{"id":30676,"date":"2021-09-16T16:03:16","date_gmt":"2021-09-16T16:03:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wine-and-spirits.md\/?p=30676"},"modified":"2026-06-16T20:19:42","modified_gmt":"2026-06-16T20:19:42","slug":"the-feteasca-regala-grape-variety-in-moldova","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wine-and-spirits.md\/en\/the-feteasca-regala-grape-variety-in-moldova\/","title":{"rendered":"The Feteasca Regal\u0103 Grape Variety in Moldova"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

For a long time, the Feteasca Regal\u0103 grape variety did not receive much attention in Moldova, although it was introduced to the republic in the 1930s. During the Soviet period, it was typically used in blends for sparkling wines or together with Feteasca Alb\u0103 for still wines labeled simply as \u201cFeteasca.\u201d At that time, the name Feteasca Regal\u0103 was not commonly used; instead, the variety was referred to as Muscat Feteasca or Royal Feteasca. Feteasca Regal\u0103 was officially included in the Catalogue of Plant Varieties of the Republic of Moldova in 2015 and is recommended for cultivation in the northern, central, and south-eastern regions.<\/em><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Origin<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n

The Feteasca Regal\u0103 variety was identified in Romania in 1920, in the commune of Dane\u0219. In 1921, wine made from this variety was presented at an exhibition in Bucharest under the name Feteasca Regal\u0103.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Until recently, it was believed that its parent varieties were Feteasca Alb\u0103 and Gras\u0103 de Cotnari. However, research conducted by the Geilweilerhof Institute for Grapevine Breeding (Pfalz, Germany), which maintains the International Vitis Variety Catalogue (VIVC), established that its true parents are Feteasca Alb\u0103 and Fr\u00e2ncu\u0219\u0103.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The variety has 32 known synonyms, including Romanian names such as Dane\u0219an\u0103 and Galben\u0103 de Ardeal and their derivatives. In Hungary and Slovakia, its official name is Kir\u00e1lyle\u00e1nyka. The variety is held in the collections of 32 scientific institutions and is cultivated in Romania, Hungary, Ukraine, Austria, Slovakia, and Moldova.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite its Romanian origin, Feteasca Regal\u0103 was only included in the Official Catalogue of Cultivated Plant Varieties in Romania in 1971, and its clone was registered in 2008.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As of September 2021, Moldova\u2019s vineyard and winery register listed 196 plots of Feteasca Regal\u0103 with a total area of 347.5 ha. Most of these vineyards are very small – less than half a hectare. The largest single plot covers approximately 18 hectares.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

According to Dr. Mihail Kuharsky (the Scientific-Practical Institute of Horticulture, Viticulture and Food Technologies), while Feteasca Regal\u0103 shares many traits with Feteasca Alb\u0103, it is more resistant to fungal diseases such as downy mildew and powdery mildew. The variety prefers loose, fertile soils (light loam, sandy and sandy chernozem soils). On poor soils, both yield and quality decline.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Feteasca Regal\u0103 is more drought-resistant than Feteasca Alb\u0103. It is characterized by later budburst, which helps avoid spring frosts. However, technological maturity of the berries occurs about two weeks later. Its frost resistance is moderate but slightly higher than that of Aligot\u00e9, Traminer, and Chasselas. It also overwinters better than Aligot\u00e9 and Feteasca Alb\u0103.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Feteasca Regal\u0103 produces large clusters (125\u2013151 g), cylindrical-conical in shape, of medium density to loose structure. The berries are larger than those of Feteasca Alb\u0103 and are round.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Its potential yield is 15\u201318 t\/ha, with sugar content of 170\u2013180 g\/dm\u00b3 and acidity of 8\u20139 g\/dm\u00b3. When yields are limited, sugar accumulation increases, exceeding 220 g\/dm\u00b3.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Good productivity and must quality have been observed with the Moldovan two-trunk training system, using short to medium pruning and moderate crop load.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Scientific Work and Propagation<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n

According to Dr. Victor Bondarchuk, Head of the Laboratory of Virology and Phytosanitary Control at the Scientific-Practical Institute of Horticulture, Viticulture and Food Technologies, the Feteasca Regal\u0103 variety has now been sanitized (freed from viral, bacterial, and phytoplasma diseases).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A \u201cpre-basic\u201d mother plantation of 150 vines has been established on own roots. The plant material was selected from a Moldovan population in the Cahul district, from a vineyard planted in the 1980s. The best vines were selected, tested, and propagated in vitro. In 2020, they were planted in a pre-basic category mother block.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

In autumn 2021, we will harvest canes in order to plant a 0.5-hectare nursery in 2022 with grafted vegetative plants. Nurseries will be able to obtain canes of Feteasca Regal\u0103 for grafting starting from autumn 2023. We do not plan to carry out grafting ourselves\u2014we want nurseries to benefit economically, while we focus on producing high-quality propagation material.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This plantation will be maintained as long as vines on own roots remain productive, that is, until their root system is affected by phylloxera. Typically, European varieties on own roots have a relatively short lifespan – about five harvests. However, our mother block is located on land where phylloxera has not been present for decades. This may allow it to remain productive for a longer period,\u201d the scientist noted.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

P.S.: Wines made from Feteasca Regal\u0103 grapes will be discussed in the next article.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

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

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