Wine & Culture

Saturday, 17 APRIL 2004
British Airways flight from London Heathrow to Bucharest, arriving at 15:00 (alternative airlines may be substituted, including options for regional departures).
Meet & Greet; guided transfer to your 3-star hotel in Bucharest, incorporating a sightseeing tour of the capital. Dinner, and overnight at hotel.

Sunday, 18 APRIL 2004
Depart for Sibiu (Hermannstadt), former capital of "Saxon Transylvania" and one of the most beautiful towns in Romania, after breakfast. We cross the Danube
Plain before ascending the dramatic Olt Valley to the Red Tower Pass, once the main route into Transylvania for trade and invading armies. Sightseeing tour
of mediaeval Sibiu, founded and fortified by the "Saxons" in the XIIIth-XVIIth centuries, combining different styles from early Gothic and late Renaissance to
classical and Transylvanian baroque. Dinner, and overnight at a 3-star hotel in Sibiu (Imparatul Romanilor or Continental).

Monday, 19 April 2004
Depart for Blaj (Blasendorf), after breakfast. This Transylvanian town, of Saxon origin, is significant in Romanian history due to an uprising by the
Romanians demanding equal rights to their Magyar overlords. It is situated in the largest wine district of Transylvania, Tarnave, embracing the valleys of
the Tarnave Mica and Tarnave Mare, and contains a viticulture research station and wine cellars. The Tarnave is predominantly a white wine-producing region,
in particular dry and medium dry varieties. There are also traditions of wine making in some of the "Saxon" villages in this region, with small vineyards
producing must for the larger wineries. Our first vineyard, located on the banks of the Tarnave river provides high quality wines at good prices. At
lunchtime, we continue upstream to Jidvei, the best-known and most important, commercial vineyard in Transylvania for lunch. This is followed by "champagne"
tasting at Cetatea de Balta (Bethlen Castle) built in the XVIth century in French Renaissance style and restored in the XVIIth-XVIIIth centuries with a
baroque style gate. Afterwards we continue to the historic town of Alba Iulia. Dinner, and overnight in a 2-star hotel.
Blaj: White wines, mainly Feteasca Regala, followed by Muscat Ottonet and Gewurztraminer. Jidvei: predominantly white wines, in particular Feteasca Regala,
Sauvignon Blanc, Muscat Ottonel and Italian Riesling. Also Traminer, Chardonnay and Pinot Gris. Late vintage is common.

Tuesday, 20 April 2004
Breakfast followed by a tour of the medieval fortress, the Catholic Cathedral, and the Orthodox Cathedral of the Union. We continue via Cluj-Napoca, the main
economic and cultural centre of Transylvania, an important University City that was the capital of the province at the time of the Dual Monarchy. City sightseeing tour
followed by a drive into the hills above the Somes valley to reach the village of Lechinta, centre of the Bistrita wine-growing region.
Wine tasting, then continue to the old mediaeval town of Bistrita (Bistritz). Sightseeing town followed by dinner and overnight in a 3-star hotel.
Lechinta: white wines including Feteasca Regala and Pinot Gris, but also small volumes of less common varieties including Riesling and Neuburger.

Wednesday, 21 April 2004
After breakfast we take a scenic drive south through the hills of northern Transylvania, to the city of Targu Mures, where we take a brief city tour including the
impressive Hungarian-style, art nouveau Palace of Culture, and city hall. We continue to the fortified church in the Saxon village of Biertan, and impressive
UNESCO-protected complex, surrounded by abandoned wine-terraces - witness to the exodus of a large proportion of the German-speaking population in the years
before and after the Romanian Revolution. Afterwards we continue to the fairytale, mediaeval town of Sighisoara (Schässburg), perhaps the best preserved,
walled citadels in Europe. Walking tour of the citadel followed by dinner in a nice, local restaurant. Overnight in a 3-star hotel in Sighisoara.

Thursday, 22 April 2004
Breakfast, then depart for Brasov (Kronstadt), an important city with a mediaeval centre dating back to the XIIIth century, standing at the foot of the Tâmpa Hill,
and the higher peaks of the Carpathians. City tour including the impressive, gothic Black Church (XIVth century), the Town Hall, and the Church St. Nicholas in the
Schei district. In the afternoon, we visit Bran Castle, built in the XIVth century and sometimes touted as Dracula's Castle, despite having only the most tentative
connection with Vlad the Impaler. Dinner, folk show and wine tasting at Cerbul Carpatin restaurant. Overnight in a 3-star hotel.

Friday, 23 April 2004
After breakfast we cross the Predeal Pass, leaving Transylvania to reach the Prahova Valley and the famous, royal mountain resort of Sinaia, the "Pearl of the
Carpathians", where we visit Peles Castle (former summer residence of the Romanian monarchy) and Sinaia Monastery. Leaving the mountains behind us, we
detour into the foothills to the Valea Calugareasca wine-growing region for a final wine tasting at either Tohani or Urlati. Continue to the capital for dinner, and overnight
in a 3-star hotel.
Valea Calugareasca: one of a series of vineyards forming the Dealul Mare wine-growing region, extending from the Prahova Valley along the south-facing hillsides of the
Carpathian foothills eastwards to Vrancea. This region produces some of Romania's best red wines including Feteasca Neagra, Merlot, Pinot Noir and Cabernet Sauvignon.

Saturday, 24 April 2004
Breakfast, then free time for shopping. Transfer to Otopeni airport for your afternoon flight back to the UK.

TOUR PRICE:
£ TBA.00 per person, sharing twin or double room
Additional nights in Bucharest on request
Prices are per person per night sharing a double or twin room in £ Sterling (GBP). All price valid until further notice and subject to availability.

PRICE INCLUDES
* Scheduled flights from London Heathrow (Regional supplements available)
* All Airport Taxes
* Transport throughout by coach or minibus
* Accommodation in comfortable 3-star hotels (2-star in Alba Iulia but best hotel in town)
* Full board: Breakfast, 6 lunches, 6 dinners
* Special meal with folklore evening and wine-tasting in Brasov
* 4 wine tastings
* Entry fees as above
* English-speaking guide throughout