By the end of the twelfth century, Moldova’s wine industry had become a major sector of Southeastern Europe’s economy. While the whole region has favorable conditions for viniculture, specific areas are especially fertile for growing the most full-bodied grapes. The village of Purcari and the Agon Zograf Monastery vineyards lay at the heart of this special terroir.
Recognizing similarities in the soil and climate with the Bordeaux region, French settlers entered into partnerships with the monastery and began cultivating Purcari’s special vintages in the eighteenth century.
Several decades later, after the enterprise had become a profitable success, it was confirmed that Purcari vineyards are located at the same latitude as France’s famous wine region, and like Bordeaux, the soil rich was rich in rubidium (which is what gives both regions’ wines their intense purple color). As the region’s red wines developed their bouquets were able to attain comparable levels of intensity and complexity.
At the turn of the century, Château Purcari replanted 250 hectares of vineyards, and installed state-of-the-art technology at the winery. As Moldova’s most prestigious export, Purcari lead the nation’s international development by entering into over 25 markets including the US, Canada, UK, Norway, Czech Republic, China, Poland, and the Baltic countries.
In 2010, the company launched Alb de Purcari – a new vintage that has been garnering a number of international awards and recognitions.
By 2012, the Purcari collection boasted Icewine, derived from frozen Muscat Ottonel and Traminer grapes. For outstanding achievements in winemaking and promoting Moldova’s image abroad, Purcari Winery became the owner of Grand Prix in wine making, awarded by the Republic of Moldova Government.
The last decade of Purcari’s almost two centuries has seen the winery reach its most advanced and complex stage of its development. With the vineyards planted in 2003 reaching maturity, the quality of the grapes has improved significantly. The Château is poised to once again compete for discerning palates around the world.
Chateau Purcari is the first “wine castle” built in Moldova, in 2003. The Chateau is located in the same picturesque place as Purcari Winery is, in the south-east part of Moldova, Ștefan-Vodă district. The Chateau integrates the legendary Purcari cellars since 1827; The cellars store a part of country’s heritage – the famous collection of Vintage Purcari Wines. At the estate, built in the style of a french chateau, the visitors can find everything for a weekend escape, because Chateau Purcari integrates a cosy, rustic hotel, a restaurant, a terrace and offers activities like chateau and winery tours, wine tasting, promenades in the vines with the bikes or by car, hydro-bike rides on the lake among the swans. The place has a tennis territory and a safe playground for kids. Chateau Purcari is also known for the different kind of events organized on its territory.
