Crişana

Crișana lies between the Mureș, Someș and Tisa rivers and the Apuseni Mountains. Its PDO area includes parts of Bihor and Sălaj counties, and labels may carry approved vineyard names such as Diosig, Săcueni and Zalău. Conditions differ between wine centres. Long, warm autumns favour red-grape development, while foggy, damp valley mornings are associated with fruity aromas in white grapes. On steep slopes and gravelly hills, Fetească albă, Furmint and Muscat Ottonel mature well. Fetească regală, Fetească albă, Pinot gris and Mustoasă de Măderat are among the white varieties. Cadarcă, Pinot Noir, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon are permitted reds. Cadarcă is the native red most closely linked with Crișana. The wines range from fruity, aromatic whites to reds with fresh-fruit character and tannin structure.