▷ About Fetească Neagră - history and characteristics

Feteasca Neagra has always been talked about as an emblematic assortment of wines for Romanian viticulture. It is also one of the most popular, due to its accessible taste and ease of association with traditional dishes. However, it is a complex wine which, obtained from the best grapes and with the best winemaking methods, can compete with any other noble variety. In the following lines we present the history and characteristics of this wine and offer you the best tasting advice.

About Feteasca Nera – The history of variety

The history of the Feteasca Neagra variety is not completely known. Although some winemakers claim that it is an ancient variety of Dacian origin, there is no proof of this. In fact, among others, Fetească Neagra wine is mentioned for the first time types of wine cultivated on Romanian territory it appeared only at the end of the 19th century. It is assumed that it appeared in the Iași area, near the city of Uricani.

Genetic studies (Gheţea and others, Genetic profiling of nine grapevine cultivars from Romania, based on SSR markers2010) demonstrated that Feteasca Neagră is not the result of a mutation of the Feteasca Albă variety, as some specialists previously believed. On the contrary, it seems that Feteasca Neagră does not have strong links with other Romanian varieties. Instead, the large number of varieties demonstrates that it is a relatively ancient variety.

This information demonstrates that, most likely, Feteasca Neagră was a variety obtained from the wild vine, which was cultivated for a long time on very limited areas in the Iasi area. Through selection its qualities evolved and at the beginning of the 20th century its popularity increased. Thus the Feteasca Neagră cuttings have reached all the most important wine regions.

Characteristics of the Fetească Neagra variety

Black girl it is also known as the black girl tree, the swallow’s tail or the black bird. It is a robust vine, which is part of the Teinturier category. This type of grape has both colored skin and pulp. Therefore the wines obtained are extractive reds or full-bodied rosés.

Feteasca Neagra has a ruby color and a complex aromati profile. The olfactory notes vary. They can be fruity (plums, currants, blackberries, cherries) or spicy (pepper, cinnamon, vanilla, toast, leather). The taste corresponds to the olfactory notes, but during tasting you can also identify notes of allspice, tobacco, chocolate. The aftertaste is strong and long, with spicy notes. The consistency of Fetească Neagra wine is velvety.

Which Fetească Neagra wines should you choose?

If you want to discover an exceptional wine produced from Fetească Neagră grapes cared for, harvested and processed with care, we invite you to a visit to the Gîrboiu winery. You will discover and taste special red and rosé wines, from those intended for regular consumption to collectible ones, to be enjoyed on special occasions. You can get information on Feteasca Neagra directly from the company’s winemaker.

Here are the Fetească Neagră wines produced with precision and love in Crama Gîrboiu:

Constantin Premium Red Blend, a Bordeaux blend enriched with the Romanian variety;
Bacanta Fetească Neagră Barrique, a wine that wins medals in competitions every year, declared by the famous Gault&Millau guide “the best red wine in Moldova”; it is a drink obtained through a particular technique: after maturation in French oak barrels, the wine is transferred to glass bottles where it matures for at least 6 months;
Tectonic Fetească Neagră, a fruity and balanced dry wine;
Livia Fetească Neagră, a young and velvety red wine that satisfies any drinker;
Bacanta Rosé Special Editiona wine with the scent of berries and a splendid color; it is versatile and easy to associate with food.

Tasting tips

Serve it at the right temperature

Feteasca Neagra is served at a temperature of 16-18 degrees Celsius. Decant it 30 minutes before to filter the natural sediments and allow the bouquet to release. The flavors are fully felt if you use oversized cups.

Serve it with the right dishes

Young Feteasca Neagră has finer tannins and does not strongly influence the taste of food. It goes well with pan-fried beef fillet with butter and herbs, Coq au vin, Ratatouille, baked poultry in red wine sauce. Well-seasoned Feteasca Neagră accompanies red meat dishes, from baked pork cutlet to roast lamb and buttered meat rolls.

Black girl it can also be drunk with dishes that do not contain meat, such as fatty cheeses seasoned with polenta, some pasta recipes and dishes with green spices, garlic, chili pepper. And for dessert it is worth enjoying a glass of Fetească Neagra. Baked apples, cakes rich in dark chocolate cream and lava cake are ideal to pair with the emblematic Romanian wine.

Enjoy the wines from the collection

In special moments or when you want to taste an exceptional drink, it is worth drinking a collectible wine. Gîrboiu Winery has 3 rare wines from Fetească Neagră that every enthusiast must add to his collection:

Discover Feteasca Neagră, one of the best Romanian varieties. Choose Crama Gîrboiu wines and enjoy every glass!