Sunny with a Chance of Wine
Moldova is made for travellers who have a beating heart for wine and off-the-beaten-track destinations.
Moldova, a sliver of a country wedged between Ukraine and Romania, is one of the poorest nations on the eastern fringes of Europe. But while its precarious economic environment and general logistical problems (think limited airline connections, heavily rutted road and complete lack of navigational signs) might not be too visitor-friendly, it does have a huge trump card up its sleeve: wine. Rooted in centuries-old tradition, viticulture is one of the strongholds of the country's economy and wine its flagship export item. In recent years, the emergence of forward-thinking initiative, a new quality over quantity approach and a band of boutique wineries have fueled Moldova's rise to prominence in the wine world.