The region with protected geographical indication (PGI) Codru includes settlements in the districts of Hincesti, Ialoveni, Anenii Noi (Bulboaca), Nisporeni, Calarasi, Criuleni, Straseni, Orhei, Telenesti, Falesti, Ungheni, Singerei, Soldanesti, Camenca, Dubasari, as well as Transnistria (Tiraspol). The area covers 60,000 ha and is growing annually thanks to the interest in the PGI system on the part of producers and consumers.
Cultural environment of PGI Codru
The quality and distinguishing characteristics of wines with PGI Codru are determined by soils, climate, pedology, varieties, and traditions of the region. All these characteristics together are called terroir.
The soil is light, aerated, well suited for growing grapes, especially white varieties.
The relief is represented by a chain of valleys, dales, gullies and mainly hollows. There are crests and hills crossed by streams and rivers.
The climate is mild, with average temperature around 10-12 оС.
Moderate (550-700 mm/year) and active (300-400 mm/year) precipitations.
The average altitude, at which grape plantations grow, is 150-250 m above the sea level. Mainly, these are southern slopes with inclination to the east and west.
Spontaneous vegetation covers around 25% of the territory (beech and oak, oak and hornbeam, ash-tree, maple, linden woods).
Most popular varieties
For wines with PGI Codru, the following white varieties of grapes are used: Aligote, Alb de Onitcani, Bianca, Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc, Feteasca Alba, Feteasca Regala, Floricica, Glera, Hibernal, Kerner, Legenda, Luminita, Muscat de Frontignan, Muscat de Ialoveni, Muscat Ottonel, Mueller Thurgau, Pervenets Magaracha, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Meunier, Rhein Riesling, Riton, Rkatsiteli, Sauvignon, Sylvaner, Solaris, Sukholimansky White, Tocai Friulano, Traminer Rose, Ugni Blanc, Viorica, and Viognier.
Red varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Codru, Feteasca Neagra, Gamay Freaux, Malbec, Merlot, Pervomayski, Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir, Rara Neagra, Saperavi, and Shiraz.
Organoleptic properties of wines with PGI Codru
White wines
The color is lemon-yellow with greenish hues. As wine matures, the color changes to straw-yellow or golden. The aroma or bouquet is elegant, with notes of field flowers, fresh forest fruits and silicic minerals. Delicious fresh fruit flavor that transforms into mineral aftertaste.
Rose wines
The color is from pale pink to pink with hues of raspberry and rose hip leaves. The aroma of fresh fruits – peach, apricot, forest berries. The flavor is mild, fresh, refreshing.
Red wines
The color is red-ruby or hues of pomegranate and cherry blossom with scarlet specks. Original and delicate aroma or bouquet with shades of black currant, raspberry, blackberry, sour cherry and wild plum, as well as sweet spices – cinnamon, red sweet pepper. The flavor is creamy.
Liqueur wines
The color is from pale yellow to amber (white wines), from light pink to dark pink (rose wines), from red to dark red (red wines). Rich aroma or bouquet with notes of walnuts, dry fruits and flowers (white wines) to dry plums and chocolate (red wines).
Sparkling wines
The color from pale yellow to golden (white), form pale pink to pink (rose), from red to ruby (red). The aroma or bouquet is delicate with well-defined fruity notes, flowery in quality aromatic sparkling wines. The flavor is intense and deep.
Curious facts about wines with PGI Codru
The Russian Imperial Romanov Family established their owned winemaking production in Romanesti (Straseni district). Their products gained success in Europe – with rulers, aristocrats, politicians, and ordinary people.
The largest underground storages of wines with PGI Codru are located in Cricova, Milestii Mici, and Branesti. They spread for hundreds of kilometers and can store over 2 million bottles of collection wines.
They started actively planting new varieties of grapes at the beginning of the XIXth century. Those had been brought from France by one of the best winemakers, P.K. Cazimir, who planted them on his property, close to Milestii Mici. He used abandoned shell limestone mines as cellars for his wines.
The Aligote variety, that later became one of the favorite among local population, appeared in our country thanks to Constantin Mimi, the last acting governor of Bessarabia. He grew new varieties on his own hills not far away from Bulboaca, and then exported them to Moscow, Odessa, and Vladivostok.
Russian commander Piotr Wittgenstein invited 26 German families, who were very good in winemaking, to his estate in Camenca, and they were enchanted by the Chasselas white wine. The guests decided to make it perfect. Wittgenstein designed and created grape terraces along Dniester River. From the cultivated grapes they produced Riesling, Chasselas, Traminer, Alvarna, Pinot Noir, and other wines. The wine from Camenca became a legend in Poland and Podolsk region, where it was considered to have a curing effect. Wittgentstein also created the first holiday resort in Camenca, where treatment included use of grapes and wine.
The winemakers of PGI Codru
Migdal-P JSC, Asconi LLC, Combinatul de vinuri Cricova JSC, Barza Neagră Grup LLC, Vinăria Bostavan LLC, Wine and cognac factory KVINT (Tiraspol), Vinăria Mileștii Mici LLC, Dionysos-Mereni JSC, Vinăria Hâncești LLC, Vinuri Ialoveni JSC.
