Where
South-east Moldova: the districts of Ștefan Vodă, Căușeni, Cimișlia and Basarabeasca
PGI wine region
Ștefan Vodă
Red wine country on the lower Nistru
Ștefan Vodă is the south-eastern wine region of Moldova, a PGI of about 10,000 hectares on the terraces of the Nistru, close to the Black Sea. It is known above all for its red wines, from Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot to Rară Neagră, the local grape of Purcari.
Landscape
The Nistru terraces, the Botna meadows and the southern Moldovan plain
Altitude
Mostly between 120 and 190 metres
Ștefan Vodă
Puglia (Italy)
Close to the low, warm hills of Puglia, where a long sunny season also gives ripe, structured reds.
Known for
Structured reds and Rară Neagră
Ștefan Vodă in figures
The official figures of the Ștefan Vodă PGI, from the National Office for Vine and Wine.
- of vineyards for PGI wine
- ≈ 10,000 ha
- above sea level
- 120–190 m
- sunny days a year
- 310–320
- of rain a year
- 450–550 mm
- average yearly temperature
- 9–10 °C
- of active temperatures, summed over the season
- 3,000–3,450 °C
- days of growing season above 10 °C
- 179–187
Districts
- Ștefan Vodă
- Căușeni
- Cimișlia
- Basarabeasca
Natural areas
- Botna river meadow
- Nistru river terraces
- South Moldova Plain
Rivers
- Nistru
- Botna
- Cogâlnic
The terroir of Ștefan Vodă
Climate
Dry, warm and long
Ștefan Vodă lies mostly in Moldova's driest climate zone. Rain stays between 450 and 550 mm a year, the average temperature reaches 9.5 to 10 °C in the south of the region, and the season above 10 °C lasts 179 to 187 days. With 310 to 320 sunny days, black grapes get the time and warmth they need to ripen completely.
Landscape
Long, gentle slopes above the Nistru
The relief is moderately cut, with half-deep valleys and long, regular slopes, typically 200 to 400 metres long at 3 to 5°. Heights run from 7 metres by the river to about 291 metres, with most vineyards between 120 and 190 metres. The Nistru, which forms the border, and the inland Botna and Cogâlnic rivers drain the region.
Soil
Iron-red earth at Purcari
The Purcari micro-zone owes its reputation to red Tertiary deposits rich in iron and related trace elements. Across the region, loam and clay dominate: loamy clay covers about 71% of the area, clay 13% and clay loam 7%, much of it over alluvial clays and loess-like deposits with moderate resistance to erosion.
Other photographs: Wine of Moldova (ONVV)
The wines of Ștefan Vodă
Black grapes cover about 57% of the PGI vineyards and white grapes 43%. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec and Rară Neagră lead the reds; Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Gris the whites.
Main grape varieties
- Cabernet Sauvignon
- Merlot
- Malbec
- Rară Neagră
- Chardonnay
- Sauvignon Blanc
- Pinot Gris
-
Red
Pomegranate to cherry red, gaining brick tones with age. Sour cherry, blackcurrant, raspberry, prune and spice; concentrated, well built, full and velvety.
-
White
Pale green to golden yellow. Elegant and floral with fresh fruit, balanced, full and mineral on the palate.
-
Rosé
From pale pink, rose-hip and salmon to raspberry. Peach, apricot, raspberry and strawberry, with a fruity, lightly tart freshness.
Wineries of Ștefan Vodă
Wines from Ștefan Vodă
Filter them in the shop
Gogu Winery Blanc de Merlot
€ 14,99 VAT incl.
Out of stock
Te Wā Cabernet Sauvignon Saperavi Merlot
€ 29,00 VAT incl.
Out of stock
