On May 30, 2026, we stepped through time in one of the most historically charged landscapes in Crimea: Balaclava.
Our first stop brought us to a mountainside overlooking the infamous Valley of Death and the memorial to the soldiers from Sardinia who died during the Crimean War.
To understand why Balaclava is etched into history, we have to look back at the Crimean War 1853-1856.
The Battle of Balaclava in 1854 is where the British Light Cavalry mistakenly charged directly into a valley surrounded by Russian artillery. It became legendary as the ‘Charge of the Light Brigade’— by Alfred Lord Tennison, a tragic mistake that defined the brutal nature of the Crimean War.”
From the battlefields of the past, our next stop was the Village of Balaclava and Balaclava Harbor.”
This unique bay completely hides the port from the open Black Sea. Today, it’s a playground for tourists, private boats and luxury yachts,
Next up, our group headed up the mountain flanking the bay.
At the peak sits the medieval Genovese Fortress Cembalo towering over the cliffs, built back in the 14th century when Italian merchants dominated these trade routes.
The hike is worth every step. From the ancient stone ruins, you get a magnificent, uninterrupted view where the deep blue of the Black Sea meets the hidden mouth of the port.
After a long hike, it was time to reward ourselves with a stop at the famous Zolotaya Balka winery.
We went behind the scenes with a tour of their state-of-the-art production facilities to see exactly how they craft their famous sparkling wines.
And then we enjoyed the tasting of six outstanding varieties of their signature sparkling wines. Crisp, refreshing, and the perfect toast to an incredible day.
To wrap up our journey, we made one final stop just up the highway at our favorite restaurant, 78 Winery, well-known for its Italian and Mediterranean cuisine and local products.
We treated ourselves to coffee and dessert, soaking in the vast and rolling vineyard vistas in the valley below before heading home