Sâmburești vineyards

Among the most reputed wine-growing zone in Romania for red wines, also goes in for the vineyard Sâmbureşti, placed in the north of Olt County. Sâmbureşti vineyard is situated in the left side of Olt River, at the intersection of the parallel 44°48' with the meridian 24°24’; designate a geographical position most favorable for grape wine culture. The wine-growing zone Sâmbureşti belongs to Getic plateau, specifically Cotmeana piedmont, situated between Olt Valley (at west) and Argeş Valley (to east). In this zone exist many hundred of hectare cultivated with red wines grapes and this products are more and more request on the export.



Vizualizare hartă mărită

Breviaries mentioned its name four hundred years ago when it was found in the possession of Theodosie Rudeanu, a great boyar, logothete, historian, diplomat and strategist, called "the most profound statesman of the Romanian boyars at the time", the right hand of Michael the Brave. Breviaries tells that wine was produced here even then, describing the subtleties of the cup bearer position in 1638. Over the years, the land had notable owners: the nephew of Dan Danilovici, the Lord High Treasurer of Matei Basarab, then Constantin Brâncoveanu's son-in-law and, around 1800, it became the property of the Brătianu family.

In 1906, Vintilă Brătianu hired August Joseph Ville, one of the most well-known oenologists in France, to recover the vineyards on his lands in Florica, Drăgăşani and Sâmbureşti. In 1893, he leaved France permanently as, on the Romanian Government's request, the French State gives him the mission to help Romania recover vineyards destroyed by phylloxera. He bringed Muscat Ottonel, Merlot and some other wine varieties into the country for the first time, then he started breeding and spreading them.

On the occasion of the apportionment of property in 1945 (a prelude to the collectivization to come), excluding the estates that entered the peasants' possession, part of the lands became the property of the State and formed the AFSMs (Administration of State Farms and Machinery Parking). In 1949, the collectivization turned the former property of Vintilă Brătianu into G.A.S. Sâmbureşti, owner of more than 70 ha of orchards, 40 ha of vineyards and 300 ha of woods. The Wine Preparation Complex from Sâmbureşti and the Wine Research Centre were built in the eighties. In 2005, Jean Valvis, the builder of Dorna and LaDorna brands, takes over Sâmbureşti vineyards and revives the old traditions of those places.

The high quality of the red wines from Sâmbureşti was pointed put long time ago in some didactic papers. However, systematic studies concerning the potentialities of this wine-growing zone were initiated only in 1992. Always seated next to the most powerful (it was the high class protocol wine under the communist regime; it is said that it was Stalin's favorite wine), the Sâmbureşti wine has never lost its noble origins, thanks to the people that cherished and respected it. At Sâmbureşti, one will not only find the most famous international varieties (Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Merlot), but also the oldest and noblest Romanian ones (Fetească Regală, Fetească Albă, Fetească Neagră).

Infos and photos from here and here.

Drăgăşani Vineyards

Drăgăşani is a city in Vâlcea County, Romania, near the right bank of the Olt river. The city is well known for the vineyards on the neighboring hills that produce some of the best Wallachian wines.

Inter-war coat-of-arms of Drăgăşani

Drăgăşani Vineyards have a history rooted deeply and intermingled with the history of the Geto–Dacians, 3000 years ago. Many documents from the time of Voivodes (ruling prices) Mircea the Elder (1386-1418), Vlad II Dracul (1436-1447), Vlad IV the Monk (1481-1495), Radu the Great (1495-1508), etc. all show that the history of this area is marked by culture of vine and wine production. The Vineyards were owned by Banii (rulers of Oltenia) Craioveşti and Buzeşti brothers (well-known family of Oltenian noblemen). Since the 18th century, the owner of the vineyards was the family of Prince Ştirbey. After the fall of Communism, the vineyards were claimed by Ileana, the granddaughter of Princess Maria Ştirbey and restored since 2001.

Barbu Ştirbey (1796-1869), ruler of Wallachia (portrait by Ioan Negulici)

Ştirbey Wines - synonymous with outstanding quality - were well known and appreciated in Romania and all over Europe. Together with his husband, Baron Jakob Kripp, the heir of Princess renovated the vineyards and installed state-of-the-art wine making technology, yet still preserving the gentle and attentive old traditions of vintners and intending to guide this tradition to a new renaissance. Their most important objectives are: furthering indigenous grape varieties and their specific characteristics, rediscovery of the regional "terroir", natural vineyard maintenance, gentle and clean grape processing in the wine cellars, use of modern wine making technology only where absolutely necessary.

The vineyards in the early 20th century

Many plantations slopes of three rows of hills parallel with river Olt, being situated on brown and brown-reddish forest soils, some of them medium podsol, rich in limestone, situated on alluvial gravel. The Drăgăşani Vineyards, with the most important terroirs at Amărăşti, Cerna, Sâmbureşti, Guşoeni, Zăvideni, Prundeni and Iancu Jianu are situated on low altitude hills. Until the phylloxera epidemic (1890), Drăgăşani wines were obtained from old indigenous grapes Gordan, Crâmpoşie, Braghină and Tămâioasă Românească. Tulburelul de Drăgăşani is a popular wine made from a blend of the above grape varieties, has been enjoyed for many centuries. Some of the most sought after grape varieties in Europe are currently grown in this vineyard. Long-term success at international competitions confirms the reputation of wine from this region.

The vineyards now

Wines from Drăgăşani, on occasion of universal expositions from Paris (1867, 1889, 1900), at expositions from Milano (1908) and from Gand (1912), received gold medals and honor diplomas, to which are added the 300 medals, among the most brilliant ones, obtained in the period 1959-2006, on occasion of great national and international contests from Montpellier, Ljubljana, Freiburg, Tbilisi, Sofia, Budapest, Bucharest and so on.

Ştirbey Manor, a place for wine tasting

Tonic, lightly acid, slightly frothy and having a long-lasting flavor, the wines of Drăgăşani have become popular outside Romania’s borders following world recognition. Today, one can still find here old Romanian vine seedlings, but also Italian Riesling, Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Riesling, Fetească Regală (a dry white wine which keeps its yellow–greenish color for a long time; moderately alcoholic, the wine is remarkable for its non-aggressive acidity), Romanian Tămâioasa (a glory of Drăgăşani vineyard, that holds an honorable place in the range of the Romanian flavored white wines) are produced here. Tasting the white, red and rosé wines, we invite you to experience the traditions of Prince Ştirbey's Wines, as well as the perfumes and tastes from the yet undiscovered nature of Romania.