Cricova Bottling Area

 Cricova actually showed us part of their production area.  This is where they bottle sparkling wine.

Doesn't Look Like Much

The picture's small, but it's wide.  I'm almost to the edge of the bottom.  It's about time to start working my way up.

Beautiful Sunday Afternoon At Roata Vremii

 We took a drive on a Sunday afternoon in late April - the weather was gorgeous and the day spectacular.  Unfortunately, we could only find pizza places in Cimislia for lunch, so we came back to town and ended up with a very late lunch at Roata Vremii, so we could enjoy their terrace.  

Being adventuresome and seeing new liquor on the menu, I tried some.  I've forgotten the name, but it was Russian and came in several flavors.  Cherry sounded good to me.  As you can see, it came in a large shot glass.  The drink was a grappa, of sorts, and had more of an herbal than a cherry taste.  

We shared a placinte (cow's cheese), and it was good.  Placinte is ubiquitous here.  It's a dough similar to puff pastry dough with a bit more fat filled with cheese, pumpkin, apple, cherries, potatoes, or cabbage.  With the savory flavors, there's always dill.  For the sweet, there may or may not be sugar.

Andreas had his usual Greek salad and I my usual zeama with a mushroom salad too.  All were good, though they seem to marinate their mushrooms here more often than not.  It's difficult to get fresh mushrooms any way but grilled.  Excellent as always, though!

Wines From Other Places

Cricova keeps collections of old wines from different countries.  I'm not exactly sure why.  Anyway, lots of flags to denote the countries.  They also have part of Goebbel's old wine collection from WWII.  

It's A Pelican!

I'm dense.  I thought the big blob over the E was an umbrella.  Turns out it's a pelican!  And it's getting done, too.

Leaf It Alone

I only worked on the leaves this time.  They're growing!

Art And Wine

 It was pointed out to me that old Moldovan wine presses are unusual in that they have rectangular instead of round receptacles.  Not at all sure of the reason for the difference, but it's there.  The rest of these pics are of the wine collection and the art interspersed with it in the cellar.  Note the "stained glass" windows.  They're actually wine bottles....