Moldovan wine

surrounded by its vineyards. The vineyard in the forefront is a "village" vineyard used for home-made wine. Fossils of Vitis teutonica vine leaves near the Naslavcea village in the north of Moldova indicate that grapes grew there approximately 6 to 25 million years ago. The size of grape seed imprints found near the Vărvăreuca village, which date back to 2800 BC, prove that grapes were already being cultivated at that time. The grapegrowing and 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. By the end of the third century BC, trading links were established between the local population and the Greeks and from 107 AD with the Romans, a fact which strongly influenced the intense development of the grape-growing and wine-making. 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. In 2022, Moldova was exporting wines from 260 wineries to 75 countries, with 60% of the wine produced being exported to European Union countries. ==Wine growing regions in Moldova==

In Moldova four regions for wine growing are to be found: • Bălți (northern zone) • Codru (central zone) • Purcari (south-eastern zone) • Cahul (southern zone) The most important 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, Ceadîr-Lunga, Baurci, Cazaiac, Tomai, Cimișlia etc. are also in the southern region. ==Grape varieties==

, the main indigenous red variety Moldovan viticulture is characterized by a large variety of grapes: 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; • Plavaie: White variety, popular in the 19th century and at the beginning of the 20th century. This variety is now rare; • Busuioacă albă: white aromatic variety. Introduced varieties White varieties: Chardonnay, Sauvignon blanc, Aligoté, Pinot gris, Pinot blanc, Riesling, Traminer, Muscat, Silvaner, Müller-Thurgau, Rkatsiteli. Red varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot noir, Malbec, Saperavi, Gamay. Recently: Syrah, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Carignan, 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. ==Cellars==

– the world's largest wine cellars The Moldovan wine collection "Mileștii Mici", with 1.5 million bottles, is the largest wine collection in the world, according to the Guinness Book. It stretches for 200 km and has a relative humidity of 85-95% and a constant temperature of 12-14 °C. The Cricova winery also has an extensive network of tunnels that stretch for 120 km. ==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 Wine Holding, Vinaria Bostavan, Chateau Vartely, DK-Intertrade, Carlevana, Lion-Gri, and Vinaria Purcari. The association's stated goal is to raise Moldova's profile as a major European wine producing country. To accomplish this goal, 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==

• Asconi Winery • Aroma • Cricova • KVINT • Mileștii Mici • Purcari • Romănești ==See also==