On Sunday, November 30, we opened “Barza, viezure, mînz” – a deli shop with wine and special treats from Port Cetate – on Sepcari Street, near “Hanul lui Manuc” in Bucharest’s Old Centre.
Despite the capricious and unpredictable weather this year, our vineyards have strived valiantly to produce several superb varieties, some even better than last year’s – which was our best so far. This year’s Tămîioasa turned out dry and aromatic. Feteasca, with her typical flavour even more pronounced than last year’s, while the Pinot Gris seems especially related to Mme Chanel. Our Rosé has intensified its perfume of roses in a semidry wine accepted even by professional drinkers.
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LONG STORY SHORT
Vinul lui Dinescu (Dinescu’s Wine) is produced in the Oltenia region in South-Western Romania, at Galicea Mare, a century-old winery which has been equipped with new, up-to-date technology.
The grapes come from two 125-acre vineyards, one located right under the wings of the winery, the other by the river Danube, on the sunny slopes of Drincea Hills. Both vineyards are quite young and have been planted in the context of a European project aimed at the renewal and re-ennobling of old Romanian vineyards.
Our plantations are distinguished by the diversity of the grapes we grow: seven whites (Fetească Albă, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Tămîioasă Românească, Muscat Ottonel, Pinot Gris, Italian Riesling), and five reds (Fetească Neagră, Merlot, Cabernet, Shiraz, Pinot Noir).
Finished with great care by the talented oenologist Vasile Grecu, our wines illustrate a broader philosophy of life, which advocates paying close and respectful attention to the beauty and savours of nature.
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GALICEA MARE WINERY
Built in 1915 by French specialists, the ‘wine house’ at Galicea Mare belonged initially to the Bibescu-Stirbey family. It was nationalized in1948 and then, following the fall of communism, it entered a rapid process of degradation. It was only after the plantation of a new vineyard in 2007, that the winery has been re-equipped and modernized.
The main building of the winery has a very particular historical charm but we came in its possession when it was already in a rather abandoned and time-battered shape and our estimation is that it will take another couple of years to restore it to the standards we think it deserves, so it will finally be re-introduced in the touristic circuit of famous vineyards and wine-houses in the Oltenia region.
CETATE AND GALICEA MARE VINEYARDS
The grapes supplying the Galicea Mare winery come from two 125-acre vineyards, one located right under the wings of the winery, and the other at Cetate, by the river Danube, on the sunny slopes of Drincea Hills. Both vineyards are quite young and have been planted in the context of a European project aimed at the renewal and re-ennobling of old Romanian vineyards.
Located in the notorious “European sunny belt of vineyards” – between parallels 44 and 45 ° – the ecosystem is characterized by a continental climate with Mediterranean influences, ideal for obtaining full-bodied reds and distinguished, aromatic whites. The predominant soils are mineral-rich chernozems (cambic at Galicea Mare, limestone and sand at Cetate).
The plantations are distinguished by the diversity of the grapes: seven whites (Fetească Albă, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Tămîioasă Românească, Muscat Ottonel, Pinot Gris, Italian Riesling), and five reds (Fetească Neagră, Merlot, Cabernet, Shiraz, Pinot Noir). The plantation at Galicea Mare also includes a parcel of Syrah and about several acres of old Tămâioasă and Feteasca Neagra vines (left from the old vineyard which was planted in the late 1950s).
It has adapted so well to our Southern climate that it bewildered our colleagues from Dealul Mare (a famous vineyard at the foot of the mountains which claims ideal conditions for the variety).
This Romanian variety has the typical aroma for which it is so widely appreciated and which makes it our best long-distance runner for the discerning drinker.
A Romanian variety uniquely crafted from grapes harvested in late autumn. Intense as a Port wine, ideal for aging. For occult parties, with fine cheeses and fruits confits.
A fruity Romanian variety – the name refers to a resin used as incense in churches – with well-tempered sweetness and blossoming muscat flavours. Demi-dry wine with an alcoholic concentration of 11%.
A fruity rosé from Cabernet Sauvignon grapes that keeps a fine balance between its sweetness and acidity, with flavours reminding of red berries, grapefruit, and a blushing touch of roses. Demi-sweet with an alcoholic concentration of 13,5%.
The Black Panther is a complex, nocturnal Cabernet Sauvignon, with deep ruby colours and an untamed feline character – refuses to settle in and mellow out in a barrel. The flavours remind of gooseberries and bitter cherries. A dry wine with an alcoholic concentration of 14%.
A friendly, well-balanced and refreshing wine with discrete almond flavours and a fresh perfume of elderflower and ripe melon. Demi-dry variety, with an alcoholic concentration of 13%.
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GALICEA MARE WINERY
Vinul lui Dinescu (Dinescu’s Wine) is produced in the Oltenia region in South-Western Romania, at Galicea Mare, a century-old winery which has been equipped with new, up-to-date technology.
The grapes come from two 125-acre vineyards, one located right under the wings of the winery, the other by the river Danube, on the sunny slopes of Drincea Hills. Both vineyards are quite young and have been planted in the context of a European project aimed at the renewal and re-ennobling of old Romanian vineyards.
S.C. MD AGRICOLA S.R.L. TEL. 0251 316 012
PORT CETATE
Located between Calafat and Turnu Severin, Port Cetate is an old Danubian port for shipping grains which has been restored and given a cultural destination, through the activities of the Foundation for Poetry ‘Mircea Dinescu’ which is based there. More recently, after converting the old administrative buildings of the port into comfortable bungalows and building a modern, fully equipped kitchen and a mini-hotel, the site also became open for land and river-cruise tourism.
PORTCETATE.RO TEL. +40 729 107 179 portcetate@gmail.com
THE TEAM BEHIND THE WINE
VASILE GRECU
OENOLOGIST VASILE.GRECU@VINULLUIDINESCU.RO
CLAUDIA LIXANDRU
SALES MANAGER CLAUDIA.LIXANDRU@VINULLUIDINESCU.RO
CIPRIAN COȘERARU
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR CIPRIAN.COȘERARU@VINULLUIDINESCU.RO
MASHA DINESCU
COORDONATOR MARIA.DINESCU@VINULLUIDINESCU.RO
ORDERS
comenzi@vinulluidinescu.ro
WINE SALES POINT LOCATIONS
BUCUREȘTI
LACRIMI ȘI SFINȚI RESTAURANT 16 Șepcari Street, Lipscani area lacrimisisfinti.com
BARZĂ VIEZURE MÂNZ Corner of Șepcari Street and Covaci Street
CRAIOVA
PORT CETATE STORE Calea Unirii 49 TEL. +40 740 050 970
CETATE CULTURAL PORT Dolj county, 207190 TEL: +40 729 107 179
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Find us on Google Map
Usually we’re criss-crossing back and forth between Bucharest, Craiova and Port Cetate, with the occasional trips off the map. You can keep track of our meanderings through the links below.
We’ll try our best to keep you posted on the latest delicacies served at our restaurant, Lacrimi și sfinți, the latest wine varieties and events at Port Cetate. We hope you’ve enjoyed the scroll.