Viticulture

Viticulture and winemaking in Moldova has been over the years the main activity of wine production in Moldova. Evidence of this exist not only as historic monuments and documents but also is present in the folklore and speech of the Moldovan people.

The historic development of this territory is related to the development of wine production, and as the historic periods has several stages.

Moldova is the primordial wine producer. The wild grapes were known on the territory since the Eneolithic times, seven thousand years ago.

Prehistoric Period 

The culture of winemaking existed since the tripolian period- on four clay pots, made between 2 700-3 000 years B.C., were found two clear prints of grape seeds, and one of them belonged to culture grapes.

Wine production and wine processing was the oldest occupation of the population on the territory.

Antic Period
About 2 500 years ago the Greek colonists introduced the art of culture wine making to the local population (evidence of this matter are the archeological excavation that were made on the territory), that was the main economic branch in ancient Greece.

 

That is when the “industrial” (regarding that period of time), wine production for domestic use and exchange for other goods.

A new kick in the development of wine production happened in the period of the blossom of the Roman Empire, when the territory of Moldova was occupied by the Romans. About the effects of this influence come as evidence the terminologies that remained since then and are used even today.

MiddleAges
In the Middle Ages in the environment of the Moldovan nobility is established an original “wine cult”, witch gave a new impulse to the development of wine production, such as improving the technologies, bigger parcels of land are allocated for the vineyards, and the “basement” household is enlarged. At the lords court there was a whole staff that was responsible for the vineyards and viniculture.

 

It is important to mention that for the quality of the wine that the lord served was responsible a specially assigned person (cupbearer).

 

Since the XIV century the export of wine to Poland and the Moscow principality tuned up. During the Turkish domination (XV - XVIII centuries) the export of wine didn’t stop, it extended to Ukraine and Ruthenia. From this period started the history of Moldova as a constant exporter of wine and wine materials.

The development of Christianity also contributed to the wine production enlargement-wine was used in religious rituals and customs. The eccleastic wine had to have certain characteristics, mentioned in the “Church Book” published in the 1699 year.

Sadly it is not known in what quantity was the wine produced at that time, the only facts that are known are that wine was a product of exchange and trade, and brought a stable income to the principality.

A new faze in the viniculture began after the annexation of Basarabia to Russia in 1812. The Russian nobility began to “set up viniculture estates”, importing grape varieties from France. At that time Basarabia was on the first place of wine producers in Russia (50% from all the produced wines). At the same period were established the historical micro- areas of viniculture, that already then were giving wines famous over the boarders of Moldova.

The czarist family was buying wine for their table through special departments. In the XIX century the English royal court was supplied, and by the end of the century private vineyards and a small factory called “Romanesti”, in honour of the royal family Romanov was established.  The quality of the Romanesti wines was well known as they were served not only at the Russian Empire tables but also in many European royal courts.

Revolutions and wars have interrupted the development of the Moldovan wine production. Only in the 50’s the reconstruction of the winery begun, and in the 60’s they remembered about the wine cellars.

 

 

The tunnels and cellars were extended, strengthened, joined.

This way the wine production in Moldova had a new impulse for growth from the 60’s till the 80’s of the ХХ century, when the vineyards and assortment of the production were enlarged.

Moldova becomes the main wine supplier on the USSR market, each second wine bottle and each third Champaign bottle in the Union was made in Moldova or from Moldovan material.

In the mid 80’s of the last century a hard impact on the Moldovan wine production was brought by the “Dry Law

”, when dozens of hectares of vineyards were pulled out by the roots, in the struggle against alcoholism precious wine was destroyed. This national tragedy brought not only cultural but economical loss. Industrial areas were diminished and precious stocks of wines and wine materials were shattered.

 

In the 90’s a rebirth and quality development of the wine industry in Moldova had a great impact upon the growth of the economy.

Wineries began to develop quite rapidly. There was a union between primary and secondary winemaking, witch became the guaranty of quality of the final product. Right now is taking place the process of union between viniculture and wine production.
Nowadays the wineries are investing not only in modern technologies and equipment, but also in the growing of their own vineyards, providing the stability and high level of the quality of the produced wine.

Contemporary situation of viniculture in Moldova 

For the last four years the dynamics of the wine production in and wine materials in Moldova has a yearly growth of

10-20%.

Moldovan wine production is very attractive for potential foreign investors. In this branch are performed a considerable amount of projects.

New factories are built using not only the finances of the company and its partners, but also credits from Moldovan and foreign banks and funds.

Russian was one of the first to invest it’s capital in the Moldovan wine industry. Investors from France, Germany, Holland and USA have recognized the potential of the industry and have created joint enterprises with local companies.

The visit card of Moldova is the production of high quality wines with the names according to their origin (VDO), and controlled name by the place of origin (VDOC). The VDO wines have high organoleptical qualities and stable physics-chemical composition, guaranteed yearly by the producer.

The notorious British magazine "Drinks Buyer Europe" wrote “Wines with a fruity aroma and a good balance, that started to be produced by the leading companies in Moldova, show a high potential of the country, if a modern equipment and technology will be used”