▷ Award-winning wines - Behind the scenes

Award-winning wines or how the most precious jewels of the Girboiu winery were born, wines that are the result of a complex process that begins in the vineyard and culminates in an exceptional bottle. If you are a fan of fine wines, before trying our internationally awarded varieties, we invite you to a detailed foray into the stages of our production process!

Cultivation of grapes in our plantations

Our passion for award-winning wines begins in the vineyard, where we carefully grow national and international varieties renowned for their exceptional properties. Among the native varieties that develop harmoniously in our plantations are Şarba, Plăvaie, Fetească Regală, Fetească Albă and Black girl. Of course, since we also want to offer a variety of tastes and flavors, we also grow grapes of the Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon or Pinot Noir varieties on a total area of approximately 170 hectares.

Our vineyards grow in the harmonious climatic conditions offered by the Cotești wine area, on nutrient-rich soil that leads to the development of healthy and aromatic grapes. To obtain very high quality wines we have also adopted sustainable practices, more precisely we do not use chemical fertilizers for spraying, but we only use carefully selected substances that respect the environment and allow us to obtain excellent grapes! Furthermore, we have also implemented rigorous quality control actions so that you always receive only the best!

Award-winning wines – Manual collection and selection

To obtain award-winning wines, it is important that the harvest is carried out paying particular attention to some details, such as the maturity of the grapes and climatic conditions. Normally the right time for harvesting is when the grapes have reached a perfect balance between acidity and sugars.

Our very high quality wines, also recognized by the awards obtained at an international level, are obtained through manual harvesting which allows for a careful selection of the grapes. Therefore, to get the award-winning red wines of the highest quality we have implemented a microvinification line which includes boxes for manual grape harvesting and a manual selection belt.

In this way we guarantee that only the best grapes reach the production process. The selection is rigorous, based on criteria such as maturity, size and health of the grapes. This phase is fundamental to guarantee the quality of the wine produced.

Naturally, we also use automatic methods of harvesting and selecting the grapes for the other types of wines in our selection, with the help of the Pellenc machine. This allows us to harvest grapes even at night or when it rains!

Processing using modern technology

Our cellar has modern equipment to process the grapes with care and precision. The microvinification line also includes a small capacity destemmer and 3 Casagrande fermenters, specially designed for alcoholic fermentation and slow pigment extraction.

Furthermore, the processing sector of Gîrboiu winery integrates cutting-edge technology, being equipped with two grape receiving hoppers and two high-capacity crushers. With the help of these tools we ensure that the grapes are processed in a way that preserves their quality and freshness as much as possible.

For our wines we also use Wilmess presses, modern equipment that allows us to obtain Răvac must, a variety of must that flows by gravity, without being mechanically pressed. With the help of this special equipment it successfully obtains wines with Controlled Designation of Origin (DOC) and Geographical Indication, according to strict oenological regulations.

For some wines we also use the drying process, which helps us obtain concentrated wines with intense and tasty aromas. In this process (used for hundreds of years in the Valpolicella area, Italy), the most beautiful and healthy grapes are subjected to a natural dehydration process in special boxes. In our cellar we have experimented with this process both on red varieties such as Fetească Neagră, Syrah or Cabernet Sauvignon, and on the indigenous variety Şarba. Thus I managed to obtain a white dessert wine with exceptional properties!

Fermentation and maturation

Fermentation and maturation are essential phases to create superior quality wines. In our cellar, maceration and fermentation are carried out in stainless steel tanks, which allow optimal temperature control, so that the must is adequately processed, regardless of weather conditions.

We also consider special methods for some wines, especially for those that require more attention, such as Bacanta Şarba Barrique. So, to preserve the aromatic expression of the grape, we adopted a traditional method in France, called Sur Lie. This process consists of fermentation and maturation on the yeasts in new oak barrels. The result is fine wines with particular structure and intensity, but also velvety notes of vanilla and butter.

When it comes to our premium wines like Constantin premium red blendPetite Helena Premium White Blend or Bacanta Sauvignon Blanc Fume, maturation takes place in French oak barrels. This practice is known to further improve the quality of wines, adding complex flavors and rich texture. This aging process in oak barrels is an ancient practice, adopted by many of the world’s most prestigious wineries. In this way we are able to obtain wines that stand out for their superior quality and are appreciated both nationally and internationally!

Award-winning wines – Bottling and bottle aging

Bottling is a fundamental step in the wine production process, its final quality largely depends on this phase. Because we value quality, we have also allocated significant resources to ensure a high-quality bottling process. We therefore use a Bertolaso automatic isobaric bottling line, which guarantees rigorous quality standards for each bottle of wine.

After bottling, the wine enters the crucial phase: refinement in the bottle. This can take from a few months to a few years, depending on the type of wine we want to obtain. During this process the wine develops its flavors and balance.

The storage conditions of bottled wine are fundamental for correct maturation, which is why we pay particular attention to factors such as temperature, humidity and light. The bottling and bottle aging process at Gîrboiu Winery is complex and methodical and is carried out with meticulous attention to detail to produce exceptional wines!

As you found out, the manufacturing process of award-winning wines by Crama Gîrboiu represents a harmonious combination between tradition and modern technology. Every step, from growing the grapes to bottling, reflects our commitment to quality and authenticity and helps us bring the authentic experience of wines with distinct character into the glasses of enthusiasts! Discover our award-winning wines and enjoy rich aromas that pamper your senses!