World Roumania
Vinarte, a magnificent marriage of italian elegance and romanian charm
This alliance produced three marvellous offspring, with three completely different characters: pleasant “Soare”, fleshy “Prince Matei” and delicious “Prince Mircea”.
These wines are made respectively in Castel Bolovanu, Villa Zorilor, and Stârmina.
Mr. Faleschini’s Italian family immigrated from Frioul to Romania in 1936, during the reign of Charles II, when the country’s economy and trade were flourishing.
After brilliant university studies in Civil Law and Economic Sciences, he held positions of senior responsibility in the State-owned international trade company Prodexport, and was based alternately in Bucharest and in Paris.
During this period, he immersed himself fully in the agricultural way of thinking and had a particular preference for the wine trade.
When Romania’s political regime changed, he was greatly influenced by his Italian business partner, Fabio Albisetti, who passed on his tremendous enthusiasm and love of wine
A new life devoted to wine
As a result, Vinarte was set up in 1998, with the aim of exploiting Romania’s vast winegrowing potential, using the latest technology and implementing a policy of new plantations.
The company bought up a few dilapidated, former State-owned “Soviet” style farms, whose worn out vineyards were planted with hybrid grape varieties. It took six years of hard toil and investments to ensure a fine reputation for these three domains.
Vinarte currently owns 400 hectares in the southern part of the Peri-Carpathian Mountains; three separate domains, whose soil types and weather conditions bestow each one with different characteristics.
A complete revival
Each of these vineyards possesses it own individual identity.
Castel Bolovanu « gros cailloux » in Sâmburesti
At present, 60 hectares are planted for 100% with Cabernet Sauvignon, but there are plans to extend the vineyard to a total of 90 hectares.
Located at an altitude of 250 metres, a number of factors combine here to enable the grapes to ripen gently in optimal conditions: the typical mineral composition of the alluvial soils and their particular ability to produce wines of character, as well as a south-western facing position on hills sloping down to the Olt River, whose presence makes weather conditions milder here. This perfect micro-climate guarantees a good balance between sugar, acidity and polyphenols.
Espalier-trained vines receive the best sun exposure and this encourages an ideal balance between sweetness and acidity in the wine.
100% Cabernet “Soare” (Sun) is the result of a meticulous selection of grapes in a 15-year-old vineyard; the wine is matured in barrels made of carefully chosen French oak. “Soare” has a vivid colour, delicate aromas and a complex structure of tannins.Villa Zorilor « l’Aube », in Dealu Mare
In this highly reputed area of Romania, this domain is located at an altitude of 102 metres and covers 20 000 hectares, stretching for 60 kilometres across the hillsides of Dealu Mare. The vineyard faces south, south-east and is sheltered from northern winds.
With long, dry, mild autumns and soils rich in clay and iron oxide, conditions are ideal for the grapes to reach perfect ripeness.
Merlot (80%) and Feteasca Neagra (20%) vines are planted on 130 hectares; soils of a slightly marine character give excellent conditions for obtaining tremendous lightness in these wines.
« Prince Matei », 100% Merlot.Extremely distinct aromas, marvellous structure and the balance of its well developed tannins give this wine a very charming elegance.
Stârmina in Vânju Mare
Located at an altitude of 200 metres, this “Danube Terrace” region produces outstanding wines thanks to its south-western position in a natural amphitheatre along the edge of the Danube River, with its extremely Mediterranean climate. 190 hectares are planted here with the Feteasca, Negru de Dragasani, Sauvignon, Italian Riesling and Tamioasa Romaneasca varieties.
Conditions of almost constant sunshine in this area give perfect weather for producing red and white wines. As far back as 1868, a review mentioned that the sun shone over these vineyards every day of the year.
The domain produces two wines, which both possess an intense mineral character,
“Sauvignon Excellence” and
“Italian Riesling Excellence”. But the reference here, however, is
“Prince Mircea”. Made with 100% Merlot, it is produced in very small quantities, keeping yields low (approximately 35 hectolitres per hectare) and is matured in French oak barrels.
“Prince Mircea” has a beautiful deep ruby hue with delicate garnet-red tints; it exudes powerful, persistent aromas and it gives pleasant, tannic warmth on the palate.
Feteasca Neagra: Romania’s heritage
Stylish Feteasca Neagra, with its tremendous character, is one of Romania’s typical and oldest grape varieties.
Vinarte grows it at two of its three domains where weather conditions vary considerably, in Stârmina and Villa Zorilor. The first domain gives a Mediterranean type of wine and the second a Burgundy style wine.
Vinarte is seeking to contribute to the revival of Romanian winegrowing, because it is convinced of this country’s potential to produce elegant, complex wines of superior quality, which will soon be of great interest to “connoisseurs” worldwide.
Vinarte’s aim is to adapt new technology to the traditions and culture of Romanian tastes. A wide range of wines, to ensure Romania’s presence on domestic and export markets
Basing its sales on three types of wine, Vinarte produces a full range of 25 wines aimed for extremely precise sales targets. 65% of wines sold are red; the remaining 35% are white and rosé wines.
Mr Faleschini is constantly spurred by a quest for perfection in grape variety selections, wine-making methods and maturation techniques. With his “Italian” inspiration, he also makes other types of inventive wine, such as his Merlot primeur, produced in Stârmina, which is sold as of November 14th. This wine offers all the charm and youth of the latest harvest.
Also admired is the quality of his late harvest wine, also produced in Stârmina, for which three separate stages of picking are carried out for the Sauvignon and Riesling grapes. Here, the Danube provides excellent conditions for the development of noble rot. The wines contain 13° to 14° of alcohol, for 200g to 230g of sugar per litre Mr Faleschini is particularly proud of having won over the domestic market with his 100% Cabernet Sauvignon “Castel Bolovanu”, whose elegance and character make it Romania’s leading wine.
Mr Faleschini’s unfailing commitment is rewarded by the numerous prizes and medals he receives: Gold for “Prince Matei” in Brussels, South Carolina and the United States and in France at the “Challenge du Vin” competition. For “Prince Mircea”, a Gold medal in Brussels and a Silver for “Soare” in Brussels.
To crown all these marvellous achievements and as a result of six years of sacrifices, Mr Faleschini has now become a member of the extremely select “Wine & Business Club”, founded in Paris in 1991 and chaired by Mr Alain Marty. Vinarte’s wines are served at monthly dinner receptions held in Paris and are tasted by wine critics and numerous European company directors, epicureans and wine lovers.
Pascale TétotVINARTE SRL
Strada Plantelor nr.50, Sector 2
Bucarest – Romania
Tél. : +40 21 323 3803
www.vinarte.com TRANSCOMINT S.A
Aram Grigoiran
32, rue Caumartin
75009 PARIS
tél. : +33.1.42.97.55.22
