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Wine History & Culture
History
Grape cultivation and wine production in Moldova have a very long
history. The imprints of Vitis teutonica vine leaves near the Naslavcia
village in the north of Moldova, prove that grapes have grown here
approximately 6 to 25 million years ago. The size of the grape seed
imprints found near the Varvarovca village which date to 2800 BC,
prove that, at that time, the grapes were already cultivated. The
grape-growing and winemaking 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 all the changing social and economic
formations.
At the end of the 3rd century B.C., links between the local population
and the Greeks were established. Only after the formation of the
Moldovan feudal state in the 14th century did the grape-growing
begin to develop. It flourished in the 15th century during the kingdom
of Stefan cel Mare, who was promoting the import of planting material
of high quality varieties from other countries and the improvement
of the quality of the wine. In the 300 years under the Turkish Ottoman
Empire, Moldova saw a big decline in grape-growing, since winemaking
was forbidden by law.
After the peace treaty of 1812, the wine industry started flourishing
again. The main varieties were the traditional ones: Rara Neagra,
Plavai, Galbena, Zghiharda, Batuta Neagra, Feteasca Alba, Feteasca
Neagra, Tamaioasa, Cabasia and many others of local, Hungarian,
Bulgarian, Greek and Turkish origin. During this period, grape growers
gained governmental support.
In the second half of the 19th century, intensive planting of French
varieties were introduced. Pinot Blanc, Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris,
Aligote, Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc, Gamay, Muscat Blanc
and other wines gained favor. Moldova began producing its own renowned
wine types, like Negru de Purcari and Romanesti. A big damage was
caused to the industry by the phyloxera at the end of the 19th century.
The Soviet Times
The renaissance of the Moldovan vineyards began during the Soviet
years, in the 50s. In 10 years, more than 150,000 hectares were
planted and by 1960 the total vineyard area has reached 220,000
hectares. Main red varieties planted included: Game, Cabernet Sauvignon,
Malbec, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Rara Neagra, and Saperavi. the main
white varieties included: Aligote, Muscat Ottonel, Rkatsiteli, Feteasca,
Chardonnay, and Traminer. Table varieties included: Pearl Szaba,
Vineyard Queen, Moldavschi, Moldova, Hamburg Muscat, Pearl Muscat,
and Chasselas.
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