The Chateau des Vins of Moldavie

Discovering the wine region of Moldavie

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.