PRESENTERS: Aliona Bejan and Sergiu Hriplivii, Novus BH Magister Ltd - www.moldovawine.co.uk
Moldova has a long wine history (5000 years) and used to supply a significant proportion of the wine to the Soviet Union, but after independence in 1991 everything changed. Wine is still an important part of the Moldovan economy and is its 5th largest export.
There are quite a few unusual/local grape varieties, although several of them are recent crosses from post war. Several of the grapes on show here, are Georgian – Sapravi and Rkatiteli. Georgia was one of the other big wine growing regions of the Soviet Union, with a history going back even further.
Aliona and Sergiu set up the company with Aliona’s sister relatively recently to bring Moldovan wine to the UK. They do come from a winemaking family.
The Wines Were:
Whites
1) Cricova Winery 100% Feteasca Alba. 2022. 12% £16
2) Timbrus Winery . 100% Viorica. 2021 12.5% £16
3) Novac Winery 50% Floricica/50% Alb de Onitcani. 2021. 14% £23
4) Novak WInery 60% Alb de Onitcani/40% Rkatiteli. 2019 13%
Reds
5) Timbrus Winery 100% Sapravi. 2020. 13% £17
6) Timbrus Winery Polyphonia Note#2 Malbec, Shiraz, Rara Neagra. 2020. 13% £17
7) Atu Winery 70% Codrinskii/30% Saperavi. 2020. 13.5% £27
8) Cricova Winery 100% Feteasca Neagra. 2020.£14% £17
Some points of note:
The Florica/Alb de Onitcani blend is matured in Acacia Wood barrel due to plentiful supplies of Acacia in Moldova. Both grapes are 1960s crosses.
Saperavi, better known as a Georgian variety, is reckoned to be the worlds oldest variety.
The Codrinskii is a very rare cross – Cab Sauvignon x Rara Neagra. Only grown in one vineyard in Moldova.
