. Probably the most well-known story of Tohani is that of the love between Prince Nicolae of Romania and Ioana Doletti.  Prince Nicolae, the brother of King Carol II, fell hopelessly in love with Ioana Doletti, a very beautiful woman who however did not have noble origins. Against all restrictions, Prince Nicolae and Ioana married in secret on October 28th 1931, at the Tohani church and town hall.  The prince lost his royal rights, yet Ioana Doletti and the vineyard of Tohani remained his passions until the end.
Since then, all who chose to stop at Tohani – for a while or for life – have known and felt the passion that this place bestows on people.

Not the last, we will stop at Lacerta. 

Lacerta – “The purest from the Grapes”.
The LacertA winery is the perfect representation of the so-called "new, new world"- Modern, state-of-the-art technology and elegant, rich and silken wines.
In the very center of the LacertA vine estate is Dorobantu Manor House, the work of famous architect Ion Mincu. Built-in 1901 and completely redecorated in 2005 according to the original plans by its present owners, the Neo-Romanian architectural piece of work watches from above over the surrounding hills.
The welcoming grandeur of the manor invites visitors to see the wine cellar, taste a glass of noble wine and then admire from above one of Romania’s most beautiful vine estates. Visits become an unforgettable experience since the hills rich in vine around the domain offer a peaceful visual feast.
The 82 ha of sunbathed vineyards making wine assortments with numerous gold medals at specialty contests, the architectural experience and the 7000 years of wine history of the place make Lacerta Winery a must-feel experience. As a proof of the perfect symbiosis between mineral, vegetal and animal life, lizards make their way through the brownish and limestone clay soils, the perfect conditions for wine, and then linger on the sunny side.
While tasting the wines, we would be glad to present a brief description of the Lacerta wines and of the production process. 
They cultivate 6 varieties of red wine and 6 varieties of white wine.
The assortment is made of international varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Pinot Noir, Merlot, Burgund Royal, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris, Rheinriesling, Muscat Ottonel and Chardonnay, as well as inland varieties such as: Feteasca Neagra and Feteasca Alba.
Also, we can discover:
- The winery where the barriques (wine barrels) are kept
- The wine cellar – the place where wine is made before it is stored in barriques
- The vine estate

Today we will visit Panciu Vineyards.

Located at the piedmont steps of The Sub Carpathians of Curvature, Tifesti can be found in the heart of the vineyards that form Panciu vineyard. Bathing in Putna River in the west and Susita River in the East, Dealul Sarbilor is a vineyard paradise where some of the best wines in Eastern Europe are produced.

Land features - balanced humidity and excellent sun exposure that the geographical position offers - make this grape beverage the one with the highest acidity in the country. It was not by accident that, from these same vineyards, the first Romanian sparkling wine was produced in the 1970's.  

Natura Winery is the heart and soul of the wines that come from more than 120 hectares situated in Tifesti, in Panciu Vineyard. These 120 hectares were cultivated with French variety grapes such as Sauvignon Blanc, Muscat Ottonel, Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon, but especially with the most renowned and beloved Romanian variety grapes such as Feteasca Alba, Feteasca Regala, Sarba, Babeasca Neagra and Feteasca Neagra.

These wines were obtained at the foothills of Vrancea Mountains, in Natura Winery, and much like the land, placed at the conjunction of two tectonic plates, the wines are characterized as lively and restless.

The wines from the vineyard are supported by Daniel Guzu's passion for wine. Daniel was born in Tifesti and grew up in the heart of these renowned vineyards. He is devoted to carrying on his family tradition of cultivating vine and producing wine.

The House of Panciu is currently producing more than 20 brands of sparkling and still wine at high-quality standards, benefiting from the special natural environment of Tifesti area, an area with steady and constant solar exposure, with good quality soil, without using pesticide or artificial fertilizers.

We will visit the winery, attend the bottling of the wines, but also taste local products.

Accommodation in Iasi for 2 nights. 

The city of the seven hills, the city of great ideas, the city of the first great union, the first theater play in Roumanian, and the first literary memorial museum (Creanga's Bojdeuca from Tica Hill).
You will enjoy a full-day tour in one of the most important and oldest cities in Romania. You will be amazed by the way that the occidental part of the city blends in with the old town shaped by hundreds of years of history, culture, and religious life.

Tour highlights
The Palace of Culture (Palatul Culturii) – This remarkable construction inaugurated in 1925 by Ferdinand of Hohenzollern was built on the ruins of a medieval royal court dating from 1434. The Palace has a flamboyant Neo-Gothic style, with ornamental details and heraldic elements outside. The Clock Tower is the main architectural piece of the entire Palace and the Carillon in the tower has eight bells that are singing each hour the Union Hora. Today, the Palace of Culture houses 4 of the city’s museums: the Moldavian History Museum, the Ethnographic Museum, the Museum of Art and the Museum of Science and Technology, and we will stop to see a true delight for our eyes, an ethnographic exhibition at the Ethnographic Museum.
 
The Vasile Alecsandri National Theatre (Teatrul Național Vasile Alecsandri) - the oldest national theatre and one of the most prestigious theatrical institutions in Romania, and one of the most notorious city highlights. It was founded on 15 May 1840, as the Great Theatre of Moldavia and was given the name of the renowned Romanian playwright and poet Vasile Alecsandri in 1956. The Theatre is located nearby the city hall, close to the Stefan cel Mare Boulevard. If in Iasi, check availability for a play at the theatre in the main hall.
 
The Grand Synagogue (Sinagoga Mare)– the oldest preserved Jewish sanctuary in Romania, built-in 1671. The Synagogue could not have been larger than the nearby churches, but the Jewish law mentioned that it must to be the most imposing building in the Jewish district. The sober exterior is in contrast to the richly adorned interior.
 
The Three Hierarchs Church (Mânăstirea Trei Ierahi)– built between 1637 and 1639, the church has stunning decorations: the entire exterior is covered in delicate and intricate patterns sculpted into the stone and spread over 30 friezes. This "stone embroidery" is a mixture of western Gothic, Renaissance, and Oriental motifs. The interior boasts the tombs of a number of famous Romanians, including the founder of this church, and two other important figures in Romania’s history.

In the morning, we will leave Iasi and go ahead to Cotnari. 

At Cotnari, the heritage is unmatched. Through the craft of wine, over two thousand years old, tradition, art, and goodwill shine again together. They are transmitting the heritage preserved for centuries: a real inheritance of wine, inhabitants of these lands, traditions, and evolution, presumably best preserved in Romania in the field of wine-viticulture.

Cotnari is a major wine-producing commune in Romania, and it is most famous for its Grasă de Cotnari, a wine variety produced ever since the rule of Stephen the Great (1457 – 1504).

The Cotnari vineyard is part of the wine-growing region of Moldavia’s Plateau, being located for the most part on the Cotnari Coast – Harlau, an important part of the Moldavian Coast. The well-known Romanian academician Valeriu D. Cotea appreciates it as “one of the most famous wine regions in our country”. This region is distinguished by the personality of the vine and the well-sunny slopes, by the fineness of the white wines obtained here, and especially for the traditional love of the inhabitants for the wine culture.

That’s why  Grasa de Cotnari, for example, has not adapted to any other vineyard in Romania or the world.
The vineyard has always been given “a good match between wise men and nature”. (Mihail Sadoveanu)

Grasă de Cotnari is a botrytized white wine with high residual sugar content that can reach up to 300g/liter. A well-made wine has a golden-yellow shade, and in spite of its high sugar content, it retains a fine acidic structure and somewhere between 11.5% and 14% alcohol by volume. It ages well; its color darkening from a pale yellow to a dark yellow with an orange note in it. A good Grasă de Cotnari should have a distinct bouquet of apricots, walnuts, and almonds, and should be enjoyed at a temperature of about 10-12 degrees Celsius.
 
Besides Grasă de Cotnari, the Winery also produces Tămâioasă Românească, Fetească Albă, and Francușă, all made from local grapes.

Then, we will continue the cultural visit to Suceava Fortress. 

Suceava Fortress highlights the importance of the Moldavian city, which has existed since the most remoted times. Located in the outskirts, 70 meters above the Suceava Valley, the fortress was built by Peter I Musat, in the 14thcentury and afterward fortified by Alexander the Great and Stephen the Great, but, in spite of that, was destroyed in 1675 by Dumitrascu Cantacuzino.

Every attraction of the Suceava Fortress is of special importance because it symbolizes the entire Moldavian heroism, that many wanted, unsuccessfully to destroy. Its walls stand as proof of its rich history that started in 1388 (the year of the first historic record of the fortress).  During the time, it has been a Moldavian pride, as glorious as the ruler that profoundly changed its meaning, whom people bear in their souls. Certainly, a stroll through Suceava would be an unforgettable trip through medieval Romanian times.

Accommodation in Gura Humorului for 2 nights. 

Visits: Humor, Vorornet, Moldovita, Sucevita Monasteries and the Egg Museum  
Breakfast in the morning. After that, we will discover together the famous Moldavian Painted Monasteries of Humor, Voronet - widely known as "the Sistine Chapel of the East", Moldovita and Sucevita, passing through picturesque villages.

The "Painted" Monasteries is the major Moldavian destination, because of the vivid and animated frescoes on their church walls. These depict Biblical and other scenes, designed in sequences almost like strip cartoons to educate the local people in the Orthodox religion. Due to their singleness, the monasteries in Bucovina are now UNESCO protected cultural sites. The art historians compare their artistic value with the mural paintings of San Marco church of Venice or the church of Orvietto. The secret of the Moldavian painters who prepared the colors and the techniques that made the paintings incredibly resistant is still a mystery.

Today, we are also going to visit the Egg Museum in Vama village, deep in the heart of Bukovina, where we will see the most varied and numerous collection of dyed and decorated eggs in Romania, and one of the most important ones in Europe at once. We will be able to discover the local traditions of the area and the art of decorating the Easter eggs.

In the evening, return to our hotel/pension, overnight.

Today it will be a long and beautiful day with wonderful landscape, lakes and mountain views. 

We will cross Bicaz Gorges to Transylvania, gorges in the Eastern Carpathians, on the river Bicaz, making the connection between Moldavia and Transylvania. The gorges attract by its beauty many tourists every year. They are crossed by a winding road.

We will pass thru Lacu Rosu/Red Lake  Resort where we will have a short stop to admire the landscape, taking some nice pictures and find out the legend of this wonderful place. 

We will visit Prejmer Fortified Church - the biggest fortified church in Southeastern Europe built in the 14th century. The fortress with double walls and dungeons makes me think of the ancient tales. Inside its walls, there is a church, but the interesting thing here is the honeycomb-like inner wall. Every family had one small room for sheltering in case the village was attacked. In peaceful times they used it as a storage room for food.

In the evening, we will arrive in Brasov and overnight for the next 2 nights.

Today is dedicated to Brasov. 

Brasov is one of the most beautiful cities in Romania. The main attraction is the medieval part of the city with: The Black Church that houses a priceless collection of Oriental rugs as well as a 4000-pipe organ, The Town Hall Square, the Franciscan Monastery, The Central Park, The Black Tower, The White Tower, Ecaterina’s Gate, Schei Gate and the Rope Street – the narrowest street in Europe.

This is Royal Day!  Visits: Peles Castle, Bran Castle (well known as Dracula Castle) and Royal Halewood Cellars from Azuga. 

Today we will visit two of the most notable, beautiful, most talked about castles in Romania.

We will start with Bran village and follow the legend to discover Dracula’s castle. We will visit Bran Castle, the most talked-about castle in the world! 
The fortification was popularly known as 'Dracula's Castle' and was built on top of a steep rock in the Carpathian Mountains by Prince Mircea in 1377, where it protected the border of Valahia and Transylvania.
The building has four towers positioned at the four cardinal points. The walls are made of stone blocks, the rooms and narrow corridors constitute a mysterious labyrinth of ghostly nooks and secret chambers, whilst in the inner courtyard, there are artesian wells, connected to an underground network. The castle had both a military and a customs point purpose.

We will drive to Azuga where we will eat and drink right at the Rhein Cellars, the main wine and sparkling wine supplier for the Royal Family!
Built-in 1892, the Rhein Azuga Cellars was the former "Supplier of Romanian's Royal Court", and since April 2006 has been designated "Supplier of His Majesty King Michael the First". The cellar is considered the oldest at which sparkling wine is produced using the traditional method.
We will have a traditional, local menu, a cellar tour with the Rhein guide, a wine, and Champagne tasting.

We will continue with the king’s summer residence, the wonderful Peles Castle, a masterpiece! It is the first castle in the world to have central heating and electricity! The construction of the castle began in 1875 and the building was inaugurated in 1883. The castle was the final resting place for several Romanian monarchs, including King Carol I, who died here in 1914, as well as King Ferdinand and Queen Maria.

In the evening, we will arrive in Bucharest.