Cricova wines begin their lives in the picturesque vineyards in the center and the south of Moldova. And although the Associated Wine Factory’s vineyards are the largest ones in the country, grapes are hand-picked in special limited weight containers, enabling thus their preservation under excellent conditions. The originality of Cricova wines is explained by the conditions of storage in the underground cellars, where the so-called wine-making stage takes place. One has created the ideal conditions for the success of this process in the Cricova cellars, inasmuch as the average temperature is +10 … + 12°C and the relative humidity of the air is 97-98% all year round. The latter indicator is of particular importance: the higher the relative humidity level, the lower the risk of wine loss.

The Fortress of Bender is one of the most ancient installations in our region. Its history is unique. Even in XIII century, the Genoese vessels came up to here from the Black Sea, from the Fortress of Akkerman. The Genoese sailors and traders built the trading fortress to defend themselves and their goods, and essentially, to defend the existed crossing means on the river. In 1538,after the conquest of the Crimea, the Ottoman Empire takes the Moldavian Princedom. By the order of the sultan Suleiman I Kanuni, they expanded and rebuilt the Genoese trading post with the help of Italian architects. By 1541, the eight tower castle had already been built here.