D.O.C. Drop of Control - vineyard party series at Velvet Winery for summer-fall 2025 season

In addition to wine tastings, vineyard parties have started to be more and more present in Romania in recent years. Velvet Winery, a winery located in Dealu Mare region is no exception, and for the summer-fall 2025 season it has prepared not only one party, but an entire series of parties called "D.O.C. - Drop of Control".

We spoke with Andrei Pilaf, Velvet Winery Sales Director & Founder of Drop of Control, to learn more about the vineyard party concept this season, as well as how the first parties of the season went and what to expect from the next ones.

The "D.O.C. Drop of Control" party series kicked off at the end of June and continues until the end of October. You can find all these events in "Events for Wine Lovers" section here in Winesday App and you can sign up for them via the direct link displayed in the app for each event.

Carmina Nițescu: Hi Andrei. I'm glad we're having this discussion right in the middle of the vineyard party season. This year Velvet Winery has prepared a series of events that take place in the vineyard, in Dealu Mare. Please tell me a little bit about the concept of "D.O.C. - Drop of Control" and how you came up with the idea for this series of events.

Andrei Pilaf: We created "Drop of Control" to do things differently, to break out of the ordinary parties and to give people a strong reason to come to us.

Drop of Control started with a simple ambition: to make Velvet Winery brand known and to show that Dealu Mare deserves much more attention. There are a few other initiatives in the area that I applaud and respect. But I felt that we could take a bigger step forward.

The timing was perfect, because now, thanks to the new A7 highway, we are about 1 hour from Bucharest.

The name, "Drop of Control", obviously comes from the play on the term D.O.C. (Controlled Designation of Origin), but in our version it means much more. It is the moment when you forget
about the daily pressure and leave control aside for a few hours.

This is just the beginning. Drop of Control. Stay tuned.

Carmina: Each event is presented as an episode. Such as Ep.04 - Nectar Parade (August 23), Ep.05 - Golden Drift (September 13), 06 - Fading Lights (October 4) and Ep.07 - Grande Finale (October 25). Please tell me more about the concept of each evening.

Andrei: Each episode is a distinct story. We have different DJs, different vibes and different colors.

The common concept remains clear: DJ, good music, premium wine, champagne, tequila and cool people.

Carmina: How were the first episodes of D.O.C. parties this summer and what would they be like from now on?

Andrei: The first episode, on June 28th, completely exceeded our expectations. We had over 350 people, although there was a storm warning in Bucharest and some of the guests did not come, in our vineyard it rained a little.

Then, on July 19th, we had another excellent atmosphere, with almost 200 people. For the third episode, the one on August 2nd which comes before this interview is published, we expect the same number. Which is good, considering that we are in the middle of the holiday season.

I can also announce for the first time that on September 20th we have a huge event in preparation, probably the largest event ever organized at a winery in Dealu Mare, with over 1,000 participants. It is done in partnership with an important party brand in Bucharest, we will reveal more details soon.

As for the place where we hold the events... it is unique in Romania. We are in the middle of Dealu Mare and Velvet Winery is positioned in a spectacular natural amphitheater at an altitude of 420 meters.

The parties take place right in the center of this amphitheater, and photos and videos do not convey what you feel when you enter here. The place takes your breath away!

Carmina: Ticket reservations can be made on the link for each individual event displayed here in  Winesday App, on Velvet Winery account. Tell me more about the wine tasting package and the standard package (does the latter only include access to the party?).

Andrei: Yes, tickets can be purchased simply through Live Tickets or Winesday App. Single Pass gives access to the party and then everyone buys separately what they want.

We also have the extra package with wine tasting, guided by a member of Velvet Winery family. It lasts an hour and includes six carefully selected wines, presented and narrated. We pair them with gourmet cheeses, artisanal salamis and premium local products.

Basically, it is a perfect start to the evening and a special experience for those who want to understand our wine better.

Carmina: Do you also have a "subscription/pass" for those who would like to come to more than one vineyard party this season?

Andrei: We don't have a subscription/a pass for entries at more than one party at the moment. This first season is about exploration, understanding and building an authentic community. But I can confirm that we are seriously considering launching such an option in 2026, especially for those who want to be part of our whole story.

You can find the links for the next parties of D.O.C. - Drop of Control series from the summer - autumn 2025 season here.

Carmina Nițescu
Winesday.ro & Winesday App