“Wine of Moldova – a Legend Alive”

Moldova has a strong and vibrant wine culture that dates back more than 7000 years. Join me on a trip to this country and its wonderful wines!

What? Where? Is Moldova

Moldova is an ex-soviet country. Its Independence Day is on 27 August 1991. Moldova is an agriculture country, full of beautiful landscapes, old monasteries, old forests and good wine! Moldova is bordering on the west with Romania and on the North, East and South with Ukraine. The official language is Romanian, but almost 85% speaks fluently Russian.

Wine culture in Moldova

The wine culture in Moldova started more than 7000 years ago! And I guess this is one of the reasons why Moldova is on the 2^nd place in Europe at drinking alcohol.

One of the most popular and beautiful legends about wine culture is the following. “When Moldova was invaded, soldiers at the historic Soroca fortress kept the aggressors at bay. But as supplies dwindled, the defenders began to starve. Legend has it that flocks of storks appeared and fed them grapes. Refreshed, they were able to defeat their enemies. “

This legend inspired the graphic designers from Moldova to make a new logo for promoting the Moldovan wines in the world, with the name “Wine of Moldova – a Legend Alive”.

Besides, Moldova has its own Wine Festival. The Moldovan Wine Festival is traditionally held in the Great National Assembly Square in Chisinau. It also takes place in the Republican wineries, on the first weekend of October. The purpose of the event is to promote and strengthen the image of our country as a major wine-producing state. Its goal is to provide support for the development of the wine sector and to know the wine products. It also allows facilitating the process of including Moldova on the international tourist routes of wine, attracting investors and tourists, high quality, familiarity with the customs, culture and traditions of the people.

Guinness World Record

The State Enterprise Quality Wines Industrial Complex “Mileștii Mici“, founded in 1969, aims to store, preserve and mature high-quality wines. Local ancient underground galleries reach the Chisinau borders. The longer some specific red wines are stored in such ideal conditions, the more they improve. Some wines are even cellared for several decades before being sold. The cellars extend for 250 kilometres, of which only 120 kilometres are currently in use. In August 2005, the Guinness World Records registered Mileștii Mici as the biggest wine collection in the world. Overall, the complex holds nearly 2 million bottles. The most valuable items of this collection, worth €480 a bottle, were produced in 1973–74; they are now exported only to Japan.

Besides wine factories in Moldova, people produce their own homemade wine. Almost every house in the country side also has their own cellar, where people produce wine by their grandparent’s traditions.

Moldovan wineries, Brands and Export

Wineries

Moldova has a lot of factories, but the most popular ones are:

• Cricova – The wine cellars of Cricova is the second largest wine cellar in Moldova, after Milestii Mici (largest in the world). It boasts 120 kilometres of labyrinthine roadways, tunnels have existed under Cricova since the 15th.

• Milestii Mici – founded in 1969, its goal is to store, preserve and mature high-quality wines. It exports wines to Sweden, Japan, the USA, Great Britain, the Czech Republic, Poland, Greece, Germany, Denmark, Finland, and China.

• KVINT – is one of Transnistria’s largest exporters, to Italy and China as well as Russia and Ukraine; its brandy has gone to the Vatican and into space.

• Purcari – As an exporter Purcari Winery has entered in over 30 markets in Europe, North America and East Asia, in countries like the US, Canada, Great Britain, Norway, Czech Republic, China, Poland, Germany, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Ukraine, Romania, Turkey, Japan, Luxembourg, and in the Baltic Countries.

• Castle Mimi – this is a wine castle founded in 1900, renovated 2016

Brands

The most popular Moldovan wines are:

Cuvée Aleksandr NV – made from 100% Chardonnay, this attractively packaged wine has a rich, toasty style that stands comparison with many a Champagne.

Feteascǎ Regalǎ, Château Vartely 2017 – it has appealing floral, white plum and apple flavours – which are very apparent in this unoaked example.

Carpe Diem Femme Fatale 2016 – the most popular spot for Moldovan wine lovers and visitors. It is a lovely peary, peachy-floral wine, with a character that is all it’s own.

Purcari Rara Negra 2016 – it is a delicious example of a raspberry-plummy grape that is indigenous to Moldova.

Et Cetera Cuvee Blanc 2016 – it’s a very New World style, with good flesh and freshness.

Equinox, 5 Elemente 2014 – a small winery with a surprisingly large range of wines, including this impressive, deep, berryish-spicy blend of Merlot, Malbec.

Mezalimpe Merlot 2014 – Merlot is a variety Moldova can do very well with, as this mid-weight, plummy example demonstrates.

-------------------------------------------------------------- SHARING IS CARING! --------------------------------------------------------------