Moldova is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe, one of many former Soviet states in that region. It is separated from the western shores of the Black Sea by the province of Odessa in Southern Ukraine and Lies just North of Romania and Bulgaria). Moldova gained independence from Russia in 1991. It is now officially called the Republic of Moldova.
The BordeauxGrape varieties Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot have made their way into all Moldovan wine regions. As in many other regions, they have been grown with some success. Similarly, their Burgundian counterparts, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, are also present in Moldovan wines, as are German Riesling and light Italian-style Pinot Grigio. Grape varieties of more local origin are rather backward.
These include Feteasca Neagra, a red grape, and the unrelated light-skinned Feteasca Alba. In Moldova, the latter has often been confused with Feteasca Regala. These varieties translate into Black Maiden, White Maiden and Royal Maiden respectively. Rara Neagra is another dark-skinned variety that sometimes appears on export markets.
Pinot Gris is a grey grape variety mutated from Pinot Noir. It has its origins in Burgundy, where it is called pinot-beurot in reference to the colour of the grey robes worn by the monks of the region. Established in Alsace since the 17th century, pinot gris was called tokay until 2007. It is made up of bunches of small berries that vary in colour from pink to blue-grey. It is particularly well suited to the continental climate because it is resistant to the cold in winter and to spring frosts. This variety also likes dry limestone soils with plenty of sunshine in the summer. Pinot Gris is well suited to late harvesting or to the selection of noble grapes, depending on the year and the concentration of sugars in the berries. Pinot Gris wines are distinguished by their aromatic complexity of white fruits, mushrooms, honey, vanilla, cinnamon, etc., and their great finesse. In the Loire Valley, pinot gris is used in the Coteaux-d'Ancenis appellations. It gives dry or sweet wines with pear and peach aromas.
white wines from the region of Moldova go well with generally quite well with dishes of pork, rich fish (salmon, tuna etc) or vegetarian such as recipes of special' tagliatelle carbonara, sophie's tuna cake or broccoli and blue cheese quiche without pastry.
On the nose in the region of Moldova often reveals types of flavors of tree fruit, floral or non oak and sometimes also flavors of earth, oak or citrus fruit.
