Au trecut aproape doi ani de la prima vizita la Crama Stramutata, iar revenirea aici mi-a aratat ca locul a crescut frumos, fara sa-si piarda farmecul. Daca atunci am descoperit mai ales povestea vinurilor si atmosfera speciala din Dealu Mare, acum am gasit un loc in care gastronomia, evenimentele si experientele construite in jurul vinului au devenit parte din poveste. Iar daca ar fi sa rezum aceasta noua vizita in cateva cuvinte, acestea ar fi: Crama Stramutata – vin, gusturi si apusuri.

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Am revenit aici dupa vizita din octombrie 2024 si, daca atunci povesteam despre o crama cu personalitate si despre pasiunea oamenilor din spatele ei, acum lucrurile au evoluat intr-o directie care transforma locul intr-o destinatie gastronomica in toata regula.

Crama Stramutata a devenit intre timp Punct gastronomic local. Iar diferenta se simte. Nu doar in farfurie, ci in intreaga experienta.

Un loc in care vinul este doar inceputul povestii. Crama Stramutata se afla in Chitorani, in inima regiunii viticole Dealu Mare, iar vizita aici are ceva ce nu poate fi recreat intr-un restaurant din oras: senzatia ca esti chiar in mijlocul locului din care porneste totul.

Via, dealurile, linistea, aerul de tara si, mai ales, lumina de la finalul zilei creeaza un decor in care timpul pare sa incetineasca.

Iar apusurile de aici sunt, fara exagerare, unul dintre motivele pentru care merita sa vii. Soarele coboara peste dealuri, lumina se schimba de la un minut la altul, iar viile capata nuante aurii. Este genul de moment in care te trezesti ca ai lasat telefonul pe masa si pur si simplu privesti. Nu intamplator, Patrick povesteste ca primul apus vazut aici a fost momentul in care a stiut ca acesta este locul potrivit.

Si cred ca este una dintre cele mai bune explicatii pentru atmosfera de la Crama Stramuta

De la degustare de vin la experienta gastronomica. Daca la prima vizita accentul cadea firesc pe vin si pe povestea cramei, acum gastronomia are un rol mult mai important. Punctul gastronomic local aduce la masa preparate facute cu ingrediente atent alese, multe dintre ele provenind chiar din productia proprie.

Familia Ristache a dezvoltat in jurul viei si o adevarata mica gospodarie: pomi fructiferi, sera, solar si legume care ajung apoi in farfuriile celor care trec pragul cramei.

Iar asta se simte. Mancarea nu vine ca un simplu acompaniament pentru vin. Este parte din experienta.

Platouri care incep sa iti faca pofta inca de la prima privire. Pentru inceput, masa poate fi deschisa cu un platou generos de icre, salata de vinete, zacusca, fasole frecata, masline si legume din productia proprie.

Este genul acela de aperitiv romanesc care nu incearca sa impresioneze prin complicatii inutile. Ingredientele bune isi fac treaba singure. Icrele sunt cremoase si delicate, salata de vinete are gustul acela afumat pe care il cauti intr-o salata de vinete facuta cum trebuie, zacusca vine cu savoarea dulce-acrisoara a legumelor coapte, iar fasolea frecata completeaza perfect tabloul.

Totul merge foarte bine langa un pahar de vin (sau de must). Si foarte bine merge si catre inca unul. 🙂

Branzeturi, mezeluri, fructe si legume. Platourile cu branzeturi si mezeluri sunt probabil una dintre cele mai bune alegeri pentru o degustare relaxata. Branzeturi cu texturi diferite, mezeluri bine alese, fructe si legume proaspete, toate asezate astfel incat masa sa arate aproape prea bine ca sa te apuci de mancat.

Aproape. Pentru ca, odata ce incepi, devine foarte greu sa te opresti.

Crama foloseste inclusiv branzeturi si mezeluri din Spania si Italia, alaturi de produse locale, tocmai pentru a pastra un standard ridicat al meselor servite oaspetilor.

Pui la ceaun cu cartofi prajiti. Dar nu orice cartofi prajiti. Exista mancaruri care nu au nevoie de prezentari sofisticate. Pui la ceaun. Cartofi prajiti. Branza. Atat.

Si totusi, combinatia aceasta poate fi absolut spectaculoasa atunci cand ingredientele sunt bune si prepararea este facuta asa cum trebuie.

Puiul vine fraged, suculent si plin de savoare, iar cartofii prajiti sunt exact genul de cartofi la care iti spui ca nu ar fi trebuit sa mai iei, dar mai iei. Iar peste toate vine branza. Multa, gustoasa, topita exact cat trebuie.

Este una dintre acele farfurii care iti amintesc ca uneori fericirea gastronomica nu are nevoie de tehnici complicate.

Steak de vita – unul dintre motivele pentru care trebuie sa iti fie foame cand ajungi aici. Si pentru ca experienta nu ramane doar in zona preparatelor traditionale, la Crama Stramutata poti descoperi si un steak de vita care merita un capitol separat.

Carne frageda, suculenta, cu gust intens si acea crusta care iti spune din prima ca ai facut alegerea corecta. Este genul de preparat care nu are nevoie sa fie incarcat cu sosuri sau artificii. Carnea trebuie sa fie vedeta. Si aici chiar este. Daca iubesti vita, as lasa loc serios in stomac pentru ea.

Iar apoi vin gogosile… Probabil ca nu te astepti ca dupa vin, branzeturi, mezeluri, carne si toate celelalte sa mai existe loc pentru desert. Dar cand apar gogosile, regulile se schimba. Mai ales pentru ca aici vorbim despre o reteta inedita, cu coniac, servita alaturi de gemuri din productie proprie.

Rezultatul? Gogosi pufoase, calde, cu aroma discreta si sofisticata de coniac, peste care poti adauga gemul preferat. Dulceata gemului, textura aerata a gogosii si parfumul usor alcoolizat creeaza un final care transforma un desert aparent simplu intr-unul dintre momentele pe care ti le vei aminti. Si da, recomandarea mea este sa nu intrebi daca „mai poti”. Ia-le.

Degustare clasica sau povestea vinului spusa altfel? Sigur, poti alege forma clasica a unei degustari de vinuri si coniac. Dar daca ajungi la Crama Stramutata, eu as merge pe varianta neconventionala. Este, cumva, marca locului. Cornel sau Patrik iti prezinta vinurile din Dealu Mare nu ca pe niste produse pe care trebuie sa le bifezi intr-o degustare, ci prin povestile lor.

Cu propriul stil, cu umor, cu explicatii, cu detalii despre vie si despre oamenii din spatele sticlei. Pentru ca vinul are intotdeauna o poveste. Iar aici povestea este mai interesanta atunci cand este spusa de omul care a trait-o.

Crama produce vinuri din struguri proveniti din propria podgorie din Dealu Mare, iar actuala colectie include, printre altele, Nektar, Tandem, Protocol si Capricii de Doamna.

Un loc pentru evenimente, dar fara senzatia de „sala de evenimente”. Un alt lucru care s-a schimbat si care merita mentionat este faptul ca Crama Stramutata poate gazdui tot felul de evenimente. De la evenimente corporate si degustari de vinuri pana la petreceri tematice, aniversari, nunti sau botezuri.

Si cred ca aici este unul dintre marile avantaje ale locului: atmosfera. Nu ai senzatia ca ai ajuns intr-un spatiu standardizat, pregatit sa primeasca „urmatorul eveniment”. Totul este mai intim. Mai personal. Mai relaxat.

Spatiul poate fi pregatit in functie de ceea ce iti doresti, iar flexibilitatea oamenilor de aici face diferenta. Echipa este deschisa la idei si la evenimente customizate, ceea ce inseamna ca poti construi o experienta care sa aiba ceva din personalitatea ta, nu doar sa alegi dintr-un meniu prestabilit.

Iar faptul ca exista si bucataria punctului gastronomic local inseamna ca mancarea poate deveni parte din conceptul evenimentului, nu doar o necesitate logistica.

Pentru evenimente mai mari, Patrick este ajutat de familie, iar preparatele sunt pregatite cu aceeasi atentie pentru ingrediente si calitate.

Crama Stramutata nu este doar despre degustari de vin. Cred ca aceasta este, de fapt, concluzia dupa cea de-a doua vizita. Crama Stramutata nu mai este doar un loc in care vii sa degusti vin.Vii pentru peisaj. Pentru apus. Pentru liniste. Pentru povestile despre Dealu Mare. Pentru un pahar de vin baut exact acolo unde se naste. Vii pentru mancare. Pentru platourile generoase, pentru puiul la ceaun cu cartofi si branza, pentru steak-ul de vita si pentru gogosile cu coniac si gemuri facute in casa. Vii pentru un eveniment. Sau, pur si simplu, pentru cateva ore in care vrei sa iesi din rutina.

Si poate tocmai acesta este farmecul locului: nu incearca sa fie un restaurant, o crama, o sala de evenimente sau o destinatie turistica in sensul clasic. Le combina pe toate, dar pastreaza ceva foarte personal.

Crama functioneaza pe baza de programare pentru vizite, iar locatia este in Chitorani, Bucov, Prahova, in regiunea Dealu Mare. Iar daca ar fi sa aleg un singur moment pentru care as reveni? As veni spre seara. As comanda un pahar de vin. As lasa masa sa se umple incet cu branzeturi, mezeluri si preparate bune. Si as astepta apusul. Pentru ca la Crama Stramutata, uneori, cel mai bun pairing nu este vinul cu mancarea. Este vinul cu apusul.

Daca v-a placut articolul Crama Stramutata – vin, gusturi si apusuri, va invit sa cititi si:

English version

Crama Stramutata – Wine, Flavors and Sunsets

Almost two years have passed since my first visit to Crama Stramutata, and coming back showed me that the place has grown beautifully without losing its charm. Back then, I mostly discovered the story behind the wines and the special atmosphere of Dealu Mare. This time, I found a place where food, events and experiences built around wine have become part of the story. And if I had to sum up this new visit in a few words, they would be: Crama Stramutata – wine, flavors and sunsets.

I returned after my October 2024 visit, when I wrote about a winery with personality and the passion of the people behind it. Since then, things have evolved in a direction that turns the place into a true food destination.

Crama Stramutata has meanwhile become a certified Local Gastronomic Point. And you can feel the difference. Not just on the plate, but in the whole experience.

A place where wine is only the beginning of the story

Crama Stramutata is located in Chitorani, in the heart of the Dealu Mare wine region, and a visit here offers something no city restaurant can recreate: the feeling that you are right in the middle of the place where it all begins.

The vineyard, the hills, the quiet, the country air and, above all, the late-afternoon light create a setting where time seems to slow down.

And the sunsets here are, without exaggeration, one of the reasons to come. The sun sinks over the hills, the light shifts from one minute to the next, and the vines turn golden. It’s the kind of moment when you realize you’ve left your phone on the table and are simply watching. It’s no coincidence that Patrick says the first sunset he saw here was the moment he knew this was the right place.

And I think that’s one of the best explanations for the atmosphere at Crama Stramutata.

From wine tasting to a culinary experience

If on my first visit the focus naturally fell on the wine and the winery’s story, food now plays a much bigger role. The Local Gastronomic Point brings to the table dishes made with carefully chosen ingredients, many of them from the family’s own production.

Around the vineyard, the Ristache family has built a small homestead: fruit trees, a greenhouse, a polytunnel and vegetables that end up on the plates of those who walk through the door.

And you can taste it. The food isn’t just an accompaniment to the wine. It’s part of the experience.

Platters that make you hungry at first sight

To start, the meal can open with a generous platter of fish roe salad, eggplant salad, zacusca (roasted vegetable spread), mashed bean dip, olives and homegrown vegetables.

It’s that kind of Romanian appetizer that doesn’t try to impress with unnecessary complications. Good ingredients do the work on their own. The roe salad is creamy and delicate, the eggplant salad has that smoky flavor you look for in one made the right way, the zacusca brings the sweet-tangy taste of roasted vegetables, and the bean dip completes the picture perfectly.

Everything goes very well with a glass of wine (or must). And it goes just as well with another one. 🙂

Cheeses, cured meats, fruit and vegetables

The cheese and charcuterie platters are probably one of the best choices for a relaxed tasting. Cheeses with different textures, well-chosen cured meats, fresh fruit and vegetables, all arranged so the table looks almost too good to eat.

Almost. Because once you start, it’s very hard to stop.

The winery uses cheeses and cured meats from Spain and Italy, alongside local products, precisely to keep a high standard for the meals served to guests.

Cauldron chicken with fries. But not just any fries.

Some dishes don’t need sophisticated presentations. Chicken cooked in a cauldron. Fries. Cheese. That’s it.

And yet, this combination can be absolutely spectacular when the ingredients are good and it’s cooked the way it should be.

The chicken is tender, juicy and full of flavor, and the fries are exactly the kind you tell yourself you shouldn’t reach for again, but you do. And on top of it all comes the cheese. Plenty of it, tasty, melted just right.

It’s one of those plates that reminds you that culinary happiness sometimes doesn’t need complicated techniques.

Beef steak – one of the reasons to arrive hungry

And since the experience doesn’t stop at traditional dishes, at Crama Stramutata you can also discover a beef steak that deserves a chapter of its own.

Tender, juicy meat with an intense flavor and that crust that tells you right away you made the right choice. It’s the kind of dish that doesn’t need to be loaded with sauces or tricks. The meat has to be the star. And here it truly is. If you love beef, I’d seriously save room for it.

And then come the doughnuts…

You probably wouldn’t expect that after wine, cheeses, cured meats, steak and everything else there would still be room for dessert. But when the doughnuts arrive, the rules change. Especially since this is an unusual recipe made with brandy, served with homemade jams.

The result? Fluffy, warm doughnuts with a subtle, sophisticated hint of brandy, topped with your favorite jam. The sweetness of the jam, the airy texture of the dough and the light boozy aroma create a finale that turns a seemingly simple dessert into one of the moments you’ll remember. And yes, my advice is not to ask yourself whether you „still have room.” Just get them.

A classic tasting or the story of wine told differently?

Of course, you can choose the classic format of a wine and brandy tasting. But if you make it to Crama Stramutata, I’d go for the unconventional option. It’s somehow the signature of the place. Cornel or Patrick will introduce the Dealu Mare wines not as products to tick off during a tasting, but through their stories.

In their own style, with humor, explanations and details about the vineyard and the people behind the bottle. Because wine always has a story. And here, the story is more interesting when it’s told by the person who lived it.

The winery makes its wines from grapes grown in its own Dealu Mare vineyard, and the current collection includes, among others, Nektar, Tandem, Protocol and Capricii de Doamna.

A place for events, without the „event hall” feeling

Another change worth mentioning is that Crama Stramutata can now host all kinds of events. From corporate events and wine tastings to themed parties, birthdays, weddings and christenings.

And I think this is one of the place’s great advantages: the atmosphere. You don’t feel like you’ve walked into a standardized venue ready to welcome „the next event.” Everything is more intimate. More personal. More relaxed.

The space can be set up according to what you want, and the flexibility of the people here makes the difference. The team is open to ideas and custom events, which means you can build an experience that carries something of your personality, rather than just choosing from a set menu.

And because there’s also the Local Gastronomic Point kitchen, food can become part of the event’s concept, not just a logistical necessity.

For larger events, Patrick is helped by his family, and the dishes are prepared with the same attention to ingredients and quality.

Crama Stramutata is not just about wine tastings

I think this is, in fact, the conclusion after my second visit. Crama Stramutata is no longer just a place where you come to taste wine. You come for the landscape. For the sunset. For the quiet. For the stories about Dealu Mare. For a glass of wine enjoyed exactly where it’s made. You come for the food. For the generous platters, the cauldron chicken with fries and cheese, the beef steak and the brandy doughnuts with homemade jams. You come for an event. Or simply for a few hours when you want to break out of your routine.

And perhaps that’s exactly the charm of the place: it doesn’t try to be a restaurant, a winery, an event venue or a tourist destination in the classic sense. It combines them all, but keeps something very personal.

Visits are by appointment only, and the winery is located in Chitorani, Bucov, Prahova County, in the Dealu Mare region. And if I had to choose just one moment to come back for? I’d come in the early evening. I’d order a glass of wine. I’d let the table slowly fill up with cheeses, cured meats and good food. And I’d wait for the sunset. Because at Crama Stramutata, sometimes the best pairing isn’t wine and food. It’s wine and the sunset.

If you enjoyed the article Crama Stramutata – Wine, Flavors and Sunsets, you might also like: Kasho Mosaico Urbano — Taste, Cocktails and the Most Beautiful Terrace in Brasov, La Bulevard Ploiesti — Italian Elegance in an Iconic Setting or Beyond Sfantu Gheorghe – Flavours with Personality.

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