Regiune viticolă cu IGP

Ștefan Vodă

The wine region of south-eastern Moldova, between the Dniester and the Ukrainian border, with the gentle influence of the Black Sea. An ideal terroir for prestige reds — this is where the legendary Negru de Purcari is made, a wine once served at the British royal court.

Ștefan Vodă is the wine region of south-eastern Moldova and one of the country's three areas with protected geographical indication (IGP), alongside Codru and Valul lui Traian. Stretching close to the river Dniester and the Ukrainian frontier, the region bears the name of the ruler Ștefan cel Mare and has earned a solid national and international reputation for its red wines, being regarded as the heart of red wine production in Moldova.

Climate and terroir

The region enjoys a warm continental climate, tempered by the relative proximity of the Black Sea, with sunny summers and long, mild autumns that favour the full ripening of red grapes and optimal sugar accumulation. The rich soils, including those with a high iron and trace-element content, give the wines intense colour, fruitiness and a balanced, expressive character. This distinctive terroir, combined with a centuries-old winegrowing tradition, underpins the area's historic renown for quality red wines, recognised as far back as the tsarist period.

Grape varieties and wine styles

Ștefan Vodă is, above all, the heart of Moldovan red wine. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and, especially, the native variety Rară Neagră are grown here with success, alongside Saperavi and Fetească Neagră. The region's reds stand out for their fruitiness, medium to full structure and balanced character, with good ageing potential, and are often Bordeaux-style blends completed with native varieties. Emblematic of the area is the traditional Purcari blend, based on Rară Neagră, Cabernet Sauvignon and Saperavi. Well-regarded white wines are also produced, from Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and local varieties.

Benchmark wineries

The region's most emblematic estate is Château Purcari, one of the oldest and most prestigious wineries in Moldova, with a history reaching back into the nineteenth century, whose red wines have won awards over time and carried the area's fame beyond the country's borders. Here too is the historic Purcari vineyard, known for its traditional blend, along with other prestigious wineries drawing on the area's iron-rich terroir. Ștefan Vodă thus attracts many wine lovers in search of the authenticity and the power of Moldovan red wines.