View source for Moldovan wine

{{Short description|Wine making in Moldova}}

[[File:Moldova Competitiveness Project, USAID Moldova (48121804303).jpg|220px|thumb|Moldova has geological and climatic conditions which are favorable for [[viticulture]].]]
[[File:Vinoteca Națională.JPG|thumb|220px|National [[Enoteca]] at [[Cricova (winery)|Cricova]]]]
[[Moldova]] has a well-established [[wine]] industry. With a production of around 2 million [[Litre|hectolitres]] of [[wine]] (as of 2018), it is the 11th largest European wine-producing country.<ref>[https://www.statista.com/statistics/445651/leading-countries-wine-production-europe/ Volume of wine produced in European wine producing countries in 2018]</ref> Moldova has a vineyard area of {{convert|148500|ha|lk=on}} of which {{convert|107800|ha}} are used for commercial production.<ref>{{cite web|title=Moldova: Dynamics of nursery and viticulture development, for the period starting with 2001 till 2005|url=http://www.vinmoldova.md/index.php?mod=analytics&id=1331|access-date=20 March 2014|archive-date=26 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180626001427/http://www.vinmoldova.md/index.php?mod=analytics&id=1331|url-status=dead}}</ref>  The remaining {{convert|40700|ha}} are vineyards planted in villages around the houses used to make home-made wine. Many families have their own recipes and strands of [[grape]]s that have been passed down through the generations. There are 3 historical wine regions: Valul lui Traian (south west), Stefan Voda (south east) and Codru (center),  destined for the production of wines with protected geographic indication.<ref>[http://www.natura2000oltenita-chiciu.ro/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Wine-Road-in-Republic-of-Moldova-processed-by-Vladimir-Toncea.pdf Wine road in Republic of Moldova]</ref>

In 2022 the majority of wines were exported, being sent to 75 countries, with 60% of wine produced being exported to European Union countries.<ref name="mol310"/>

==History==
[[Image:PurcariWinery.jpg|thumb|right|220px|The [[Purcari winery]] surrounded by its vineyards. The vineyard in the forefront is a "village" vineyard used for home-made wine.]]
[[Fossil]]s of ''[[Vitis teutonica]]'' vine leaves near the Naslavcia village in the north of Moldova indicate that grapes grew here approximately 6 to 25 million years ago. The size of grape seed imprints found near the Varvarovca village, which date back to 2800&nbsp;BC, prove that grapes were already being cultivated at that time. The [[Viticulture|grapegrowing]] and [[winemaking|wine-making]] in the area between the [[Nistru]] and [[Prut]] rivers, which began 4000–5000 years ago, had periods of rises and falls but has survived through changing social and economic conditions.<ref name="win2510">{{cite web |title=History of Moldovan Wine |url=https://wineofmoldova.com/en/history-of-moldovan-wine/ |access-date=25 October 2023}}</ref>

By the end of the third century BC, trading links were established between the local population and the [[Ancient Greece|Greeks]] and from 107&nbsp;AD with the [[Roman Empire|Romans]], a fact which strongly influenced the intense development of the grape-growing and wine-making.<ref name="win2510"/>

After the formation of the [[Moldavia|Moldavian feudal state]] in the 14th century, grape-growing began to develop and flourished in the 15th century during the kingdom of [[Stephen III of Moldavia|Stephen the Great]], who promoted the import of high quality varieties and the improvement of the quality of wine, which was one of the chief exports of Moldova throughout the medieval period, especially to [[Poland]], [[Ukraine]] and Russia.<ref name="win2510"/>
[[Image:Stamps of Moldova 001.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Moldovan postage stamp, dedicated to the National Wine Day]]

After the [[Treaty of Bucharest (1812)|Treaty of Bucharest in 1812]], when the region became a province of the [[Russian Empire]], the wine industry flourished again. The main varieties were the traditional ones: [[Rară Neagră]], [[Plavai]], [[Galbena (wine)|Galbena]], [[Zghiharda]], [[Batuta Neagră]], [[Fetească Albă]], [[Fetească Neagră]], [[Tămâioasă Românească|Tămâioasa]], [[Cabasia]] and many other local, [[Hungarian wine|Hungarian]], [[Bulgarian wine|Bulgarian]], [[Greek wine|Greek]], and [[Turkish wine|Turkish]] varieties. In this period, the grape growers gained governmental support, and by 1837 the vineyard area in [[Bessarabia]] reached 14,000 hectares, with wine production of 12 million litres<!-- Per year? -->.
The second half of the 19th century saw an intensive planting of newly introduced [[France|French]] varieties, such as [[Pinot blanc]], [[Pinot noir]], [[Pinot gris]], [[Aligote]], [[Cabernet Sauvignon]], [[Sauvignon blanc]], [[Gamay]], [[Muscat blanc]]. It was at this time that wines like [[Negru de Purcari]] and [[Romanesti (winery)|Romanesti]], which have made Moldova famous as a fine wine producer, began to be produced.<ref name="win2510"/>

After the [[phylloxera]] damage at the end of the 19th century, it was only in 1906 that the vineyards began to recover with grafted planting material. By 1914, Bessarabia had the biggest vineyard area in the Russian Empire.<ref name="win2510"/>

Both World Wars damaged Moldolvan vineyards and the wine industry. The re-establishment of Moldavian vineyards began in the 1950s, during [[Soviet Union|Soviet]] rule. Over 150,000 hectares were planted in 10 years, and by 1960 the total vineyard area had reached 220,000 hectares.<ref name="win2510"/> In the 1980's Russia was suffering from alcoholism and ordered the destruction of vineyards; between 1985 and 1987, 30% were destroyed.<ref name="win2510"/> 

In 2006, a diplomatic conflict with Russia resulted in the [[2006 Russian ban of Moldovan and Georgian wines]], damaging Moldova's wine industry as Russia had been the largest importer (80%) of Moldovan wines. The ban lasted 2 years.<ref name="win2510"/> A fresh ban was imposed in September 2013, as a result of Moldova's announcement of plans to sign a draft association treaty with the [[European Union]]; this ban was less effective, as Moldova had sought alternative export markets in the intervening years and was producing better quality wines.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.euractiv.com/europes-east/russia-punishes-moldova-banning-news-530394|title=Russia punishes Moldova by banning its wines|date=11 September 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.decanter.com/news/wine-news/584351/russia-s-ban-on-moldovan-wine-unfounded|title=Russia's ban on Moldovan wine 'unfounded' - Decanter|date=13 September 2013}}</ref>

The national brand "Wine of Moldova" was created in 2013 by the newly created National Office of Vine and Wine, whose main objective was the promotion of quality Moldovan wine abroad.<ref>{{cite web |title=About ONVV |url=https://wineofmoldova.com/en/about-onvv/ |access-date=25 October 2023}}</ref> 

In 2022, Moldova was exporting wines from 260 wineries to 75 countries, with 60% of the wine produced being exported to European Union countries.<ref name="mol310">{{cite web |title=ANTICIPATING OVER 100,000 VISITORS AT THE 22ND NATIONAL WINE DAY CELEBRATION |url=https://moldovalive.md/anticipating-over-100000-visitors-at-the-22nd-national-wine-day-celebration/ |date=3 October 2023}}</ref>

==Wine growing regions in Moldova==
In [[Moldova]] four regions for wine growing are to be found:
* [[Bălți (wine)|Bălți]] (northern zone)
* [[Codru (wine)|Codru]] (central zone)
* [[Nistreană (wine)|Purcari]] (south-eastern zone)
* [[Cahul (wine)|Cahul]] (southern zone)

The most important region - [[Cahul Wine Region|the Southern area]] - is suitable for red sweet and semi-sweet wines. White wines have a high content of alcohol. Micro-regions like [[Taraclia]], [[Ciumai]], [[Comrat]], [[Ceadir-Lunga]], [[Baurci]], [[Cazaiac]], [[Tomai, Gagauzia|Tomai]], [[Cimislia]] etc. are also in the southern region.

==Grape varieties==
[[Image:RaraNeagra.jpg|thumb|right|220px|[[Rară Neagră]], the main indigenous red variety]]
[[File:Chardonnay Moldova.JPG|220px|thumb|Moldovan [[Chardonnay]]]]
Moldovan viticulture is characterized by a large variety of grapes:<ref>[http://wine.md/content/soiuri-de-vita-de-vie-cultivate-in-moldova/ Soiuri de vita-de-vie cultivate în Moldova] {{in lang|ro}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Varieties'''|| '''Share'''
|-
| White|| 70%
|-
| Red|| 24%
|-
| Table || 6%
|}

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|'''Types'''|| '''Share'''
|-
| European || 70%
|-
| Domestic || 16%
|-
| Caucasian || 14%
|}

===Local varieties===
Only a few local varieties can still be found in Moldova today:
*[[Fetească albă]]: Indigenous white variety;
*[[Fetească regală]]: White variety, a natural cross between Fetească albă and [[Furmint]];
*[[Rară Neagră]]: Red variety traditionally used mostly for blending with other varieties, e.g. the famous [[Negru de Purcari]]. Responsible for the fame of the [[Purcari]] wines in the 18th century, before [[Cabernet Sauvignon]] was introduced. Total area planted - 170 hectares mostly in the [[Purcari region]];
*[[Fetească neagră]]: Red grape variety;
*[[Plavai]]: White variety, popular in the 19th century and at the beginning of the 20th century. This variety is now rare;
*[[Tămâioasă Românească|Busuioacă albă]]: white aromatic variety.

===Introduced varieties===
White varieties: [[Chardonnay]], [[Sauvignon blanc]], [[Aligoté]], [[Pinot gris]], [[Pinot blanc]], [[Riesling]], [[Traminer]], [[Muscat (grape and wine)|Muscat]], [[Silvaner]], [[Müller-Thurgau]], [[Rkatsiteli]].

Red varieties: [[Cabernet Sauvignon]], [[Merlot]], [[Pinot noir]], [[Malbec]], [[Saperavi]], [[Gamay]].

Recently: [[Syrah]], [[Cabernet Franc]], [[Petit Verdot]], [[Carignan]], [[Montepulciano (grape)|Montepulciano]], [[Sémillon]], [[Ugni blanc]],  and [[Tempranillo]] were conditionally registered for trial.

==Divin==
Divin is the name of the country's [[brandy]], produced in conformity with the classic technology of [[cognac]] production.{{Citation needed|date=September 2023}}

==Cellars==
[[File:Mileştii Mici (3944427747).jpg|thumb|220px|[[Mileștii Mici (winery)|Mileștii Mici]] – the world's largest wine cellars]]
The Moldovan wine collection "[[Mileștii Mici (winery)|Mileștii Mici]]", with 1.5 million bottles, is the largest wine collection in the world, according to the [[Guinness Book]]. It stretches for 200&nbsp;km and has a relative humidity of 85-95% and a constant temperature of 12-14&nbsp;°C.<ref>{{cite web |title=Milestii Mici Winery |url=https://wineofmoldova.com/en/milestii-mici-winery/ |access-date=25 October 2023}}</ref>

The [[Cricova (winery)|Cricova]] winery also has an extensive network of tunnels that stretch for 120&nbsp;km.{{Citation needed|date=September 2023}}
[[File:Fabrica de vin Mimi.jpg|thumb|[[Mimi Castle|Mimi Wine Castle]]]]

==Wine Guild==
The '''Moldova Wine Guild''' is a non-profit association established in August 2007 by several of Moldova's leading private wineries, i.e. [[Acorex (winery)|Acorex Wine Holding]], Vinaria Bostavan, Chateau Vartely, DK-Intertrade, Carlevana, Lion-Gri, and [[Purcari (winery)|Vinaria Purcari]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Moldovan Wine Guild Summarizes Results of Activity |url=https://www.oreanda-news.com/en/promyshlennost/article317755/ |date=23 July 2008}}</ref> The member wineries are united by their desire to raise Moldova's profile as a major European wine producing country. To accomplish this goal, the members work together to promote their wines on the international market through joint marketing initiatives and to educate the international wine trade and press about Moldova.

==Moldovan wineries==
{{div col}}
*[[Asconi Winery]]
*[[Aroma (winery)|Aroma]]
*[[Cricova (winery)|Cricova]]
*[[KVINT]]
*[[Mileștii Mici (winery)|Mileștii Mici]]
*[[Purcari (winery)|Purcari]]
*[[Romănești (winery)|Romănești]]
{{div col end}}

==See also==
{{Portal|Wine|Moldova
}}
*[[Moldovan cuisine]]
*[[Wine competition]]
*[[Winemaking]]
*[[Agriculture in Moldova]]
{{Clear}}

==References==
<references/>

==External links==
{{Commons category|Wines of Moldova}}
* [http://www.winemoldova.com www.winemoldova.com – the association of Moldovan small wine producers] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180626030156/http://www.winemoldova.com/ |date=2018-06-26 }}
* [http://www.vinmoldova.md www.vinmoldova.md – information about the Moldovan wine industry]
* [https://www.foxnews.com/food-drink/the-unexplored-wine-region-of-moldova The unexplored wine region of Moldova /FoxNews.com/]
{{Wines}}{{Moldova topics}}{{Wine by country|Moldova}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Moldovan Wine}}
[[Category:Moldovan wine| ]]
[[Category:Moldovan alcoholic drinks]]
[[Category:Moldovan drinks]]
[[Category:Moldovan cuisine]]
[[Category:Agriculture in Moldova]]
[[Category:Wine by country]]