(Minis Cellars)
 

Friday 5 June 2015
Departure from parking of CRAFT, 18.00h

(Alba Iulia, Hunedoara, Deva)

(Oravita - Anina Mocanita, Bigar Waterfall, The Danube Gorges)

On the foothills of Arad the former famous historical wine-growing region known as Minis, sank into oblivion in the XX. century’s whirl. The legendary red aszú, the spicy Cadarca, the velvety red wines and the mild Feteasca Regala-s were once known all across Europe. Now the wine firm strives for this wine-growing region since 1999 to win back its fame.

The Minis Cellars have 70 hectares of land on which 85% is blue grape and 15% is white. The wine-cellars’ storage capacity is 5.000 hl. With its distinguished soil conditions and the climate which is similar to the Adriatic climate, Minis creates the prides of the wine-growing region, the red wines! The Merlot, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, Burgund and the Cadarca are the firm’s excellent and top wines. The major wine is the Cadarca from which the red aszú was once prepared.

The red wines are aged in traditional oak-barrels. The small barrel (barrique) ageing is applied. The excellent vintage wines are marketed after several years of maturation.

The Mustoasa de Maderat has a high acid spine, but the Sauvignon Blanc broadens the produced palette, such as the Traminer with the rose petal aroma, the mild but mysterious Feteasca Regala, the characteristic Pinot Gris and the harmonic Riesling Italian.

Minis’s interesting, exciting colors and flavors enchant their guests at the wine tasting, because the wines made there "... give a spark to the love, wing for the thoughts and a fireplace for the friendships”. (more...).

The fortress is outstanding both for its architectural elements and for the beauty of its six gates, unique in European military structures. Doubtless artists, sculptors such as Johann Koning, Johan Vischer and Giuseppe Tencalla, had been inspired by ancient mythology. (more...)

The Alba Carolina Fortress, is the largest fortress in Romania, with a perimeter of 12 km, and also the best preserved.
The Alba Carolina fortress was built between 1714 and 1738 and it is considered to be the most representative baroque, Vauban-type star fortress in Romania and one of the largest of this kind in Eastern Europe.



The entire history of the current Alba Carolina fortress is visible to this day, as the visitors walk through the concentric ruins, from those of the Roman castrum to the 18th century walls of the current fortress, guarded by the Austrian guards in their period costumes.(more...)

The Corvin Castle, also known as Hunyad Castle, is one of the most impressive medieval constructions in Romania. Many say that it is even more amazing than the famous Bran Castle.



Iancu of Hunedoara ( aka John Hunyadi) was a leading Hungarian military and political figure in Central and Southeastern Europe during the 15th century. He started the construction of this magnificent castle. According to most contemporary sources, he was son of a noble family of Walachian (Romanian) ancestry. He was appointed voivode (highest-ranking official in Hungarian Kingdom) of Transylvania (at that time a region of Hungary) and he assumed responsibility for the defense of the frontiers against ottoman attacks. Later, the castle belonged to his son, Matthias Corvinus, one of the greatest kings of Hungary. (more...)

Deva Fortress. The first evidence of the medieval Deva Fortress dates back to the second half of the 13th century; in 1269, Stephen V, King of Hungary and Duke of Transylvania, mentioned "the royal castle of Deva" in a privilege-grant for the Count Chyl of Kelling.



The fortress is located atop a volcano in the Poiana Ruscă Mountain Range within the Western Carpathian Mountains of Romania. From the foot of the hill, the city of Deva spreads out, beginning with Magna Curia and the public park. Nearby is the lower funicular station, which tourists use to reach the fortress. (more...)

It was nicknamed the "Semmering of Banat", as it was built only a few years after the famous track "Semmering" in Austria. These are purely historical data, which say nothing about the exhilarating experience of actually travelling on this route.

Any person fond of trains and mountain trips should take this route at least once in a lifetime. (more...)

Bigar Waterfall, Caras Severin County, Romania. Located in the nature reserve in Anina Mountains, the amazing waterfall is indeed a unique one.

The water falls from a cliff, which is covered with moss. It is said to be the most beautiful waterfall in the country. The underground spring streams from the cave above and then falls into the Minis River. (more...)

The Danube Defileu is along 7km long between Dubova and Ogradena, and consists of Cazanele Large, with a length of 3.8 km, and 170, 300 m wide, and Cazanele Little, with a length of 3.6 km, and 150-350 m wide.

It is a beautiful landscape with some "Cazan tulips". There are certain roads as well, along the Danube carved within the stones.

At the entrance to the golf Mraconia it is visible the statue of Decebal, and close to it Scritul Mraconia. On the serbian side theTabula Traiana can be found.

On the other side of the river, the stones on the bank are divided by a small stream, creating a beautiful landscape. A cave called the Mouth of Ponicovei can be found there. Towards the end of this fascinating journey, the village of Svanita and the Tricule fortress await the visitor. (more...)