From Bucharest: Exclusive Dealu Mare Wine Tasting Tour

Twelve wines in ten hours sounds intense. It’s a smooth Bucharest day trip to Dealu Mare, with two boutique wineries and a real sense of place along the Old Wine Road.

I especially like the 12-wine tasting format: it gives you breadth without turning the day into a blur. You also get guided winery tours at both estates, so the tasting isn’t just drinking, it’s learning.

My other favorite part is the food pairing. At each winery you’ll enjoy local cheese, charcuterie, and dried fruit, which makes even unfamiliar Romanian varieties easier to read and enjoy. One thing to consider: lunch is not included, even though you’ll have a lunch break during the day.

Key things I’d pin to your fridge before you go

• Dealu Mare on the 45th parallel: ideal conditions for red grapes, not just a pretty label.
• Lacerta’s gravity-minded winemaking: a modern approach that still aims to protect the wine’s character.
• 1000 Chipuri’s family craft: a different vibe from Lacerta, plus tasting wines from oak and tank.
• Fetească Neagră on the menu: a distinctly Romanian red you’ll want to compare side by side with international styles.
• The Old Wine Road drive: elegant manors and vineyard hills turn transport time into part of the experience.

Dealu Mare makes a great Bucharest wine day trip

A good day trip doesn’t just move you from A to B. It gives you context, then payoff. That’s what this one does with Dealu Mare, Romania’s premier wine region along the 45th parallel.

This part of the country is known for producing rich, velvety wines, especially reds. That matters for your expectations: you’re not trying to force a “light and breezy” wine mindset. The region’s climate and tradition are built for depth, structure, and flavors that can stand up to food.

And because you’re doing this as a single-day outing, it’s a smart way to sample Romanian wine without committing to a multi-day tour plan. You’ll get the tasting experience and the cultural backdrop in one go.

The drive from Bucharest: Old Wine Road scenery with a purpose

You start with hotel pickup and drop-off in Bucharest, then settle into a comfortable vehicle for the ride north into Prahova. The drive isn’t filler. It’s part of the story because you’ll travel along the historic Old Wine Road, passing elegant manors and rolling vineyard hills.

Here’s why I like this structure: you’re easing into the wine region rather than arriving cold. When you later taste reds from Dealu Mare, the geography makes sense. The region doesn’t feel like a random collection of wineries. It feels like a working wine landscape with history on both sides of the road.

Also, because it’s a private group, the pacing tends to match your day. That matters if you prefer fewer stops and more time inside the estates.

Stop 1: Lacerta Winery and the gravity-powered tour

Your first visit is to Lacerta Winery, a modern estate with a tradition-driven mindset. One detail I like right away: the winemaking process uses gravitational principles to reduce the need for pumps. In practical terms, that means the winery aims to protect wine integrity by handling the wine more gently than pump-heavy workflows.

During the guided tour, you’ll see how the estate thinks about grape-to-bottle production. Then it’s time for a tasting of six premium wines, served with local cheese and charcuterie.

Why this stop works even if you’re not a hardcore oenology person: the wine tasting is paired with food, and it’s paired with local choices that are meant to match the styles you’re drinking. I find that pairing like this helps you understand acidity, tannins, and fruit without turning the day into a chemistry lecture.

Time on site: about 2.5 hours at Lacerta, which gives you room for both the tour and the tasting without feeling rushed.

Lunch break timing: plan for what’s included and what isn’t

After Lacerta, there’s a lunch break before your second winery experience. This is the part where you need to watch the wording: lunch is not included in the tour price, even though you’ll have time for it.

So if you’re someone who hates surprise costs, treat lunch as an extra budget item. If you’re flexible and happy to eat well locally, this break can be a good moment to slow down, hydrate, and reset before the last stretch.

Time on break: about 45 minutes.

Stop 2: 1000 Chipuri’s family style and barrel-or-tank tasting

Next comes 1000 Chipuri, a family-owned boutique winery with a reputation built on craftsmanship. If Lacerta feels modern and engineered, this stop tends to feel more hands-on and personal—exactly the contrast you want on a one-day tasting.

The tasting includes six carefully selected wines, paired again with local cheese, cured meats, and dried fruits. One extra learning opportunity here is the way you sample wines: you may taste from oak barrels or stainless steel tanks. That’s a practical way to understand how aging choices can shape flavor and texture.

This is also where Romanian identity shows up strongly. You’ll want to pay attention to Fetească Neagră, a standout Romanian red often described as a key native variety. The day also includes Cabernet Franc and Tămâioasă Românească, a grape often compared to a dry Muscat style—so you get both red-grape depth and an aromatic white experience.

Time on site: around 105 minutes for tour and tasting at 1000 Chipuri.

How the tasting format helps you actually learn what you like

The tour delivers 12 wines total, split into two groups of six. You also get pairing food at both stops, so you’re not tasting wine in a vacuum. That combination is what makes the day feel educational instead of just indulgent.

Here’s a simple way to use the format:

• Compare reds first, since the region’s strengths are in rich reds.
• Notice how the same food types—cheese, cured meats, dried fruits—shift your perception across different grapes.
• Treat Romanian varieties as the “reference set.” If you can identify what you like in Fetească Neagră, you’ll have an easier time picking out Romanian wine back home.

You’ll come away with more than favorite sips. You’ll understand which styles Dealu Mare is built for, and you’ll know which grapes feel like they belong there.

The historical thread: why Romanian wine went through a rough patch

One of the reasons this kind of tour adds value is the context. You’ll hear how Romanian wine production stretches back through older eras, including the Dacian Kingdom, and it gained major recognition in the 19th century.

At that time, Romanian wine was good enough to be a supplier to royal figures such as Queen Victoria and Tsar Nicholas of Russia. Then World War II and the Soviet-era shift plus the communist regime changed the direction. Production became more about quantity than quality, which hurt craftsmanship and refinement.

Since 1989, the industry has been rebuilding and regaining international recognition. Today Romania ranks as the world’s 12th largest wine producer. That’s the kind of number that matters, because it explains why Dealu Mare isn’t a tourist-only project. It’s part of a much bigger wine revival.

Guides turn the day from wine tasting into a story you remember

This is where the experience gets personal. You’ll travel with an English-speaking licensed guide, and the guide’s knowledge can make a big difference in how fast you understand what you’re tasting.

From the guide styles attached to this tour, I’d watch for three traits:

• A down-to-earth approach that makes history feel human, not lecture-y
• The ability to explain how Romanian wine fits into broader European patterns
• A patient, friendly pace that lets you ask questions

You might spend the day with guides like Mihai, Bogdan, or Andrei. Their shared strength is clear: they connect Romanian wine to both place and past, and they keep things relaxed at the wineries so you don’t feel like you’re rushing a checklist.

If you’re the type who loves a conversation with locals, this is a strong match.

Price and value: what you’re really paying for

At $260 per person for a 10-hour private tour, this isn’t a budget tasting. But it is also not just “drink and go.”

You’re paying for:

• Hotel pickup and drop-off in Bucharest
• Private transport in a comfortable vehicle
• A licensed English-speaking tour guide
• Two guided winery visits with tastings
• 12 wine tastings total
• Pairing food at both wineries (cheese/charcuterie/dried fruit)
• A drive route that includes the scenic Old Wine Road

So the value comes from combining logistics and content. A do-it-yourself version would likely mean separate transportation costs, winery reservation hassle, and a less structured tasting flow. Here, everything is organized into one clean day plan, with the pairings included where they matter.

If you’re coming with at least one friend and you want a guided, food-supported tasting at two estates, the per-person price starts to look less like a splurge and more like paying for time, guidance, and a smoother experience.

Who this tour is best for (and who should consider alternatives)

This tour fits best if you:

• Want a one-day Dealu Mare introduction without planning multiple winery stops
• Like learning while you taste—especially about Fetească Neagră and Dealu Mare red styles
• Enjoy food pairings, not just wine-only tastings
• Prefer a private group feel so the pace doesn’t feel like a conveyor belt

It may feel like too much for you if you want an ultra-cheap outing or if you’d rather spend the day at only one winery with no drive component.

Also, be realistic about the schedule. It’s 10 hours, so it’s a full-day commitment. Plan an easy evening afterward.

Should you book this Dealu Mare wine tasting tour?

I’d book it if you want a day trip that feels like it actually belongs in Romania, not a generic winery stop. The pairing-focused tastings at Lacerta and 1000 Chipuri, plus the chance to taste styles like Fetească Neagră, give you enough variety to make the trip worthwhile.

I’d hesitate only if the idea of a full-day schedule (plus paying separately for lunch) sounds like a hassle. And since winery timing can be affected by seasonal operations or private events, you’ll get the best outcome by booking with enough flexibility in your Bucharest stay.

If your goal is to leave with clearer wine preferences—plus a story about how Romanian wine rebounded after decades of pressure—this is a strong choice.

FAQ

How long is the Exclusive Dealu Mare Wine Tasting Tour?

It lasts about 10 hours, from pickup in Bucharest to return to Bucharest.

Is this tour private?

Yes. It’s listed as a private group, and you’ll have private transport.

How many wineries do you visit?

You visit two wineries: Lacerta Winery and 1000 Chipuri Winery.

How many wines are included in the tastings?

You’ll taste 12 wines total, six at each winery.

Is lunch included in the price?

No. Lunch is not included, even though there is time set aside for it during the day.

Do I get hotel pickup and drop-off?

Yes. Pickup and drop-off are included in Bucharest, and the guide meets you in the hotel lobby or at the building entrance if there is no lobby.

What language is the tour guide?

The guide is listed as English-speaking, with Romanian also available.

Can I pay later or get a full refund if plans change?

The activity offers reserve now & pay later, and it allows free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.