{"id":30660,"date":"2021-03-14T20:27:18","date_gmt":"2021-03-14T20:27:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wine-and-spirits.md\/?p=30660"},"modified":"2026-06-15T09:22:41","modified_gmt":"2026-06-15T09:22:41","slug":"the-feteasca-neagra-grape-variety-in-moldova","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wine-and-spirits.md\/en\/the-feteasca-neagra-grape-variety-in-moldova\/","title":{"rendered":"The Feteasca Neagr\u0103 Grape Variety in Moldova"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Feteasca Neagr\u0103 (a Vitis vinifera variety) is an autochthonous grape originating from the region between the Carpathians and the Dniester River and is considered one of the oldest in Europe. In Moldova, it was undeservedly forgotten for a period, but in recent years its popularity has been growing.<\/em><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
From Wild Vines<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n

It is believed to be an intermediate form of wild grapevine that has not survived to the present day. Such forms served as the foundation of the local assortment of grape varieties. A comparative analysis of seed parameters of several ancient local varieties (Feteasca Neagr\u0103, Negru Moale, Rara Neagr\u0103) and wild vines revealed a high degree of similarity. The parentage of the variety has not yet been established.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Depending on the region of cultivation, Feteasca Neagr\u0103 has also been known under various synonyms: Feteasc\u0103 Neagr\u0103<\/em>, P\u0103s\u0103reasc\u0103 Neagr\u0103<\/em>, Poama Fetei Neagr\u0103<\/em>, Coada R\u00e2ndunicii<\/em>, and Coada R\u00e2ndunicei<\/em>. The name translates as \u201cFeteasca Ciornaia\u201d (Russian), Fekete Le\u00e1nyka<\/em> (Hungarian), M\u00e4dchentraube Schwarz<\/em> or Schwarze M\u00e4dchentraube<\/em> (German), Fetyasca Black<\/em> (English), and Qara Fetyasca<\/em>, Pasaryaska Niaqra<\/em> (Turkish).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The first documented mention of this variety was found in the travel notes of a Russian army officer who participated in the Austro\u2013Russian\u2013Turkish War (1787\u20131791). A trained botanist, he served as secretary for foreign correspondence in the office of Prince Potemkin and visited the region in the course of his duties. In his book, he described several local grape varieties, including Feteasca Alb\u0103 and Feteasca Neagr\u0103.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In February 1940, in Romania (of which Bessarabia was a part from March 27, 1918, to June 28, 1940), a decision was made to include Feteasca Neagr\u0103 in the list of red technical grape varieties permitted for propagation and cultivation. In 1971, it was entered into the Official Catalogue of Romanian Varieties, and between 2005 and 2009, seven clones were also included.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Undeservedly Forgotten<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n

During the Soviet period in the Moldavian SSR, the variety did not receive sufficient attention. Doctor Habilitatus Gheorghe Savin (Scientific-Practical Institute of Horticulture, Viticulture and Food Technologies) explained why:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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In the past, domestic scientists studied Feteasca Neagr\u0103 only sporadically. Everything considered Romanian (although in fact this is a regional variety) was viewed with suspicion. By the time attitudes became more positive, the opportunity had already been missed\u2014others had studied and propagated it. At that point, people became reluctant to even speak about it, because foreign colleagues would ask how many clones we had, since any variety must be divided into at least three clones to understand its nature. In different conditions, it behaves differently. The creation of clones should be part of the plan for improving and disseminating both traditional high-quality varieties and new ones.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Revival Driven by Enthusiasm<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n

Interest in Feteasca Neagr\u0103 in Moldova began to revive thanks to Gheorghe Gaberi, owner of the nursery enterprise Vitis Coju\u0219na, who persuaded Chateau Vartely to plant the first plantation of the variety in independent Moldova in 2008\u2014covering 5 hectares.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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In 2007, I first brought Feteasca Neagr\u0103 vines into Moldova; at that time, even winegrowers had never heard of it,\u201d recalls Mr. Gaberi. \u201cI had to visit the Romanian Minister of Agriculture twice to obtain permission to purchase the vines. On January 1, 2007, Romania joined the EU, and Feteasca Neagr\u0103 entered the European assortment. French producers bought three million buds, with almost all material destined for France. We established the first plantation in Moldova in Comrat for Chateau Vartely using green seedlings. That was when the idea emerged to apply a new technology for growing vegetative seedlings in trays. Later, we already had our own propagation material.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

As a result, Feteasca Neagr\u0103 was admitted to production trials and was only included in the national Catalogue of Plant Varieties in 2015. It is classified as a mid-late ripening variety. However, depending on annual weather conditions and the growing zone, this period can vary significantly. For example, harvesting began on October 3 in 2017, on September 1 in 2018. And on August 30 in 2019 in central Moldova, while in the cooler Ungheni district it began on October 24. Sugar levels were nearly identical in both cases: 248 g\/L in Speia and 242 g\/L in Mirce\u0219ti. These data come from experimental plots of the National Office of Vine and Wine, located in three geographic regions of the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While Romania has around 3,000 hectares planted with Feteasca Neagr\u0103, Moldova had only 320 hectares registered as of December 2020. Vineyards are scattered across most of the country (except the far north), from Vulc\u0103ne\u0219ti to Mirce\u0219ti, across 87 plots with an average size of 3.7 hectares.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A New Approach<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n

The industry institute is now addressing the previous lack of attention to Feteasca Neagr\u0103. In 2019, vegetative seedlings of a new clone were planted in a \u201cpre-basic\u201d biological category mother plantation (own-rooted), and in 2020, grafted planting material was established in a \u201cbasic\u201d category plantation. The clone material was sourced from the institute\u2019s long-standing collection, consisting of locally originating vines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Last autumn, approximately one crate of grapes was harvested from the pre-basic plantation, and oenologists produced wine from it for study.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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If we identify any valuable traits of the variety, particularly those better expressed, we will select them,\u201d says Dr. Viktor Bondarchuk, Head of the Laboratory of Virology and Phytosanitary Control. \u201cHowever, a clone must not simply be different. Clonal selection will continue as long as viticulture exists. Differences will always be found\u2014cluster shape, for instance. During the 2000\u20132010 period, many clones were imported into Moldova from various wine-producing countries, but they were developed for those countries. Under our soil and climatic conditions, results were inconsistent. Therefore, whether there is one clone or five is less important than whether they differ in economically valuable traits. For us, important factors include color intensity, cluster density, and ripening time. Clones cannot be judged as better or worse\u2014each is suited to specific types of wine.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Varietal Characteristics<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n

According to Dr. Mihail Kukharsky, vines of this variety are medium to vigorous in growth, with high resistance to drought and frost (down to \u221222 to \u221224\u00b0C). Feteasca Neagr\u0103 shows moderate susceptibility to downy mildew and low susceptibility to other diseases and pests. The growing season lasts 125\u2013140 days with a sum of active temperatures of 2700\u20132800\u00b0C.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Clusters are cylindrical or cylindro-conical, with tightly packed berries. The average cluster weight is 110\u2013150 g. The berries are round, medium-sized, with a thick, durable skin of violet-black color covered by a waxy bloom. The pulp juice is colorless. Wines produced are deeply colored, with an intense ruby hue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yield ranges from 9 to 14 t\/ha, with sugar content of 220\u2013240 g\/dm\u00b3 and acidity of 6\u20137 g\/dm\u00b3 or higher. Yields can reach 15\u201320 t\/ha through increased vine load and longer pruning (8\u201310 buds). Grapes can remain on the vine for an extended period without rotting. Shoots ripen well. The variety demonstrates strong regenerative capacity and does not require winter covering. Rootstocks include R \u00d7 R 101-14, B \u00d7 R Kober 5BB, and B \u00d7 R SO4.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For optimal fruiting, the variety requires balanced vine load and pruning length, depending on shoot vigor and intended use. Cordon and fan-trained systems on medium trunks are preferred. Currently, low-volume systems such as double Guyot and Royat are also being tested under different planting densities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For improved berry coloration and anthocyanin accumulation, cultivation on clay and heavy loam soils is recommended.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

P.S.: Read about the wines produced from Feteasc\u0103 Neagr\u0103 in Moldova in the next article.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Related articles:<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Feteasca Neagr\u0103 Wines in Moldova<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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