Stefan Voda

Ștefan Vodă's protected geographical indication covers about 10,000 hectares in southeastern Moldova, across Botna River Meadow, Nistru River Terraces and South Moldova Plain. The Dniester, Botna and Cogâlnic rivers cross the region, where loam and clay are the main underlying materials. Dry and semi-dry reds, whites and rosés are made from grapes including Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Merlot and the local red Rara Neagră. Reds can have sour-cherry, blackcurrant, raspberry, prune and spice flavours, with a full, velvety texture. Rosés may have peach, apricot, raspberry or strawberry notes. Rara Neagră can combine red- and black-berry aromas with a drying grip. At Leuntea, sixteenth-century tunnels are still used as wine cellars. Wines from the area were known abroad from the nineteenth century.