Two wineries, twelve wines, one easy day from Bucharest. This Dealu Mare wine tour is built for red-wine lovers: you’ll ride the Old Wine Road through vineyard hills and elegant manors, then spend guided time at two standout boutique estates. The tastings include Romanian favorites like Fetească Neagră, plus international grapes, all with a guide who ties what you’re drinking to what happened in Romania’s wine story.

I love that the tastings come with serious cheese-and-charcuterie pairings at each stop, not just a few nibbles while you’re rushed to the next pour. One possible drawback: the day runs about 10 hours, and lunch is not included in the price, so you’ll want to plan for an extra meal cost on the road.

Key highlights I think matter

• Old Wine Road scenery: vineyard hills and restored manors make the drive feel like part of the tour.
• Two very different boutique wineries: Lacerta’s modern-but-tradition-driven setup and 1000 Chipuri’s family craft.
• 12 wines total: six at each winery, including indigenous varieties like Fetească Neagră.
• Food pairings with each tasting: local cheese, charcuterie, and dried fruit are part of the learning, not decoration.
• Winemaking details you can taste: gravity-based processing at Lacerta and wine sampled from tank or oak at 1000 Chipuri.

Why Dealu Mare is Bucharest’s Best Wine Escape Along the 45th Parallel

Dealu Mare sits around the 45th parallel, and that location helps explain why the region leans so strongly into red wines. The climate supports grapes that can build flavor and texture—think velvety reds rather than thin, sharp styles.

Romanian wine has deep roots too. Production traces back to the Dacian Kingdom, then surged in the 19th century. Romania even gained a reputation as a supplier to royal figures like Queen Victoria and Tsar Nicholas of Russia. After World War II, the industry faced a long slump under Soviet influence and communist priorities that pushed mass production over craft. Since 1989, the revival has been real, and Romania is now ranked among the world’s largest wine producers (it’s listed as #12).

On this tour, you don’t just drink wine—you connect the glass to the bigger picture: why certain grapes matter, why styles changed, and what modern producers are aiming to prove.

The Old Wine Road: The Drive That Turns a Day Trip into an Experience

This is a true day trip from Bucharest—about 10 hours end to end, including hotel pickup and drop-off. You’ll travel by private, comfortable vehicle, which matters because winery days are long enough already. Nobody wants to add metro transfers or complicated parking.

The best part is what’s outside the windows. The route through Dealu Mare is known as the Old Wine Road, and you’ll pass elegant manors and long stretches of vineyard-covered hills. Even if you don’t care about architecture, you’ll feel the difference: it’s countryside wine country, not a rushed industrial tasting strip.

Practical note: plan to hydrate and snack lightly before you start tasting. Twelve wines across the day adds up faster than it sounds, especially with pairings in the mix.

Lacerta Winery: Guided Facilities and Six Wines Built Around Gravity

Your first stop is Lacerta Winery, described as modern yet rooted in tradition. The tour here focuses on how the estate protects wine during production—specifically through gravitational principles that reduce the need for pumps. That’s not a gimmick you have to pretend to care about. If you like smoother, more careful winemaking, you’ll feel the intent behind the approach.

You’ll get a guided walkthrough of the facilities, from grape processing through to bottling. Then the day’s first tasting lands on six wines, paired with a cheese and charcuterie platter. The setting is also part of the deal: the vineyards around the estate provide a quiet backdrop, and it makes the tasting feel calm rather than hectic.

What I like about starting here is pacing. Lacerta gives you a “systems” view first—how a winery thinks—then the second estate adds more texture through family-scale craftsmanship and different ways of aging and tasting.

1000 Chipuri Winery: Family Craft, Barrel/Tank Samples, and Fetească Neagră

After Lacerta, the tour continues to 1000 Chipuri, a family-owned boutique winery. This stop is designed for people who love hands-on craft details. Before the second tasting session, you’ll have time for a traditional Romanian lunch (the tour notes that lunch is not included in the price, so budget for it separately).

At 1000 Chipuri, the guided tour leads into another six-wine tasting, again paired with local cheese, cured meats, and dried fruits. One extra perk here is how you taste: you may sample wines directly from oak barrels or stainless steel tanks. That’s useful if you’re trying to understand why wine changes with aging, texture, and temperature control.

Grape highlights from this stop include:

• Fetească Neagră (a standout Romanian red)
• Cabernet Franc
• Tămâioasă Românească, often compared to a dry Muscat style

This contrast is great because it shows how “Romanian” isn’t just one grape. It’s indigenous varieties with their own profile, alongside international classics grown in the region’s conditions.

The 12-Wine Plan: How to Pace Without Missing the Details

Twelve wines across a day sounds like a lot, and it is. But the structure—six at Lacerta, six at 1000 Chipuri—makes it manageable, especially with guidance. Your guide helps you taste with intent rather than treating it like a race.

Here’s how to get more out of the pours:

• Take a first sip, then slow down for the second one—your palate catches more on the second pass.
• If you’re pairing wine with charcuterie and cheese, switch bites between reds and whites (if a white is in the lineup) so you can actually notice how flavors reset.
• Don’t over-focus on “ranking” wines. Instead, decide what you want more of: structure, fruit, spice, or softness.

Also, go in knowing there’s a learning curve. Romanian varieties like Fetească Neagră can surprise you if you’ve only tried Bordeaux-style reds. That’s a good surprise, and a tasting day like this is one of the best ways to meet that grape head-on.

Food Pairings at Both Wineries: Cheese, Charcuterie, and Dried Fruit That Work

Wine tastings are better when food isn’t an afterthought. On this tour, each winery tasting includes a cheese-and-charcuterie platter, and the second stop also includes dried fruit in the pairing. That matters because Romanian cuisine and local dairy/curing styles can accent specific wine textures—salty cured meats can lift fruit, while cheeses can soften tannins.

The practical value is simple: pairings keep you comfortable through a long day. They also make it easier to understand why a wine feels balanced with certain foods, rather than tasting it in a vacuum.

If you’re the kind of person who usually skips the food portion because you’re worried about “filling up,” reconsider. Here, the food is part of the tasting lesson, not just a plate to keep you busy.

Your English-Language Guide: Mihai, Bogdan, Andrei, and the Romania Connection

This is a private group tour with an English-speaking licensed guide, and Romanian may also come into play depending on the moment. What makes a difference is the tone. The guides associated with this experience are described as friendly and patient, and they connect wine to broader Romanian context.

You’ll hear stories about how Romania’s political shifts changed wine production—moving from a craft-focused era into mass production during the communist period, then rebuilding after 1989. Names that show up repeatedly in the strongest-guide feedback include Mihai, Bogdan, and Andrei.

One of the best parts of a good guide is that you don’t feel like you’re being lectured. You feel like you’re getting context you can carry home—why certain grapes are celebrated, what modern producers are trying to fix, and how regional identity shapes wine style.

Price and Logistics: Is $260 Good Value for a 10-Hour Private Day?

At $260 per person for a private, 10-hour day trip, the value comes from what’s included—not from the total number alone. Here’s what you’re paying for:

• Hotel pickup and drop-off in Bucharest
• Private transport in a comfortable vehicle
• A licensed English-speaking guide
• Guided winery tours at two estates
• 12 wines total
• Cheese and charcuterie pairings at each winery

Lunch is the one note. The tour schedule includes a lunch window at the second winery area, but lunch itself is listed as not included in the price. So your total day cost depends on what you choose to eat.

If you split this into pieces, the math gets clearer. Two full winery visits plus a guide plus transport plus tastings with pairings would cost more if you tried to DIY it with separate bookings, especially for transportation. This is the “one fixed plan, no coordination headache” option.

Who This Tour Fits Best (and Who Might Want Another Option)

This tour is ideal if you:

• Want a structured wine day without planning between wineries
• Like Romanian indigenous grapes (especially Fetească Neagră)
• Enjoy food pairings and want them to be part of the tasting education
• Prefer a private-group pace with an English-speaking guide who can answer questions

You might consider a different option if you:

• Don’t drink much or get tired with alcohol-based tastings across the day
• Want a shorter outing (this is a full day from Bucharest)
• Have strict dietary needs that aren’t addressed in the tour details you have—pairings are included, but the specific menu flexibility isn’t spelled out

Should You Book Dealu Mare From Bucharest?

Yes—if you want a high-quality day trip that mixes countryside scenery, two boutique wineries, and a real taste education around Romanian reds. The biggest win is the combination of 12 wines, guided tours, and pairings at both stops, so you’re not just collecting sips—you’re learning how place and process show up in the glass.

Before you book, think about two things: the day is long, and lunch isn’t included in the price. If you can handle that (and you like tasting), this is a strong value way to experience Dealu Mare without wrestling logistics.

FAQ

What wineries are included in the tour?

You visit Lacerta Winery and 1000 Chipuri Winery, with guided tours at both stops and wine tastings at each.

How many wines will I taste?

You’ll taste 12 wines total: six at Lacerta and six at 1000 Chipuri.

Is lunch included?

Lunch is listed as not included. The day includes time for a traditional Romanian lunch during the second half of the experience.

How long is the tour from Bucharest?

The tour runs for 10 hours total, including hotel pickup and drop-off.

Does the price include transportation?

Yes. Hotel pickup and drop-off in Bucharest and private transport are included.

Where will the guide meet me in Bucharest?

The guide meets you in your hotel lobby next to reception. If there is no lobby, the guide meets you at the entrance in front of the building.

What languages are used during the tour?

The tour guide works in English and Romanian.

What if a winery is closed?

There can be occasional closures due to private events or seasonal operations. Your tour provider recommends booking at least 24 hours in advance to help secure winery reservations.