Istoria
CRICOVA TIME AXIS
Academician P. Ungureanu performed the first classic sparkling wine making experiment
CRICOVA TIME AXIS
CRICOVA TIME AXIS
Establishment of the Republican Wine Collection
CRICOVA TIME AXIS
Production of classic sparkling wine in industrial quantities
CRICOVA TIME AXIS
A historic visit to Cricova. The renowned
cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin, the first man to travel
into space, visited the underground city. Legend
has it that Gagarin was so captivated by
Cricova’s hospitality that he “found his way out only the next day.”
CRICOVA TIME AXIS
Establishment of the Viticulture Association “CRICOVA” and the massive expansion of vine plantations
CRICOVA TIME AXIS
Commissioning of the Classic Sparkling Wine Production Factory with a capacity of 4.5 million bottles annually
CRICOVA TIME AXIS
Establishment of the Sparkling Wine Production Factory using the “Charmat” method
CRICOVA TIME AXIS
The fundamental valorization of the activity and its adaptation to the requirements of the market economy
CRICOVA TIME AXIS
Founding of the Center for Business and Tourism “Cricova – Vin”
CRICOVA TIME AXIS
The formation of agricultural farms and the creation of own wine plantations
CRICOVA TIME AXIS
Awarding of the “Order of the Republic”
CRICOVA TIME AXIS
Cricova Winery was declared as “Cultural National Heritage of the Republic of Moldova”
CRICOVA TIME AXIS
Reconstruction of the Tasting Complex “Cricova”
CRICOVA TIME AXIS
Implementation of ISO-9001 and ISO-22000 systems.
CRICOVA TIME AXIS
Reconstruction of the factory for the primary processing of grapes
CRICOVA TIME AXIS
Reconstruction of the Factory for the production of still and sparkling wines
CRICOVA TIME AXIS
The opening of the world’s first underground cinema in the “Underground City of Cricova” at a depth of 80 m. underground
CRICOVA TIME AXIS
Awarded the Grand Prize for outstanding merits in producing high-quality wines, the perpetuation of traditions and the excellent quality of local wines, the promotion of the image of the Republic of Moldova as a wine-growing country in the international arena, and the contribution to the development of Moldovan wine tourism.
CRICOVA TIME AXIS
Awarding of the trophy “European City of Wine Dionis 2020” in Brussels and the only Gold Medal at the World sparkling wine competition “Effervescents du Monde” for the sparkling wine “Pinot Noir, Blanc de Noirs Extra-Brut” Methode Traditionnelle.
CRICOVA TIME AXIS
Cricova Winery, for the first time, launches the first series of organic wines “WILD” from the Republic of Moldova. This means a new stage of development of the “Cricova” Winery, which includes criteria such as: modern management, qualified specialists, last generation technologies and care for consumers.
1952
The history of the “Cricova” Winery begins in 1952. Namely during this period, in the Republic of Moldova, the problem of sight appeared at the wine storage and aging areas. After long searches, two outstanding personalities of Moldovan winemaking, Petru Ungureanu and Nicolae Sobolev, proposed using the underground galleries from which the building stone was extracted as warehouses. It was soon established that the wines produced at the “Cricova” Winery and matured in the underground silence have exceptional qualities.
1990
Rightfully called the “Pearl of Moldavian winemaking” – “Cricova” represents a unique Underground Complex, which has been noted throughout the world for its huge labyrinths and for its excellent wines.
“Cricova” is the first enterprise in the Republic of Moldova, which produces sparkling wine according to the method of the famous monk Dom Pérignon – “Méthode Traditionelle”. The technology is complex and involves secondary fermentation in the bottle and subsequent maturation in a horizontal position. The company’s assortment is characterized by quality and diversity. Today it can certainly be said that one of the most remarkable products offered by the “Cricova” Winery is the classic sparkling wine – a noble and extravagant sparkling wine.
2003
“Cricova” also produces sparkling wines obtained by secondary fermentation in stainless steel containers, and the effervescent having
a fruity and fresh character. This method allows preserving all the qualities of a re-fermented wine.
“Cricova”Winery has asserted itself through a trend of continuous innovation. Today, the enterprise uses the most sophisticated technologies in the world in the field of winemaking, possesses the art of producing the most diverse types of wines and satisfies the most refined tastes and market requirements. “Cricova” is the most valuable brand in the Republic of Moldova, being known far beyond its borders. It is the first and only enterprise decorated with the highest state distinction, the Order of the Republic. By the law of the Parliament of the Republic of Moldova, “Cricova” Winery was declared the National Cultural Heritage of the country in 2003.
THE VINEYARDS
“Cricova”Winery is located in a unique and picturesque place, in the central region of the Republic of Moldova. Here, in the vicinity of the most imposing natural and historical attractions of the country – the nature reserve “Codrii” and the archaeological complex “Orheiul Vechi”, the company’s vineyards are located. It is known that the Republic of Moldova delights with a favorable climate, with mild winters, with a large number of sunny days and fertile soil. Thus, the winemakers from Cricova are some of the luckiest ones.
Currently, the company’s vineyards are the largest in the country and cover an area of over 1000 hectares. The Cricova and Criuleni farms are located in the central area of the country, and Găvănoasa and Luceşti are located in the south.
The geographical diversity of the vineyards belonging to the Winery has another important priority – the possibility of growing different varieties of vines, depending on the climatic and soil characteristics of the locality. As a result, the company grows predominantly red grape varieties in the Cahul region, such as: Cabernet-Sauvignon, Merlot, Fetească Neagră, Pinot Noir, Răra Neagră. In the central region of the country, white varieties such as Pinot Meunier, Chardonnay, Sauvignon, Rkatiteli, Muscat and Aligote are cultivated. The complex production cycle and own raw material – these are the advantages that have set the Winery apart since its inception. Thanks to the control at all stages of the production process, from the planting of the cuttings to the delivery of the finished product, “Cricova” Winery ensures superior quality, authenticity and originality of the wine formula produced here.
Cricova also owns organic vineyards, cultivated with care and respect for nature. These plantations are organically certified and represent the winery’s commitment to sustainability, providing natural grapes of the highest quality. On the winery’s organic plantations, noble varieties such as Fetească Neagră, Fetească Regală, and Viorica are grown, reflecting the authenticity and richness of the Moldovan terroir.
THE PRODUCTION PROCESS
Due to the natural conditions and unique wine cellars, the “Cricova” Winery has had excellent provisions for producing the highest quality wines since its founding. At the same time, the enterprise continues to invest in production equipment and advanced machinery throughout all these years.
Cricova wines begin their life in the picturesque vineyards of central and southern Moldova. Despite the fact that the Winery’s vineyards are the largest in the country, the grapes are hand-picked into special containers with limited capacity, which allows them to be kept in excellent condition.
The originality of Cricova wines is attributed to the storage conditions in the underground cellars, where the crucial wine creation stage occurs. The cellars at Cricova offer ideal conditions for the successful execution of this process, with an average year-round temperature of +10…+12 °C and a relative humidity of 97-98%. This high humidity level is particularly significant because the higher the relative humidity, the lower the risk of wine loss. It is noteworthy that, unlike many winemaking enterprises, including world-renowned ones, Cricova’s wine storage facilities lack artificial air conditioning or ventilation systems. Instead, a unique microclimate, created by nature itself, prevails here, which is perfect for the production and maturation of high-quality wines.
LABORATORY
Established in 1952, the Testing Laboratory of “Cricova” Winery is accredited by the International Organization for Standardization and operates in accordance with global standards SM EN ISO/IEC 17025:2018. The technical competence and impartiality of the testing laboratory are further confirmed by accreditation within the national MOLDAC system.
Our Mission
The mission of the Testing Laboratory is to oversee all technological processes at the “Cricova” Winery. Additionally, in accordance with ISO 17025:2018, the laboratory aims to ensure the quality of wine products and continuously improve testing methods. To achieve these objectives, laboratory employees strictly adhere to international standardization requirements.
The laboratory is equipped with modern equipment, and its professional team consistently contributes to enhancing the quality of Cricova brand products. The specialists not only ensure product quality but also participate in the development and implementation of new products to meet the preferences of each specific market.
