VINCA is the brand dedicated to still wines of the Carastelec winery. The chosen symbol is the stylised flower of periwinkle, known in Latin as Vinca minor. The etymology of the name comes from the Latin verb vincere, meaning “to conquer” or “to overcome.”
Vinca overcomes winter with its vibrant evergreen leaves and brings colour to spring, symbolising the rebirth of nature and the vine. Vinca is a symbol of a new beginning.
VINCA wines are still, single-varietal wines, aged for at least six months in small oak barrels (225 litres) and 500-litre oak barrels. These are complex, elegant wines that combine the abundance of aromas derived from carefully tended grapes with the finesse and refinement imparted by oak ageing. Rhein Riesling is vinified in a New World style, in temperature-controlled tanks, to highlight the freshness and fruit-driven character typical of the variety.
The wines in the Vinca range bear the names of important historical figures from the village of Carastelec, as follows:
Benedict is a wine created in honour of Pope Benedict XIV, who in 1754 granted the church of Carastelec the right to celebrate its patronal feast. This is a Pinot Noir, aged in 225-litre and 500-litre oak barrels.
Theresia is a wine created in honour of Maria Theresa, Archduchess of Austria and Grand Princess of Transylvania, who in 1777 ordered the reconstruction of the church in the village of Carastelec.
Carastelec Vinca Theresia Rhein Riesling is a white wine grown on the sunlit, south-facing slopes of Carastelec village in the heart of the Crisana, in north-western Transylvania. The wine has a greenish-yellow colour which is echoed in notes of lime and ginger, crowned by the enticing aroma of honeysuckle. On the palate, it delivers exactly what one expects from a Riesling: crisp white pear, white peach, honey, citrus fruit, and delicate herbal notes.
Owing to the cooler climate, wines from the Crisana region display higher acidity regardless of the grape variety; however, in the case of Riesling, an elevated level of acidity is not only expected but desired, especially compared to warmer regions. This characteristic makes Riesling a highly gastronomic and versatile wine, easy to pair with a wide range of dishes. Riesling is also a long-lived variety, with excellent bottle-ageing potential.
Vinca Theresia 2018 won a Silver Medal at the Decanter World Wine Awards 2020.
