From Bucharest: Romanian Wine Tasting Tour

Romania pours a fine surprise. This eight-hour trip from Bucharest takes you into the sub-Carpathian hills for tastings at LacertA and Budureasca, two wineries with very different settings and styles. I like the small-group format, which keeps the day more personal, and I like that an English-speaking sommelier explains both the wine and the work behind it.

The two tastings include more than ten wines, along with local snacks and welcome refreshments. That gives you a broad sample rather than one polite sip and a quick goodbye. The main caution is timing: the day can feel tight, lunch is not included, and one recent account described a shorter tasting at the first vineyard after a long history talk.

Key points to know before booking

• Two wineries, two different moods: LacertA offers a closer look at production and wine collections, while Budureasca brings a modern winery experience among a much larger vineyard.
• More than ten wines included: You can taste white, red, rosé, and table wines, depending on the selections served.
• A full day outside Bucharest: Expect about three hours in the van, with roughly 90 minutes each way between the city and the wine region.
• Lunch is not provided: Eat a substantial breakfast and bring water plus simple snacks, especially since you may taste many wines.
• Good support for first-time tasters: The sommelier covers wine evaluation and tasting technique, so you do not need prior wine knowledge.
• A comfortable central pickup: Choose from three meeting points around Romana Square, University Square, and the InterContinental Athénée Palace.

Leaving Bucharest for Romania’s wine country

The tour begins in central Bucharest, with pickup from one of three practical locations: the Gray Line meeting point at Romana Square, Gray Line at University Square, or the InterContinental Athénée Palace Bucharest.

From there, you travel by modern, air-conditioned vehicle toward Buzau County. The drive takes about an hour and a half. Wi-Fi is available onboard, though I would treat it as a useful extra rather than the reason to book the trip. The real value begins once the city gives way to open country and the hills around the vineyards.

That driving time matters. This is not a quick city tasting with a nearby winery attached. You are paying for a full regional outing, and the time on the road is part of the cost. The driver is English-speaking, and an English-speaking sommelier leads the wine program, which makes the day easier for visitors who do not speak Romanian.

The group size is described as small, but the exact number is not specified. At least four participants are needed for the tour to operate. Traffic can also affect the schedule, so I would avoid booking anything immediately after the planned eight-hour return.

LacertA Winery and its 82-hectare vineyard

The first winery is LacertA, set within an 82-hectare vineyard in Buzau County. Its setting gives the morning a calm start, with the sub-Carpathian hills providing a quiet contrast to Bucharest’s traffic and hard edges.

The visit lasts about 90 minutes. You receive a tour of the production process before tasting a selection of wines. This is useful if you want more than a succession of glasses, since you can connect the finished bottle with the work that takes place inside the winery.

LacertA’s wine collections include the Vintage Collection, Grand Prix, Lacerta Dolce, and the Gift Collection. Several selections have received international gold awards. Awards do not guarantee that every bottle will suit your taste, but they give you a sense of the winery’s ambitions and offer a good reason to pay attention to the differences between the ranges.

The tasting may include white, red, rosé, and table wines. The exact lineup is tailored to the group and the winery’s selections, so you should not expect a fixed menu of particular bottles. That flexibility can be helpful for mixed groups, especially when one person prefers whites and another reaches first for reds.

Local snacks are included at LacertA. They are not a substitute for lunch, but they give you something to eat with the wine. Since the tour may include many samples, I would have breakfast before pickup rather than relying on these small servings to carry you through the afternoon.

One practical point deserves attention. The first stop can include a longer explanation of the vineyard and its past, leaving less time for the actual tasting if the schedule slips. If wine sampling is your main goal, keep an eye on the clock and ask politely when the tasting portion begins. The strongest day gives both the story and the glass enough room.

The short transfer to Budureasca

After LacertA, the van travels for about 20 minutes to Budureasca Winery in Prahova County. This is a much shorter transfer than the morning drive, so the second stop feels like a natural continuation rather than another long haul.

Budureasca sits among a 300-hectare vineyard, making it considerably larger in scale than LacertA. The setting is attractive, and the modern winery gives the day a useful contrast. Instead of visiting two places that feel identical, you see two wine operations with different sizes and presentations.

The second stop lasts about 90 minutes. It includes wine tasting, local snacks, and welcome refreshments. The tasting also focuses on how to evaluate wine, which is especially useful if you often enjoy wine but find formal tasting language a little intimidating.

You can expect guidance on what to notice in the glass and how to compare wines. The point is not to turn you into a professional sommelier in one afternoon. It is to give you a few practical tools so you can identify what you like, explain your preferences, and pay closer attention the next time you open a bottle.

Budureasca has been praised for managing the balance between its historical introduction and the tasting more effectively. That matters because the tasting is the heart of the outing. A winery tour should tell you something, but it should also give you time to taste without feeling rushed.

The two stops work well together. LacertA offers named collections and a production-focused visit, while Budureasca provides a larger vineyard setting and a modern approach to wine evaluation. You get more range than you would from visiting a single estate.

What the tasting experience is really worth

At $99 per person, the tour is not the cheapest way to drink Romanian wine. It is also not simply a transfer to two tasting rooms. The price covers transportation from central Bucharest, an English-speaking driver, an English-speaking sommelier, two tastings with more than ten wines, local snacks, welcome refreshments, and a full day outside the capital.

For many visitors, the transport is the key value. Reaching two wineries independently would mean arranging a private car or dealing with regional transport, then making sure someone in the group can drive safely after tasting. The organized vehicle removes that problem.

The sommelier adds value for beginners and for wine lovers who want more context. You are not left to guess which glass is which or why one bottle costs more than another. The explanations also help make the two wineries feel like part of a Romanian wine story rather than isolated stops.

The price looks less attractive if you mainly want a long, leisurely lunch or a slow afternoon at one estate. Lunch is not included, and the schedule has several moving parts. You are buying variety, instruction, and convenience, not a relaxed meal with a vineyard view.

I would compare this tour with the cost of a private driver, two separate tasting fees, and the time required to plan the route. Against that comparison, $99 is reasonable. It becomes especially fair if you value a guide who can explain the wines in English and want to avoid driving after tasting.

The missing lunch and how to prepare

There is no lunch included. This is the most important practical detail to handle before you leave Bucharest.

Eat a robust breakfast, as one recent participant sensibly advised, and bring simple snacks and water. Local snacks are served at both wineries, but the supplied information does not describe them as a full meal. You should not count on them to replace lunch.

Water is useful between tastings, particularly during a long day with several glasses of wine. You may also want to keep your pace moderate. The goal is to taste and compare, not to treat the van ride home as a recovery room.

The tour’s schedule includes about 90 minutes at each winery, plus roughly three hours of driving. That leaves little room for an unplanned restaurant stop. If a proper lunch is important to you, this may not be the right day trip unless you are comfortable eating a substantial breakfast and carrying food.

Timing, guides, and the human side of the day

The experience received a strong overall rating of 4.7 from 32 ratings, but the day depends heavily on how well the schedule is handled. A recent account described the first tasting as shorter than expected because too much time went to the vineyard history. The same account found the second winery better organized between its introduction and tasting.

That is useful advice, not a reason to reject the trip. Winery visits naturally include explanations, and the history helps put Romanian wine into context. Still, if you have paid for two tastings, you should receive enough time to enjoy both.

The driver Lucien received particular praise for being helpful and professional. A good driver matters here because the route includes long stretches between Bucharest and the vineyards. You want a calm, dependable ride after tasting, especially when traffic or outside conditions affect the return time.

The company warns that it cannot control delays caused by traffic or other external conditions. Bucharest traffic can be unpredictable, so allow flexibility around the eight-hour estimate. Pickup and drop-off use central meeting points, which is convenient if you are staying near the city center.

Who will enjoy this Romanian wine day trip

I would recommend the tour to you if you want an easy introduction to Romanian wine without planning a rural route yourself. It suits couples, friends, and small groups with mixed levels of wine experience.

You do not need to know how to taste wine. The sommelier explains the basics, and the variety of more than ten wines lets you compare styles. Beginners can learn what they enjoy, while more experienced drinkers can focus on the winery collections and production methods.

The trip also suits visitors who want scenery and fresh air without committing to a demanding outdoor activity. The sub-Carpathian hills provide a peaceful setting, but this remains a comfortable vehicle-based outing with guided visits.

I would think twice if you dislike long drives, need a guaranteed lunch, or want complete control over the pace. You may also be disappointed if you expect every minute to be devoted to tasting. The day includes history, production information, transfers, and wine education.

Booking details that affect your decision

Free cancellation is available up to 12 hours before departure for a full refund. The activity lasts eight hours, but you should check the available starting times before booking because the exact departure time is not given here.

The tour operates in English. Pickup and return are offered at the same three central Bucharest locations, giving you some choice over where to begin and end the day.

At least four people are required for the tour to be organized. Since traffic and other outside conditions can delay the schedule, avoid placing an important evening reservation too close to the expected return.

The tour includes the vehicle, driver, sommelier, Wi-Fi, tastings, snacks, and refreshments. It does not include lunch or personal purchases, including bottles you may decide to buy at the wineries.

Should you book the LacertA and Budureasca tour?

Book it if you want a well-organized introduction to Romanian wine, two distinct winery visits, and a safe ride through the countryside. The best features are the range of wines, the English-speaking sommelier, and the contrast between LacertA’s 82-hectare vineyard and Budureasca’s 300-hectare setting.

Prepare properly by eating breakfast, carrying water and snacks, and allowing extra time after the tour. Also remember that the quality of the day depends on scheduling, so the first winery may feel rushed if the introduction runs long.

For $99, I see solid value for a visitor who wants convenience and instruction. I would not choose it for a food-centered day or a slow, unhurried winery escape. For a first taste of Romania’s wine country from Bucharest, though, it offers a practical route and plenty to sample.

FAQ

How much does the Romanian wine tasting tour cost?

The tour costs $99 per person.

How long does the tour last?

The experience lasts eight hours, including transportation from Bucharest to the wineries and back.

Where can I meet the tour?

Pickup is available at the Gray Line meeting point at Romana Square, Gray Line at University Square, or the InterContinental Athénée Palace Bucharest.

Which wineries does the tour visit?

The tour visits LacertA Winery in Buzau County and Budureasca Winery in Prahova County.

How many wines are included?

The two tastings include more than ten different wines in total. Selections may include white, red, rosé, and table wines.

Is lunch included?

No. Local snacks are provided at the wineries, but lunch is not included.

What language is the tour offered in?

The tour is offered in English, with an English-speaking sommelier and an English-speaking driver.