Romania is one of Europe’s major wine producers, yet its bottles rarely leave the country, and this tasting is a straightforward way to find out what you are missing. The two-hour session takes place at Abel’s Wine Bar on Strada Nicolae Tonitza, in the Old Town, and is led by a wine specialist. You taste five Romanian wines, two whites, one rosé and two reds, and share a platter of cheese and cured meats between two people, with a cheese-only version for vegetarians. The bar lists more than a hundred labels on its menu and sells bottles for takeaway at discounted rates, so you can buy what you liked. Groups are capped at fifteen, the session runs in English, and visitors rate it 4.8 from more than two hundred reviews. It is a welcome change of pace after a day of sightseeing, and a useful guide to local grapes and regions that are hard to navigate alone on a restaurant wine list. Unlike a vineyard day trip, it needs no transport and fits comfortably into a late afternoon in the centre.
How to visit
Book a date and choose a start time on the booking page, then meet at the wine bar. Confirmation arrives within forty-eight hours, subject to availability, and the session can be cancelled free of charge up to twenty-four hours before. The price covers the tasting package, the specialist, the platter for two, bottled water and the venue. The activity is not wheelchair accessible. Tell the operator about dietary needs when you book, particularly if you are vegetarian, because the platter is adapted to cheese only.
What to expect
A relaxed session of explanation and tasting rather than a formal lecture. A wine specialist leads the session, and the cheese and meat platter gives you something to pair with each glass. Five wines, two whites, a rosé and two reds, give a fair sense of the range.
You will not become an expert in two hours, but you can leave with a shortlist of wines to look for on menus, and perhaps a bottle or two to take home. As in any wine bar, you are drinking, so plan your evening around it.
Making the most of it
Choose a late-afternoon slot, so that the tasting leads naturally into dinner within walking distance in the Old Town, and use what you learn to order wine with confidence. It suits couples, friends and solo travellers, and it is one of the better rainy-day activities in the centre. If you enjoy it, ask the host about wine regions that can be visited on a day trip, and compare it with the market food tour for a fuller picture of Romanian eating and drinking.
Keep the cheese and meat platter in mind as a snack, not a meal. Take a note of your favourite bottle as you go, because the names on Romanian labels can be unfamiliar, and bring an ID in case the venue asks for one. The bar is a comfortable place to continue with a glass or two after the session if you are not in a hurry.
What to expect
The experience
A guided tasting of five Romanian wines with a cheese and cured-meat platter for two, at an Old Town wine bar.
Best time
Late afternoon, before dinner in the Old Town.
How long
About two hours.
Tips
Book a start time, tell the venue about dietary needs, and check the booking confirmation for the meeting details.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Couples, friends and anyone curious about Romanian wine.
- Families
- Not aimed at families; it is a tasting for adults.
- Couples
- An easy, relaxed date-style activity in the centre.
- Pair with
- The Old Town walk and dinner nearby.
- Time needed
- Two hours.
Good questions
Where does the tasting take place?+
At Abel’s Wine Bar on Strada Nicolae Tonitza in the Old Town, where the activity also finishes.
What wines do I taste?+
Five Romanian wines: two whites, one rosé and two reds, with a cheese and cured-meat platter shared between two.
Is it suitable for vegetarians?+
Yes, the platter is served with cheese only for vegetarians; mention it when you book.
How big is the group?+
A maximum of fifteen travellers, with English-language sessions.
Can I buy bottles afterwards?+
Yes, the bar offers bottles for takeaway at discounted rates.
