For the general public, the “Treasures of the East / Comori din Răsărit” event was a visual and savory spectacle of tastes, aromas and textures – signature cheeses, representative wines, beers from ambitious craft creators, regional culinary recipes – including a leek dessert, olive oils, special breads and flours – and ancient technologies brought back to life, like the Oltenia dough.
For professionals in tourism and trade, food and beverage production, the meeting held on October 24-26, 2025 at the elegant Ramada Plaza Craiova hotel with the support of Corteva Agriscience was an opportunity for mutual connection for the exchange of experiences and inspiration, internal and international collaboration. A concrete example that “here, at the Gates of the East, where nothing is taken too seriously”, a visibility platform for the entire Eastern Europe can still be built. The most visited stand was the collective, held by our partner, Economie Rurala, a platform that promotes small producers, and the most anticipated information was, naturally, the lists of products that received, following the competitions held on this occasion, recognition as true “Treasures of the East”. Read on, you will find the lists below! (Photos by Călin Stan)
Premieres at “Craiova, Eastern European Gastronomic Capital”: courses and competitions with the public – craft beers, signature cheeses and wines
Carried out under the umbrella of the local human resource development project and the promotion of Craiova as a tourist and business city “Craiova, Eastern European gastronomic capital”, the event “Treasures of the East / Comori din Răsărit” has aimed since the first edition to bring together resources from several countries in the region – and it was not just about an entire portfolio of typical products, but also about a veritable collection of professionals willing to provide education to the public.
With the help of specialists such as Aneliya Hristova (tourist organizer of Wine Tour North-East Bulgaria), Ivaylo Katerski (co-founder of BAWP Bulgarian Association of Wine Professionals), Mtvarisa Luchian (from the National Tourism Office of the Republic of Moldova), or our compatriots Marian Timofti (founder of FNDA – the National Federation of Authorized Tasters in Romania), Liviu Gheorghe (DipWSET and WSET Certified Educator at Winebook), or Cătălin Adam (the one who founded the first Romanian brand of high-quality olive oils from Greece – Eliada), landmark moments of taste education and travel took place for the benefit of the event’s visitors.
For the first time, in addition to simple tastings at the producers’ stands, the public who signed up to participate in introductory crash courses in craft beers and cheeses were also able to vote for their favorite products presented at the event – and seat reservations at these events exceeded even the organizers’ most optimistic expectations, with enthusiastic requests for a repeat.
“Treasures of the East”: concrete solutions from ialoc.ro for HoReCa and wineries, but also inspiration for promoting small producers
HoReCa representatives were able to participate and ask questions at the presentation of a technology that will help them grow, supported by ialoc.ro, a reservation platform. On the same occasion, there was a discussion about the ways in which wine producers (and not only) can use the platform to present their products in a very focused way, to a consumer audience sorted by interest criteria – a win-win-win collaboration between the producer, the restaurant operator and the end customer.
HoReCa operators also discussed the benefits of integrating and promoting artisanal suppliers – with their brands – in their own menus and the importance of active engagement in local communities.
The examples provided by the Bulgarian partners of the meeting, regarding the month-long celebrations of the traditional grape variety from the south of the Danube, Mavrud, demonstrated the beneficial image and financial effects of the collaboration between wineries and wine enthusiasts. In fact, on the sidelines of “Treasures of the East”, at the superb Enoteca Social restaurant in Craiova, an informal dinner was held where exhibitors celebrated the International Mavrud Grape Variety Day with their Bulgarian neighbors, but also presented their own products to each other.
Winery representatives learned about the role of gastronomic tourism in increasing sales and promoting their own brands and had the opportunity to take part in a market visit that combined direct knowledge of HoReCa locations in the municipality with cultural information provided by a local pedestrian guide dedicated to the event.
“Treasures of the East” distinction
During the “Treasures of the East” festival, 3 competitions were held. The Wine Competition was held with a specialized Jury consisting of professionals from the world of wine; the Beer and Cheese competitions were dedicated to the public – the beer and cheese competitions were organized after the public was familiarized with some basic knowledge in 2 introductory courses.
We are pleased to announce below which wines, beers and cheeses bear the “Treasures of the East” distinction.
“Treasures of the East” Wine Competition 2025
Red wines:
- Vinaltus – Picote (Merlot, Feteasca Neagra) 2021
- Domeniile Vînju Mare – EMISSARIUS (Merlot, Fetească Neagră, Cabernet Sauvignon) 2022
- Crama Olterra – Scoarțe Negru de Drăgășani 2022
- Davino – Domaine Ceptura Rouge 2020
- Davino – Purpura Valahica 2021
- Domeniul Drăgași – Arhon Cabernet Franc 2017
- Crama de Piatră – Aldavin Cabernet Sauvignon 2020
- Crama Oprișor – Stil Cabernet Sauvignon 2019
- Budureasca – The Sign Shiraz 2023
- Domeniile Vînju Mare – PRINCE VLAD Merlot 2020
- Banul Craiovei – Frații Buzesti (Fetească Neagră, Merlot, Syrah) 2020
- Banu Mărăcine – Laudatio Fetească Neagră 2021
- Domeniul Bogdan – Primordial Fetească Neagră 2022
- Cramele Recaș – Selene Cabernet Sauvignon 2023
- Domeniul Bogdan – Cabernet Sauvignon (ecologic) 2020
- Crama 3 Conace – SAPERE AUDE Shiraz 2022
White wines:
- Vinaltus – Demeter Sauvignon Blanc 2024
- Vinaltus – Picote (Fetească Regală & Tamâioasa Românească) 2024
- Banu Mărăcine – Tămâioasă românească (demidulce) 2023
- Crama Oprișor – Stil Chardonnay 2024
- Domeniile Sâmburești – Chateau Valvis Chardonnay 2024
- Cramele Recaș – Implicit Aligote 2024
- Cramele Recaș – Sole Feteasca Regala 2024
- Vinarte – Avenue Alb de Sâmburești Fetească Regală 2024
- Crama de Piatră – Boian Premium Fetească Albă & Fetească Regală 2024
“Treasures of the East” Beer Competition 2025
- One Beer Later – Imperial Stout (barrel)
- Zăganu – New England IPA
- Pardon Brewery – Bere AIPA
- Zăganu – 500 Imperial IPA
- Turnul Berarilor – Bere Zimca Pils
- Olovina – Pale Ale
- Curentu – USB Amper Ale
- Turnul Berarilor – Bruna
- Curentu – Adaptor la situatie
- Turnul Berarilor – Turnul Berarilor Lager
- Bere Antica – Antica Pale Ale
- AltGust – Acolo (APA)
- One Beer Later – New England IPA
- Scorillo – Aramie Amber Ale
- Pardon Brewery – Bere Pils
- Olovina – Olovina Pils
- Curentu– Intrerupator de munca Trippel
“Treasures of the East” Cheese Competition 2025
- Brânză de Horezu, sheep’s milk; matured 45 days – producer Five Continent
- Capriciu – goat’s milk; cheese with a flowery rind (matured with white mold), soft texture – producer Ferma Hărman
- River Blue – cow’s milk; maturing period: 3 months – producer Ferma Dacilor
- Puturoasă de Trascău, cow’s milk; maturing period: 2 years; washed rind cheese, soft paste – producer De Colțești
- Telemea Țarina – sheep’s milk; maturing period: 120 days; soft texture – producer Lactate Someșene
- Brânză de Teaca – cow’s milk; kneaded cheese – producer Lacto Sinelli
- Șvaițer – cow’s milk; maturing period: 3 months; hard cheese, Emmental type – producer Ţinutul Călimanilor
- Tondello with saffron – cow’s milk cheese, with ingredients; matured 6 months; semi-hard texture – producer Curtea Culorilor
- Brânză de burduf Stâna de Vaideeni – sheep’s milk; kneaded – producer Stâna de Vaideeni
- Floare de Colț – cow – matured; cheese with a blooming rind (matured with white mold) – producer De Colțești
- Brânza de Țaga – buffalo – matured in Grota de la Ţaga; maturation period: 28 days – producer Lactate Someșene
Dida – sheep’s milk; maturation period: 12 months; hard paste – producer Ferma Dacilor
Natur – cow’s milk; maturation period: 6 months; hard cheese, alpine type – producer Manufactura de Brânză
The “Treasures of the East” distinction also goes to Water
In addition to the above-mentioned competitions, we are pleased to award the “Treasures of the East” distinction to our partner Aqua Carpatica for the quality water it produces and which has crossed the borders of our country. In addition to wines, beers and cheeses, we also add Aqua Carpatica water to the list of treasures of Eastern Europe that are worth discovering!
“Treasures of the East” festival is organized by We are România. You are Welcome platform, along with Craiova, capitală Gastronomică Est- Europeană and Ramada Plaza Craiova, in partnership with Corteva Agriscience powered by ialoc, FNDA – Federația Națională a Degustătorilor Autorizați și Stația Rombeer. Hydration Partner: Aqua Carpatica. Media Partners: Vinul.ro, Cosmin Dragomir, Gastroart, Winesday.ro, Winesday App, Economie Rurală, G4Food, Trends by HRB, Horeca Insight, Winelover România.
About We Are Romania.You are Welcome
The platform for thinking and action for the promotion of Romania “WeAreRomania / YOU ARE WELCOME” was founded in 2024 through a project of the “Curaj Înainte” Association with the aim of catalyzing the development of Romania’s image and tourism offer starting from the culinary specificity historically influenced by the intersection of three great empires and numerous ethnic and cultural groups.
