Ștefan Vodă

South-eastern Moldova along the Dniester, a red-wine region and home to the country's best-known brand.

Country

Moldova

Climate

Continental, moderated by the Black Sea

Main varieties

Cabernet Sauvignon · Merlot · Saperavi · Rară Neagră · Malbec

The region stretches along the right bank of the Dniester, close to the border with the Odesa oblast. Proximity to the Black Sea softens winters and extends the season, producing riper reds than the country's centre.

This is where Purcari sits: in 1827 a decree of Tsar Nicholas I established here the first specialised wine estate in Bessarabia. At the 1878 Paris World Exhibition, Negru de Purcari became the first Moldovan wine to be awarded at an international event.

Geographically it is the part of Moldovan viticulture closest to Odesa. That matters if you are considering buying grapes or routing logistics that way.