Food and wine
Moldovan food and wine pairing: sarmale, mămăligă, plăcinte and the grill
Moldovan cooking is simple and generous: plăcinte, sarmale, mămăligă with brânză and sour cream, and meat from the grill. Here is what the dishes are, a few rules of thumb, and our wines that suit them, going by each wine’s own notes.
The dishes
The National Office for Vine and Wine’s guide describes the table like this. Meals often start with soup, such as the hot and sour zeamă. Main courses come with mămăligă, a cornmeal dish similar to polenta, served with brânză (a salty white cheese), sour cream and a meat stew called tocană. Plăcinte are layered flaky pastries filled with cabbage, cheese, apple, pumpkin or cherry, and “the cheesy versions are particularly good at wine tastings”. Sarmale are rolls of cabbage or vine leaves stuffed with minced meat, usually pork, rice and herbs, served with mămăligă and sour cream.
Rules of thumb
- Match weight with weight: light dishes with lighter wines, rich and fatty ones with fuller wines.
- Acidity in the wine cuts through cheese, sour cream and pastry.
- Firm tannins suit grilled red meat; softer reds and rosés suit pork, poultry and dishes with sour cream.
- With sweet pastries, choose a wine at least as sweet as the dish.
These are rules of thumb, not laws: your own taste has the last word.
Plăcinte, mămăligă and sarmale
Plăcinte are part of our Basic and Plus tours. For the classic Moldovan table, our wines whose own notes point to it:
From our wines, going by each wine’s own notes:
- KAVI Sparkling wine 150 MDL
Aperitif, smoked salmon canapés, tempura prawns, fried cheese plăcinte (pastries); bubbles refresh the palate after fried food - 6N Collection Riesling (Relax) 89 MDL
Light cheeses, seafood, ginger chicken, alivancă (cornmeal and cheese bake); also enjoyable on its own - 6N Collection Muscat (Sun) 89 MDL
Melon with prosciutto, fruit salad with mint, goat’s cheese with honey, apple plăcintă (Moldovan pastry) - Artitude Viorica 2023 189 MDL
Seafood, cucumber and dill salads, light cheeses, plăcinte (Moldovan pastries) with cheese and herbs - Artitude Viorica 2025 189 MDL
Carp saramură (grilled in garlic brine), mussels in white wine, tomato salad with telemea - Château d’Étoile Chardonnay 89 MDL
Pumpkin plăcintă (Moldovan pastry), chicken baked with apricots, soft cheeses - Goliard Viorica 2025 289 MDL
Zeamă (Moldovan chicken soup), fried carp with mujdei (garlic sauce), young cabbage salad, fresh sheep’s cheese - 6N Collection Chardonnay (Adventure) 89 MDL
Seafood, poultry, pasta with a creamy sauce, grilled trout, cheese plăcinte (Moldovan pastries) - 6N Collection Cabernet Sauvignon (Victory) 89 MDL
Grilled meat, mititei (grilled meat rolls), pasta with beef ragù, mature cheeses - 6N Collection Merlot (Love) 89 MDL
Roast meat, pasta with mushrooms, pârjoale (Moldovan meat patties) with mash, mature cheeses - Arborele Merlot 89 MDL
Duck with cherry sauce, milk chocolate, forest berry cake, curd cheese with preserves - Artitude Chardonnay 2017 349 MDL
White fish with butter and almonds, grilled chicken breast, pear and walnut salad, herbed curd cheese - Artitude Chardonnay 2021 189 MDL
Baked pike-perch, chicken in a garlic and sour cream sauce, mushroom risotto, mămăligă (polenta) with cheese and sour cream - Artitude Muscat 2021 189 MDL
Aperitif, asparagus with hollandaise, sushi, goat’s cheese with herbs - Artitude Quartet White 2017 189 MDL
White fish in lemon sauce, chicken with tarragon, pumpkin risotto, soft cheeses - Artitude Sauvignon 2021 189 MDL
Herb salads, cold starters such as roasted aubergine salad, fresh goat’s cheese, smoked trout; also enjoyable on its own - Artitude Viorica 2025, 3 L bag-in-box 150 MDL
Zacuscă (roasted vegetable spread) on toast, fried small fish, lemon grilled chicken, a fresh cheese platter - Artitude Fetească Neagră Rosé 189 MDL
Fish, seafood, light salads, white meat, sarmale (stuffed vine leaves) - Artitude Merlot 2017 349 MDL
Lamb roasted with rosemary, sarmale (cabbage rolls) with sour cream, stuffed mushrooms, cașcaval (semi-hard cheese) - Artitude Merlot 2023 189 MDL
Grilled meat, pasta bolognese, tochitură (pork stew) with mămăligă, semi-hard cheeses - Balsam de Galiția Honey Infusion 229 MDL
Linden tea, clătite (thin pancakes) with honey and walnuts, honey cake, fresh curd cheese - Château d’Étoile Muscat 89 MDL
Colțunași (dumplings) with sweet curd cheese and sour cream, apricot strudel, exotic fruit salad - Château d’Étoile Merlot 89 MDL
Colțunași (dumplings) with sour cherries, pork with plum sauce, milk chocolate, strawberries - Châteaux de Brua Chardonnay 89 MDL
Pork with baked apples, plăcinte (Moldovan pastries) with sweet curd cheese, brie, pear cake - Châteaux de Brua Merlot 89 MDL
Pizza with spicy salami, doughnuts with jam, curd cheese with sour cream, cherries - Dolofana de la Prut Merlot 89 MDL
Strawberries and cream, plum tart, young telemea (brined cheese), mildly spicy chicken wings - Goliard Viorica 2023 289 MDL
Pasta with pesto, caprese salad, Thai basil chicken; the wine’s basil note links them - Goliard Fetească Neagră Rosé 2025 289 MDL
Garlic prawns, roasted peppers with sheep’s cheese, pizza margherita, grilled tuna - Goliard Rosé 2024 289 MDL
Grilled fish with herbs, radish and spring onion salad, cheese plăcinte (Moldovan pastries), garlic grilled chicken - Goliard Merlot 2023 289 MDL
Răcituri (pork aspic) with garlic, meatballs in tomato sauce, mushroom pizza - Goliard Merlot 2025 289 MDL
Mititei (grilled meat rolls) with mustard, grilled home-made sausages, rosemary roast potatoes, smoked cașcaval - LifWin Merlot alcohol-free 160 MDL
Chicken thighs baked with plums, lasagne, beef burger, cabbage plăcinte (Moldovan pastries) - LifWin Pinot Noir alcohol-free 160 MDL
Baked salmon, grilled mushrooms, turkey with cranberry sauce, soft cheeses - Lucky Muscat 89 MDL
Desserts, fruit salads, brânzoaice (sweet cheese buns), peach sorbet - Lucky Cabernet 89 MDL
Grilled poultry, red meat, pasta with tomato sauce, pizza, stuffed peppers - Pastoral Red 119 MDL
A variety of desserts: cozonac (sweet bread), pască (Easter bread), walnut-stuffed prunes; for the Easter and Christmas table - Pastoral Cherry 119 MDL
Aperitif, dark chocolate desserts, sweet pastries, sour-cherry plăcinte (Moldovan pastries) - Pastoral Watermelon 119 MDL
Aperitif, watermelon salad with sheep’s cheese and mint, fresh cheese on toast, fruit sorbet - Vinum Aurum Merlot 159 MDL
Grilled red meat, pasta with sausage, semi-hard cheeses, mushroom stew with mămăligă
From the grill
Grilled pork or beef usually calls for a dry red with firm tannins.
From our wines, going by each wine’s own notes:
- MOG Light aromatised wine 35 MDL
Picnic snacks, fruit salad, chicken wraps, grilled vegetable skewers - 6N Collection Merlot Rosé (Party) 89 MDL
Chicken skewers, tomato bruschetta, charcuterie board, nachos with salsa - 6N Collection Cabernet Sauvignon (Victory) 89 MDL
Grilled meat, mititei (grilled meat rolls), pasta with beef ragù, mature cheeses - Artitude Viorica 2025, 3 L bag-in-box 150 MDL
Zacuscă (roasted vegetable spread) on toast, fried small fish, lemon grilled chicken, a fresh cheese platter - Artitude Merlot 2023 189 MDL
Grilled meat, pasta bolognese, tochitură (pork stew) with mămăligă, semi-hard cheeses - Artitude Trilogy 2017 349 MDL
Grilled beef rib-eye, hare braised in red wine, lamb with thyme, aged cheeses - Châteaux de Brua Cabernet Sauvignon 89 MDL
Pork skewers with barbecue sauce, forest berry cheesecake, milk chocolate with hazelnuts - Goliard Fetească Neagră Rosé 2025 289 MDL
Garlic prawns, roasted peppers with sheep’s cheese, pizza margherita, grilled tuna - Goliard Rosé 2024 289 MDL
Grilled fish with herbs, radish and spring onion salad, cheese plăcinte (Moldovan pastries), garlic grilled chicken - Goliard Merlot 2025 289 MDL
Mititei (grilled meat rolls) with mustard, grilled home-made sausages, rosemary roast potatoes, smoked cașcaval - LifWin Merlot Rosé alcohol-free 160 MDL
Aperitif, spinach and strawberry salad, grilled chicken, clătite (thin pancakes) with sweet curd cheese and raspberries - Lucky Cabernet 89 MDL
Grilled poultry, red meat, pasta with tomato sauce, pizza, stuffed peppers - Vinum Aurum Merlot 159 MDL
Grilled red meat, pasta with sausage, semi-hard cheeses, mushroom stew with mămăligă
Dessert
Pastoral Red (119 MDL), a sweet red liqueur wine in the Kagor style, is served at 16–18 °C with desserts, as its label says.
From our wines, going by each wine’s own notes:
- 6N Collection Muscat (Sun) 89 MDL
Melon with prosciutto, fruit salad with mint, goat’s cheese with honey, apple plăcintă (Moldovan pastry) - Arborele Muscat 89 MDL
Peach tart, mild chicken curry with coconut milk, blue cheese, citrus cheesecake - Arborele Merlot 89 MDL
Duck with cherry sauce, milk chocolate, forest berry cake, curd cheese with preserves - Balsam de Galiția Herbal Blend 229 MDL
A few drops in black tea, over vanilla ice cream, walnut cake, gingerbread - Balsam de Galiția Honey Infusion 229 MDL
Linden tea, clătite (thin pancakes) with honey and walnuts, honey cake, fresh curd cheese - BonaFlores Muscat 199 MDL
Apricot tart and other fruit desserts, light pastries, walnut crescents, blue cheese; also enjoyable on its own - BonaFlores Traminer 199 MDL
Desserts such as baklava and rose Turkish delight, fine cheeses, foie gras; also enjoyable on its own - BonaFlores Cab-Merlot 199 MDL
As a dessert wine, with dark chocolate, aged cheeses and blueberry tart - Château d’Étoile Muscat 89 MDL
Colțunași (dumplings) with sweet curd cheese and sour cream, apricot strudel, exotic fruit salad - Château d’Étoile Cabernet Sauvignon 89 MDL
Glazed pork ribs, chocolate and sour cherry cake, young cheddar, forest berries - Château d’Étoile Merlot 89 MDL
Colțunași (dumplings) with sour cherries, pork with plum sauce, milk chocolate, strawberries - Châteaux de Brua Chardonnay 89 MDL
Pork with baked apples, plăcinte (Moldovan pastries) with sweet curd cheese, brie, pear cake - Châteaux de Brua Muscat 89 MDL
Sweet-and-sour chicken, spring rolls, grilled pineapple, vanilla ice cream - Châteaux de Brua Cabernet Sauvignon 89 MDL
Pork skewers with barbecue sauce, forest berry cheesecake, milk chocolate with hazelnuts - Châteaux de Brua Merlot 89 MDL
Pizza with spicy salami, doughnuts with jam, curd cheese with sour cream, cherries - Dolofana de la Prut Muscat 89 MDL
Blue cheese with pear, prawn pad thai, summer fruit salad, orange cake - Dolofana de la Prut Merlot 89 MDL
Strawberries and cream, plum tart, young telemea (brined cheese), mildly spicy chicken wings - LifWin Merlot Rosé alcohol-free 160 MDL
Aperitif, spinach and strawberry salad, grilled chicken, clătite (thin pancakes) with sweet curd cheese and raspberries - Lucky Muscat 89 MDL
Desserts, fruit salads, brânzoaice (sweet cheese buns), peach sorbet - Lucky Merlot 89 MDL
Cherry desserts, ice cream with berry sauce, chocolate clătite (thin pancakes), watermelon - Lucky Red Muscat 89 MDL
Strawberry desserts, rose petal preserve, raspberry tart, duck with orange sauce - Pastoral Red 119 MDL
A variety of desserts: cozonac (sweet bread), pască (Easter bread), walnut-stuffed prunes; for the Easter and Christmas table - Pastoral Cherry 119 MDL
Aperitif, dark chocolate desserts, sweet pastries, sour-cherry plăcinte (Moldovan pastries) - Pastoral Pomegranate 119 MDL
Aperitif, fruit desserts, sweet walnut pastries, duck with pomegranate sauce - Pastoral Watermelon 119 MDL
Aperitif, watermelon salad with sheep’s cheese and mint, fresh cheese on toast, fruit sorbet - Perla Neagră Chardonnay 180 MDL
Foie gras, chicken liver pâté, aged cheeses, caramelised apple tart - Vinum Aurum Merlot Rosé 159 MDL
Aperitif, roasted beetroot and walnut salad, chicken with mango sauce, forest berry tart
- −10% on 6 or more bottles of wine, the same wine or mixed: the discount appears in the cart by itself.
- Free home delivery by Nova Post courier on orders from 500 MDL.
- Pickup from a Nova Post branch is free.
FAQ
What wine goes with sarmale?
Usually a supple dry red with soft tannins, or a dry rosé: sarmale are pork, rice and herbs with sour cream.
What wine goes with plăcinte?
With cheese or cabbage plăcinte, usually a crisp dry white; with sweet fillings, a wine at least as sweet as the pastry.
