From Bucharest: Exclusive Dealu Mare Wine Tasting Tour

Dealu Mare is Romania’s leading red-wine region, and this private day trip gives you a useful introduction to its vineyards, winemaking and local varieties. You’ll follow the Old Wine Road from Bucharest, then visit Lacerta and family-owned 1000 Chipuri for a total of 12 wines.

I like the contrast between Lacerta’s gravity-based production methods and 1000 Chipuri’s family-run approach. I also like that the tastings include cheese and charcuterie, with a chance at the second winery to sample wine straight from a barrel or tank. One thing to plan for: the $260 price does not include lunch, and the trip takes a full 10 hours.

• Two wineries, two styles: Tour modern Lacerta and the family-owned 1000 Chipuri.
• Twelve wines in all: Each winery serves six, including Romanian varieties such as Fetească Neagră.
• The Old Wine Road: The drive passes restored manors and hills covered with vineyards.
• A private day out: Bucharest hotel pickup, transport and an English- or Romanian-speaking guide are included.
• Food with the tastings: Both wineries pair their wines with cheese and charcuterie. Lunch costs extra.

Why Dealu Mare is worth a day from Bucharest

Dealu Mare sits along the 45th parallel, a latitude shared with well-known wine areas such as Bordeaux and Tuscany. The region is especially known for red wine, making it a natural choice if you want to learn about Romanian reds rather than simply order a glass with dinner in Bucharest.

Romanian winemaking has a long past, reaching back to the ancient Dacian Kingdom. In the 19th century, Romanian wine found its way to royal tables, including those of Queen Victoria and Tsar Nicholas II. The communist period brought a turn toward large-scale production, and quality suffered. Since the fall of communism in 1989, winemakers have worked to restore craft and quality. Romania is now the world’s 12th-largest wine producer.

That background gives the tastings some context. You aren’t just sampling wines in a pretty setting; you’re learning about a wine culture that has had to rebuild its reputation and is still finding its place with international drinkers. If Romanian varieties are new to you, the guide and winery hosts can help you connect the names on the tasting list to what’s in your glass.

The Old Wine Road sets the mood

The day begins with pickup at your Bucharest hotel and a private drive toward Prahova County. Along the Old Wine Road, you’ll pass restored manors and vineyard-covered hills. The drive is part of the appeal: it gives you a view of the region between tasting rooms and helps the day feel like a trip into wine country, not a pair of appointments.

A private vehicle also means you don’t have to arrange your own transport or decide who will stay sober to drive. The guide travels with you, so the journey can add more than scenery. Past guides such as Mihai, Bogdan and Andrei have shared information about Romanian history and wine, and some have adjusted the pace to suit the group. Your guide may be different, but the experience is designed for a private group rather than a shared coach.

Allow the full 10 hours. The winery visits and lunch stop account for about five hours, with the rest of the day taken up by travel and the overall schedule. Exact departure times depend on availability, so check the start time when booking.

Lacerta: a modern cellar with a careful touch

Lacerta is the first winery stop, with about two and a half hours set aside for the visit, guided tour and tasting. It is one of the region’s more modern wineries, but its approach also draws on traditional care for the wine. Its gravity-based system minimizes pumping, a method intended to handle the wine gently.

The tour takes you through the production facilities and explains the process from grape to bottle. That makes this a useful first stop if you’re curious about how the wine is made, not just how it tastes. You’ll then sample six wines, paired with local cheese and charcuterie. The vineyard setting gives you a pleasant place to slow down between the cellar explanation and the tasting.

Six pours is enough to make this a substantial tasting, especially with another six wines still to come. Take your time, ask questions and remember that the aim is to compare styles, not race through the glasses. If you’re more interested in reds, Dealu Mare is known for them, but the tour description does not promise a particular mix of wines at either stop.

A lunch break, with the bill on you

Between the winery visits, the schedule includes a 45-minute lunch stop at a winery. A traditional Romanian lunch is available, but it is not included in the tour price. The listed price covers the wine tastings and their cheese and charcuterie pairings, not this meal or other food and drinks beyond what is included.

That distinction matters when you compare the cost with your budget. You can expect food alongside both tastings, but don’t count on those platters to replace lunch. Ask about the meal and its cost before you go, and allow for the extra expense.

The stop also gives you a pause between two tastings. If you’re planning to make the most of all 12 wines, having a proper meal is a sensible part of the day rather than an optional detail.

1000 Chipuri: family craft and wines in progress

The second winery is 1000 Chipuri, a family-owned producer focused on small-scale craftsmanship. The visit lasts about 105 minutes and includes a guided tour and six more wines with cheese, cured meats and dried fruit. Along with the finished wines, you may sample wine directly from an oak barrel or a stainless steel tank, an opportunity to notice how the wine changes as it ages.

That comparison is one of the more distinctive parts of the day. A wine in a barrel or tank is still developing, so you get a glimpse of production at a different stage than the bottle on the tasting table. The exact wines selected can vary, but the tasting may include Fetească Neagră, a well-known Romanian red, Cabernet Franc and Tămâioasă Românească. The last is often compared with a dry Muscat.

The two stops offer a useful contrast. Lacerta gives you a look at a modern winery and its gravity-based methods; 1000 Chipuri brings you into a family-run setting and offers a chance to taste wines still aging. The differences make the visits more informative than repeating the same cellar tour twice.

What the $260 price covers

At $260 per person, this is not a budget wine outing. The price includes hotel pickup and drop-off in Bucharest, private transport, a licensed guide and guided visits at both wineries. You also get six wines at each stop, with cheese and charcuterie pairings at both. Lunch and any extra food or drinks are additional.

The value depends partly on how you want to spend your day. If you would otherwise need to arrange transport, book winery visits and find a guide, having those pieces organized in a private trip may be worth the higher price. You also avoid making your own way between the estates after tasting. On the other hand, if you mainly want one glass of local wine, or you would rather travel independently, this is probably more tour than you need.

The guide is a meaningful part of the value. Past guides named Mihai, Bogdan and Andrei have been praised for their warm manner and their ability to talk about both Romanian wine and the country’s past. Some have also been flexible about the day’s pace. Those are useful qualities on a long outing, but you should not assume you’ll have a particular guide unless the provider confirms it.

Who should book this day trip?

I’d recommend this tour if you enjoy tasting wine and want more than a quick cellar visit. It suits couples, friends and small private groups who like having a guide to connect the wine to Romanian history and who are happy to spend most of a day outside Bucharest. It is particularly appealing if you want to try Fetească Neagră and other local wines alongside better-known varieties.

It is less suited to anyone looking for a short excursion, a low-cost outing or a meal included in the price. The day involves two tastings, and the second comes after six wines at the first winery. If you prefer a lighter tasting, ask the guide or winery staff about pacing and pouring before you start.

Book at least 24 hours ahead so the winery visits can be arranged. Occasional closures may happen because of private events or seasonal operations. The tour offers free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance, and you can reserve now and pay later.

Should you book the Dealu Mare tour?

Book it if you want a full-day introduction to Romanian wine with transport and a guide taken care of. The strongest reasons are the two distinct wineries, the 12 tastings, the regional varieties and the chance to compare finished wine with samples from a barrel or tank. Just budget separately for lunch and be ready for a long day.

If you’re more interested in Bucharest itself than in wine, save the time and money for the city. But if Dealu Mare’s reds and Romania’s winemaking revival catch your interest, this is a well-rounded way to spend a day beyond the capital.

FAQ

How long is the tour?

The tour lasts 10 hours, including the drive from Bucharest, the winery visits and the return trip.

Where does pickup take place?

Pickup and drop-off are included at your Bucharest hotel. The guide waits in the lobby near reception, or at the building entrance if your accommodation has no lobby.

Is the tour private?

Yes. The activity is for a private group.

What languages can the guide speak?

The tour offers a live guide in English or Romanian.

How many wineries will I visit?

You’ll visit two: Lacerta and 1000 Chipuri.

How many wines are included?

The tastings include six wines at each winery, for 12 in total.

Is lunch included in the price?

No. Lunch is not included. A traditional Romanian lunch is available during a 45-minute stop, but you pay for it separately.

Are food pairings included?

Yes. Cheese and charcuterie are included with the tasting at both wineries. The second winery also pairs its wines with dried fruit.

Can I sample Romanian grape varieties?

Yes. The experience may include Romanian varieties such as Fetească Neagră and Tămâioasă Românească.

Can I cancel for a refund?

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.