Arab Press

بالشعب و للشعب
Friday, Jun 20, 2025

Inside Vladimir Putin’s Outrageous Underground Wine Cellar In Moldova

Separated from Russia by Ukraine, the tiny Republic of Moldova operates the state-owned Cricova wine cellar, and is President Vladimir Putin’s personal wine playground when he visits.
There is a spectacular underground world, deep beneath the rolling hillsides near Chisinau, the capital of Moldova, in a location that is the least visited country in Europe.

Separated from Russia by Ukraine, the tiny Republic of Moldova operates the state-owned Cricova wine cellar, and is President Vladimir Putin’s personal wine playground when he visits.

The wine cellars of Cricova is the second-largest wine cellar in Moldova, only under the Guinness World Record holder, nearby Mileștii Mici. With 75 miles of winding underground tunnels and mazes 250 feet below sea level, the 15th-century limestone former mining caves at Cricova were converted into the luxurious wine retreat in the 1950s.

Featuring cars, a red mini-train, and according to members, even a gold plated buggy for President Putin when he visits, Cricova is a popular tourist destination. Visitors love to travel through the vast underground streets complete with traffic lights and road signs named such as Cabernet Street and Sauvignon Street. Every street matches the name of the wine that is stored in the adjacent walls.

The 130 acres of the winery include five large tasting rooms with decadent furnishings and wood carved by Moldovan artisans.

Among them; the European Hall established for Congress and business meetings; the Sea Bottom tasting hall with original limestone ceiling and piped in underwater sounds, the Presidential Hall where high- level meetings take place including hosting dignitaries from around the world, the Fireplace Room created for private, intimate dinners, and The Big House built to look like a traditional Moldovan House complete with wooden beams.

The winery was established when Moldova was a member of the Soviet Union in 1952. It now produces over 150 types of wine, from Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Merlot to Rkatsiteli, Aligote, and Sauvignon.

It is known as the first Moldovan company that manufactures sparkling wine by the method of the monk Dom Pierre Perignon. Visitors say there are five women who manually rotate each of 35,000 bottles daily.

The Cricova cellars contain a remarkable collection of Oenotheque wine, created in 1954. The collection includes almost 1.3 million bottles of wine, each one of with its own special qualities and unusual history.

The wines were collected from around the world. The most regarded of the collection is the red desert wine “Easter Jerusalem.” It is the only collection in the world that has survived from the 400 original bottles created in 1902.

There is also the unique Jan Becher liqueur, produced in 1902, in Czechia, containing extracts of 27 medicinal herbs.

The most notorious collection of the Oenotheque is the one that belonged to the infamous Nazi commander-in-chief, Hermann Göring. It includes almost 2,000 bottles, such as Mosel, Bordeaux, Porto, Tokay, and Chablis.

All wines were produced from the grape harvested in the 1940s.

The wines were taken by Göring from the countries occupied by Germany. After the war, the wines were first taken to Moscow by Soviet soldiers as a prized military possession and they were mostly consumed.

The remainders of the collection can be found now at Cricova.

Among the dignitaries and world leaders who have visited the Cricova Winery are German Chancellor Angela Merkel and US Vice President Joe Biden.

Putin has had his own personal wine collection in Cricova since 2002. Every politician who visits the winery is given the honor of a personal dedicated wine collection with a custom placard. And now that the President of Moldova is pro-Russian, the cash hungry country may benefit by an eventual lifting of a previous economic embargo on Moldovan exports.

For visitors who want to experience this amazing wine world, the ultimate package is the Premium Gold options, which include the tour as well as a private tasting room experience with 11 wines offered for tasting. Also included are gourmet meals and a souvenir box with sparkling and red wine.

The total price is $185 per person. The traditional tasting package is only $65 per person.
Newsletter

Related Articles

Arab Press
0:00
0:00
Close
16 Billion Login Credentials Leaked in Unprecedented Cybersecurity Breach
Senate hearing on who was 'really running' Biden White House kicks off
G7 Leaders Fail to Reach Consensus on Key Global Issues
Mass exodus in Tehran as millions try to flee following Trump’s evacuation order
Iranian Military Officers Reportedly Seek Contact with Reza Pahlavi, Signal Intent to Defect
China's Iranian Oil Imports Face Disruption Amid Escalating Middle East Tensions
Trump Demands Iran's Unconditional Surrender Amid Escalating Conflict
Israeli Airstrike Targets Iranian State TV in Central Tehran
President Trump is leaving the G7 summit early and has ordered the National Security Council to the Situation Room
Netanyahu Signals Potential Regime Change in Iran
Analysts Warn Iran May Resort to Unconventional Warfare
Iranian Regime Faces Existential Threat Amid Conflict
Energy Infrastructure Becomes War Zone in Middle East
Iran Conducts Ballistic Missile Launches Amid Heightened Tensions with Israel
Iran Signals Openness to Nuclear Negotiations Amid Ongoing Regional Tensions
Shock Within Iran’s Leadership: Khamenei’s Failed Plan to Launch 1,000 Missiles Against Israel
UK Deploys Jets to Middle East Amid Rising Tensions
Exiled Iranian Prince Reza Pahlavi Urges Overthrow of Khamenei Regime
Wreck of $17 Billion San José Galleon Identified Off Colombia After 300 Years
Iran Launches Extensive Missile Attack on Israel Following Israeli Strikes on Nuclear Sites
Israel Issues Ultimatum to Iran Over Potential Retaliation and Nuclear Facilities
Coinbase CEO Warns Bitcoin Could Supplant US Dollar Amid Mounting National Debt
Trump to Iran: Make a Deal — Sign or Die
Operation "Like a Lion": Israel Strikes Iran in Unprecedented Offensive
Israel Launches 'Operation Rising Lion' Targeting Iranian Nuclear and Military Sites
Israeli Forces Intercept Gaza-Bound Aid Vessel Carrying Greta Thunberg
IMF Warns of Severe Global Trade War Impacts on Emerging Markets
Syria to Reconnect to Global Economy After 14 Years of Isolation
Saudi Arabia Faces Uncertainty Over Succession After Mohammed bin Salman
Israel Confirms Arming Gaza Clan to Counter Hamas Influence
Majority of French Voters View Macron's Presidency as a Failure
U.S. Reduces Military Presence in Syria
Trump Demands Iran End All Uranium Enrichment in Nuclear Talks
Iran Warns Europe Against Politicizing UN Nuclear Report
Businessman Mauled by Lion at Luxury Namibian Lodge
Paris Saint-Germain's Greatest Triumph Is Football’s Lowest Point
OPEC+ Agrees to Increase Oil Output for Third Consecutive Month
Turkey Detains Istanbul Officials Amid Anti-Corruption Crackdown
Meta and Anduril Collaborate on AI-Driven Military Augmented Reality Systems
EU Central Bank Pushes to Replace US Dollar with Euro as World’s Main Currency
European and Arab Ministers Convene in Madrid to Address Gaza Conflict
Head of Gaza Aid Group Resigns Amid Humanitarian Concerns
U.S. Health Secretary Ends Select COVID-19 Vaccine Recommendations
Trump Warns Putin Is 'Playing with Fire' Amid Escalating Ukraine Conflict
India and Pakistan Engage Trump-Linked Lobbyists to Influence U.S. Policy
U.S. Halts New Student Visa Interviews Amid Enhanced Security Measures
Trump Administration Cancels $100 Million in Federal Contracts with Harvard
SpaceX Starship Test Flight Ends in Failure, Mars Mission Timeline Uncertain
King Charles Affirms Canadian Sovereignty Amid U.S. Statehood Pressure
Iranian Revolutionary Guard Founder Warns Against Trusting Regime in Nuclear Talks
×