Cricova

Cricova is a Moldovan winery just north of Chisinau, famous for aging its wines in a vast system of underground cellars. The Liquor Barn stocks Cricova Lidia and Isabella, semisweet roses at 10% ABV, plus Cricova Muscat, a semi-sweet Merlot and a Cabernet Sauvignon aged at least a year in oak, all in 750ml.

Many of Cricova's most popular wines are semisweet, which is the style Moldovan and Eastern European shoppers grew up with. Lidia and Isabella are made from the American-origin grapes of the same names, which give a distinctive grapey, strawberry-like flavor. Muscat is floral and sweet, and the Merlot is a soft, semi-sweet red, each bottle hand-wrapped in paper.

For a dry red, choose the Cabernet Sauvignon, or look for the Rara Neagra, a rare native Moldovan grape, and Magnific, a concentrated red made from slightly dried grapes, when they are in stock. Serve the semisweet wines chilled with dessert, fruit or spicy food.