Romania

Domeniile Averești

Domeniile Averești lies on the sunny hills of the Huși vineyard in north-east Romania, in the historic region of Moldavia close to the border with the Republic of Moldova. Vines have grown here for thousands of years, in the heart of the ancient Cucuteni culture – and today the estate is one of the leading names for Romania’s own grape varieties.

The story

1874 – the boyar Ștefan Negruzzi, working with French oenologist René Faure, recognised the area’s special terroir and brought modern vineyard practices to Averești. The French revived the old Romanian varieties Zghihară and Busuioacă and introduced Merlot, Cabernet and Aligoté.
2010 – the start of a major revival: 650 hectares of vineyards replanted, an ultra-modern winery built and a team of experienced oenologists and viticulturists brought together.

Did you know? Every year, a bottle of the first wine of the vintage is buried in the coolest part of the cellar – an offering to the vineyards and to everyone who has worked them.

Vineyards and terroir

The Huși vineyard, on the Central Moldavian Plateau, has a cool climate and fertile soils that suit aromatic white varieties especially well. Averești’s 650 hectares are planted variety by variety in separate plots, so each wine is a pure expression of its grape – and most carry the DOC (protected designation of origin) quality mark.

Alongside international varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay, the estate is known for Romanian grapes: Zghihară de Huși, Busuioacă de Bohotin, Tămâioasă Românească, Fetească Albă, Fetească Regală and Fetească Neagră.

The signature grapes

Zghihară de Huși – the signature wine of the Huși vineyard, known locally as Poama Voioasă (“the cheerful grape”). A light, dry, crisp white made to be enjoyed young – ideal with seafood and salads.
Busuioacă de Bohotin – a highly aromatic Romanian variety with reddish-purple berries. Averești is one of the few places in Romania making a rosé from it, and has one of the country’s largest plantings, at 105 hectares.
Fetească Neagră – the “Black Maiden”, Romania and Moldova’s great native red grape.