From Bucharest: Romanian Wine Tasting Tour

Two wineries, one very wine-filled day. This Bucharest tour is a nice mix of countryside calm and hands-on winemaking talk, with tastings at LacertA Winery and Budureasca Winery that can run 10+ wines total. I love that it’s guided in English by an on-the-ground sommelier, and I love the fact you’re not just smelling and sipping—you’re learning how the wines are evaluated. One catch: there’s no lunch, and the schedule can sometimes lean toward vineyard storytelling before you get full tasting time.

I also like the practical side. You get central pickup options, an air-conditioned van, and even onboard Wi-Fi, so you’re not stressed about the ride through the sub-Carpathian region. (And if you tend to get hungry between tastings, plan breakfast like it’s part of the program.)

Key points worth knowing before you go

• Two wineries, two different vibes: LacertA is tied to production and collections; Budureasca focuses hard on tasting skills.
• 10+ wines across white, red, rosé, and table styles with an English-speaking sommelier guiding what you’re tasting.
• Scenic sub-Carpathian hills make the drive feel like part of the day, not just transfer time.
• LacertA’s 82-hectare vineyard and Budureasca’s large 300-hectare setting give you scale, not just samples.
• No full lunch included, so you’ll want a solid breakfast and a water/snack plan.
• Small group feel keeps the day from turning into a rushed conveyor belt.

Getting Out of Bucharest: the 8-Hour Van Ride to Buzau and Prahova

This is a real day trip, not a quick stop-and-shop. You’ll start with one of three central pickup points in Bucharest, then ride out to Buzau County first. Expect about 1.5 hours on the road before you reach LacertA, plus a shorter 20-minute hop between the two wineries.

Why this matters: Romanian wine country isn’t right around the corner from the city center. The van time is your chance to reset—use it. You’ll have onboard Wi-Fi and a modern, air-conditioned vehicle, so it’s comfortable even if the day feels packed on paper.

You also get a straightforward return: after the second winery, you head back and are dropped at central meeting spots again. That means you don’t need to solve transport on your own after tasting a bunch of wine.

One more small practical win: the tour includes a driver who speaks English, so you’re not stuck guessing what’s happening next. In one account, the driver named Lucien stood out as especially helpful and smooth—always a good sign when you’ll be spending hours in transit.

LacertA Winery in Buzau County: 82 Hectares and a Guided Look at Winemaking

LacertA Winery is the first stop, and it’s built around a vineyard scale that helps you understand why Romanian wines can vary so much. The grounds are described as an 82-hectare vineyard, and the tour explains how the vineyard soil supports wine production.

You’ll get a guided visit to see the production process first-hand. It’s not just a walk past barrels. The goal here is to connect the dots between farming conditions, what happens in the cellar, and what ends up in the glass.

Then comes the tasting. You’ll sample wines from LacertA’s collections, which are specifically called out as things like:

• Vintage Collection
• Grand Prix
• Lacerta Dolce
• Gift Collection

The collections are also noted as having international recognition, including gold awards. That’s useful context if you’re the type who likes to know why a winery is confident about a bottle.

What you actually taste: you’ll try a selection that can include white, red, rosé, or table wines, and the tasting is tailored to your preferences. In plain terms, you’re not just stuck with whatever the group before you ordered.

You’ll also have local snacks included at this stop. That matters because the schedule can feel “vineyard-meeting-talk-meets-tasting,” and snack support keeps it from turning into a hangry moment.

Time-wise, LacertA is scheduled for about 1.5 hours. If you’re hoping for a long, slow tasting with minimal talking, keep in mind the structure may include more history first. One concern raised in feedback is that the pace between vineyard explanations and tasting can sometimes feel imbalanced. So if you’re very tasting-focused, come with questions ready so you can steer the conversation.

Budureasca Winery in Prahova County: 300 Hectares and Wine-Evaluation Practice

After LacertA, you transfer to Budureasca Winery. This place is described as a more modern winemaking setup, set among a 300-hectare vineyard. The big difference here is the feeling: LacertA helps you understand where wines come from; Budureasca helps you understand how to assess wines once you’re in front of them.

You’ll spend about 1.5 hours at Budureasca, including wine tasting and included extras like local snacks and welcome refreshments.

The key educational shift at Budureasca is that the tour focuses on wine evaluation. Translation: you’re guided to sharpen tasting instincts rather than simply sample flavors. The idea is to help both beginners and people who already enjoy wine get better at reading what’s in the glass.

That’s also why this stop can feel more “you” focused. You’re encouraged to enhance tasting skills with a variety of fine wines, instead of only hearing the story. If you’re new to wine, it’s a friendly place to ask basics. If you already taste for fun, it helps you turn enjoyment into a real method.

If you care about variety, this is where the day keeps its momentum. You’re tasting again (second stop), so the day stays social and sensory rather than turning into a one-time sample and done.

Two Tastings and 10+ Wines: How to Get the Most From the Glasses

Across the whole day, you get two wine tastings with over ten different wines included. That’s the heart of the value. The best part isn’t only quantity—it’s the fact that you get an English-speaking sommelier guiding you through what you’re tasting.

Here’s how to make it work in real life:

1. Think in categories, not single bottles. When you know you’ll cover whites, reds, rosés, and table styles, it helps to ask questions in groupings. For example: What changes across these styles? What should you notice first?

1. Use your senses in order. Start with appearance, then smell, then taste. It sounds obvious, but when you’re tasting quickly, people skip steps. You’ll get more out of the education if you follow a simple routine.

1. Take tiny notes. Even one or two words per wine helps you remember what you liked later (and it’s useful if you want to buy a bottle afterward). You don’t need to write an essay—just enough to jog your memory.

1. Ask for “why,” not just “what.” Budureasca’s emphasis on evaluation makes the questions more powerful. Instead of only asking what you like, ask how the sommelier expects you to evaluate the wine.

One scheduling reality to watch: the day may include a stronger history portion at certain points. If timing feels tight, your best defense is to bring enthusiasm and steer the conversation. English-speaking hosts can often respond directly to what you want to learn most.

Also, you’ll be tasting a lot in a single day. You’ll want to pace yourself and listen to the staff. The tour includes tastings, and alcohol adds up faster than people expect when you’re having fun.

Food, Pacing, and the One Thing to Plan Before You Go

Let’s be blunt: this day trip does not include lunch. There are local snacks at LacertA and at Budureasca, plus welcome refreshments at the second winery. That’s helpful, but it’s not a replacement for a full meal if you’re used to eating during the workday rhythm.

A clear recommendation from experience: eat a robust breakfast before you leave Bucharest. If you’re the type who gets shaky between tastings, consider bringing a small backup snack and water. One review specifically flagged that there isn’t proper food on the tour, and suggested exactly that approach—strong breakfast plus simple extra provisions.

Pacing is the second part of the food equation. Some feedback points to time management between vineyard history and tasting. In that kind of scenario, you may end up with less tasting time than you expected, and if you’re already hungry, it’s harder to stay upbeat.

So my practical advice is simple:

• Go in fed.
• Keep water on your radar.
• Keep expectations flexible on the balance between storytelling and sipping.

You’ll enjoy the wineries more when you’re not trying to “power through” hunger.

Transportation, Meeting Points, and the Smoothness Factor

This tour is designed to be easy to join from the city. You get pickup from one of three central locations in Bucharest:

• Romana Square (Gray Line meeting point)
• University Square (Gray Line)
• InterContinental Athénée Palace Bucharest, an IHG Hotel

After the day, you return to drop-off at central points again, matching those options.

Why this is more than convenience: it reduces friction. A wine tour needs to run on time. Central pickups make it easier to leave at a reasonable hour and get the schedule right.

You’re also riding in a modern vehicle with Wi-Fi, which helps make the travel portion feel less like wasted time. And because the driver is English-speaking, it helps the day feel like one coordinated experience rather than a patchwork of transfers.

Also worth noting: the tour includes skipping the ticket line. That doesn’t sound like a big deal until you’re standing outside after a long drive. It helps the wineries feel like part of the flow, not a stop with friction.

Price and Value: Is $99 Worth It?

At $99 per person for an 8-hour day, you’re buying more than a tasting flight. You’re paying for:

• Two winery stops
• Tastings of over ten wines
• English-speaking sommelier guidance
• English-speaking driver
• Central pickup and drop-off
• Air-conditioned transportation with onboard Wi-Fi
• Snacks and refreshments at the vineyards
• Seat time you don’t have to plan yourself (between counties)

If you tried to do this independently—transport, entry coordination, and a guided tasting at two separate wineries—you’d spend a lot more effort, and likely more money, even without counting the time cost of arranging everything.

Where the value can wobble is in pacing expectations. If you’re expecting a slow, extended tasting at each vineyard, the schedule might feel compressed in parts. But if you’re okay with an efficiently guided day—and you come hungry-prepped—you’ll likely feel like you got what you paid for: two wine experiences in one day without the logistics headache.

Who Should Book This Tour From Bucharest?

This fits best if you want a guided wine day without trying to drive yourself through wine country. The tour is aimed at both wine enthusiasts and novices, which is a good sign if you’re new and still want something structured, not vague.

You’ll probably be happiest with this tour if:

• You enjoy learning while you taste
• You want two wineries in one outing
• You’re comfortable skipping a full lunch
• You like small-group energy (the tour is described as memorable for small groups)

You might want to think twice if:

• You want a long, uninterrupted tasting with minimal talk
• You’re someone who really needs a full sit-down meal mid-day
• You’re sensitive to schedule pressure and hate when timing changes

Should You Book This Bucharest Wine Tasting Tour?

Book it if you want a well-timed day that combines Romanian winemaking education with serious tasting at two different wineries, with the comfort of central pickup and a driver who handles the roads. It’s also a solid value for the number of wines you’ll taste and the fact that you get English guidance throughout.

Don’t book it blindly if your top priority is a relaxed lunch-and-sip pace. Plan a strong breakfast, bring a small backup snack idea in your head, and treat the day as a “taste + learn” rhythm rather than a slow winery picnic.

FAQ

How long is the Bucharest Romanian Wine Tasting Tour?

The tour lasts about 8 hours.

What are the two wineries included in the tour?

You visit LacertA Winery in Buzau County and Budureasca Winery in Prahova County.

How many wines will I taste?

The tour includes two tastings featuring over ten different wines.

Is lunch included?

No. Lunch is not included.

What’s included in the price?

Pickup from central meeting points, transportation by modern air-conditioned vehicle, Wi-Fi on board, an English-speaking driver, an English-speaking sommelier, and two wine tastings (plus local snacks and welcome refreshments at the wineries) are included.

Where are the pickup locations in Bucharest?

You can be picked up at Romana Square (Gray Line meeting point), Gray Line at University Square, or InterContinental Athénée Palace Bucharest (an IHG Hotel). Drop-offs are at central locations as well.

Does the tour have a minimum number of participants?

Yes. A minimum of 4 participants is required to organize the tour.

What is the cancellation policy?

Free cancellation is available up to 12 hours in advance for a full refund.