Most Moldovans also keep a cellar where products like vegetables and cheese are jarred and pickled for the winter months. These cellars also hold homemade wine and vodka, which families take great pride in.
Food and the local environment are inextricably linked, unlike in the U.S., where certain produce is available year-round. Moldova and Ukraine have some of the best soil in the world, which contributed to their roles as the breadbaskets of the Soviet Union. Moldova is renowned for its fruit cultivation, and when certain fruits like cherries are in season, villages celebrate with festivals. Because of its semi-arid climate, Moldova is ideal for growing wine grapes. Moldova produces the most wine per capita in all of Europe, surpassing France, Spain and Italy.
