Moldova’s chateaus and wineries are really a top reason for a visit, but all of them are evidently located in the countryside where their vineyards are, and you can really get an unforgettable experience at Chateau Vartely or Et Cetera wineries, but that would require a minimum 1-hour drive from Chisinau.

Luckily, there is a solution for you if you want to discover a Moldavian winery and see the whole process of wine-making but don’t want to make a long trip for it. A few years ago, local wine enthusiasts founded wine brand ATU and a winery which they call the“first urban winery”, and it’s true, because it is located just at the entrance of Chisinau, on the road to the airport.

Here you can get a tour of the winery, explaining the process and features of wine-making, and after that try the whole range of ATU wines. Usually, tours are held by the winery’s founder, so it’s easy to share his enthusiasm and passion.

My absolute ATU favorites are their whites – Feteasca Alba and Viorica, made from endemic vines grown exclusively in Moldova.