Fetească albă – Romanian grape varieties

Fetească albă or White Maiden or White Fairy is an indigenous grape variety representative for Romania, thousands of years old. It is planted in various areas, mainly in Transylvania, Moldavia and north of the Grater Wallachia. It is fascinating to discover the particularities of each area given by the terrain typology and the wine-making styles.

The name Fetească (meaning young girl, virgin, pure, unmarried, fairy) leads to femininity and the delicacy of the women. Therefore it highlights the cherishing that Romanians have for the wine, as for the women. In Romania we have the tendencies to personify the wine, to resemble it to the women, and Fetească in all her varieties is one eloquent example.

The medium ripening vine is susceptible to botrytis, downy and powdery mildew and mites, but frost-resistant to minus 20 °Celsius. It produces alcohol-rich, aromatic white wines with moderate acidity and aromas of citrus and peach. In Romania it is grown in all regions, but especially in Moldova in the east and Transylvania in the centre. It is an ingredient in the famous sweet wine of Cotnari and is cultivated as a single variety.

The harvesting of the grapes it is done late, at full maturity and the wine has aging potential. The variety can give high quality sparkling wines.

Usually the wine making process is dry. The wine is fresh with green fruits temps, citric or floral, but also complex especially after barrel maturation.

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