Native Grape Varieties

Plavai

Other names: Valan, Plakun, Bila Muka, Belyi Kruglyi, Melve (in Hungary), Plavets Gelber (in Austria), Plavana, Poama Plavaie (in Romania).
Moldovan white gape variety. Popular in the 19th century and at the begining of the 20th century. Now very rare.

Feteasca Alba

Other names: Pasareasca, Varatic, Leanyka (in Hungary), Medhentraube (in Germany)
Moldovan white gape variety. Biggest area planted among local varieties - 900 hectares. Used a lot for sparkling wine production, but also for varietal Feteasca wine.

Feteasca Regala

Other names: Muscat Feteasca.
Moldovan white grape variety. Used for sparkling wine production, and for blending with Feteasca Alba.

Feteasca Neagra

Other names: Pasareasca Neagra, Coada Randunicii.
Moldovan red garape variety. Rare in Moldova. More popular in Romania.

Rara Neagra

Other names: Babeasca Neagra (in Romania), Serexia, Rastrepa.
Moldovan red grape variety. Used mostly for blending with other varieties, e.g. the famous Negru de Purcari. Responsible for the fame of the Purcari wines in the 18th century, before Cabernet Sauvignon was introduced. Total area planted - 170 hectares mostly in the Purcari region.

Introduced Grape Varieties

Cabernet Sauvignon

Bordeaux red grape variety. Most popular red variety. Introduced in Moldova in the 19th century. Total area planted - 7,000 ha. Used for the production of varietal Cabernet Sauvignon, red blends and red dessert wines.

Merlot

Bordeaux red grape variety. Introduced in Moldova in the 19th century. Total area planted - 9,000 ha. Used for the production of varietal Merlot and red blends.

Pinot Noir

Burgundy red grape variety. Introduced in Moldova in the 19th century. Biggest area planted among red varieties - 10,000 ha. Used mostly for sparkling wine production. Only in the recent years varietal Pinot Noir started to be produced in Moldova.

Saperavi

Georgian red grape variety. Due to it's very deeply colured wine Saperavi is used mostly for blending in red wines. Total area planted - 900 ha.

Rkatsiteli

Georgian white grape variety. Second biggest area planted among all varieties - 19,000 hectares. Used for sparkling wine production, varietal Rkatsiteli wine and for dessert wines.

Rhine Riesling

German white grape variety. Total area planted - 2,400 hectares. Used for sparkling wine production and varietal Riesling wine.

Italian Riesling

German white grape variety, in Germany called Welschriesling. Total area planted - 2,400 hectares. Used for sparkling wine production and varietal Riesling wine.

Sauvignon Blanc

Bordeaux white grape variety. Introduced in Moldova in the 19th century. Total area planted - 11,100 ha. Used for the production of aromatic varietal and sparkling wines.

Pinot Blanc

French white grape variety. Introduced in Moldova in the 19th century. Total area planted - 900 ha. Used for the production of sparkling wines and dry white wines.

Pinot Gris

French white grape variety. Introduced in Moldova in the 19th century. Total area planted - 2,800 ha. Used for the production of sparkling wines and dry white wines.

Traminer

Other names: Traminer Roz, Gewurztraminer (in Alsace and the New World), Traminer Rot (in Germany)
German white grape variety. Total area planted - 4,300 hectares. Used for the production of aromatic varietal, desert and sparkling wines.

Muscat

Several Muscat varieties are found in Moldova, the most important being Muscat Alb (Muscat a petit grains blancs) and Muscat Ottonel. Total area planted with Muscat varieties 5,500 hectares. Muscat is used for the production of sparkling, dry and dessert wines.