Purcari Academia Viorica Moldovan Orange Wine
Republica Moldova
Orange
Dry / Brut
14%
10–12°C
Roast duck with orange glaze, or prawns with citrus and chilli
Viorica
Vivino rating: 4.3 / 5Chateau Purcari is Moldova’s premier winery, founded as early as 1827 when it was granted the title of first official winery in Bessarabia, Moldova’s predecessor. The winery is famed for being a favourite of Queen Elizabeth I, its use of indigenous grapes and its similarities to Bordeaux wine. The two locations are located at a similar latitude and Purcari soils are remarkably similar to those in Bordeaux.
Academia Purcari, our most ambitious project to date, is a collection of premium wines that delves deeply into the identity and strong character of local wines.
The result of centuries of experience and continuous research on the Purcari terroir and the congruence of bold experiments, Academia Purcari is a collection of wines created according to the absolute rules of nature: sun, water, soil, with vinification and maturation in clay amphorae and a short rest in oak barrels.
Facing nature’s perfection, man has little left to do but glorify the place and carry the story forward.
When creating Academia Purcari, several important factors were harmoniously aligned. The first is the terroir, whose unique composition and diverse positioning ensure the excellence of the wine.
Located on the west coast of the Dniester River, at an altitude of 110-185 meters above the Black Sea, the Purcari vineyards cover an area of over 260 hectares and have an ideal microclimate for the production of high quality wines, which protects vineyards from frost in winter and heat in summer.
The climate is characterised by active temperatures of up to 33°C and a relative humidity of 0.68-0.75.
The Purcari micro-zone is known for its unique soil composition - clay chernozem, carbonised sand.
Amphorae is a tool that allows us to understand how some wines can evolve both during maceration and after, without having certain elements that interfere with its evolution. For the maturation of the wines from the Academia Purcari collection, we use high quality Italian amphorae, whose composition has all the necessary characteristics for the highest quality vinification.
The fermentation in clay amphora allowed us to obtain pure wines, which evolved without the involvement of other factors. These wines, produced from the best grapes in Moldova, cleaned, cooled and allowed to follow their path to fermentation naturally, allowed us to obtain a pure result, which deviates from market trends, offering an absolutely unique tasting experience.
The slope orientation determines the soil characteristics, which play an important role in forming the wine flavours and taste.
The provision of the vineyards with light and heat also depends on the degree of the slope. The location of the hills allows maximum exposure to the sunlight, helping vines to grow and grapes to ripen. The slope also facilitates water drainage. Thereby, vine roots penetrate deep through the layers of carbon soil in search of water, and the planting in ordered rows allows good air circulation.
Unique, expressive and beautifully unconventional, Purcari Academia Viorica is a distinctive orange wine from Chateau Purcari, one of Moldova’s most celebrated wineries. Crafted from 100% Viorica, an indigenous Moldovan white grape variety, this experimental wine explores a different approach to winemaking, combining traditional techniques with the natural character of the grape to create a wine full of texture, depth and aromatic complexity.
Academia Viorica Orange was obtained following the technology of red wine production but using white grapes. The result speaks for itself; an intense gold wine with hints of amber and a stunning aroma of citrus, bergamot, candied fruit, apricot jam and jasmine. Chateau Purcari's Academia Viorica is a skin-contact amber wine from Moldova's native Viorica grape – citrus, bergamot, apricot and jasmine with real depth.
Tasting notes: an intense gold colour with hints of amber, and aromas of citrus, bergamot, candied fruit, apricot jam and jasmine. Exuberantly juicy yet tannic on the palate, evolving into a floral finish with hints of honeysuckle.
How it's made: Academia Viorica is made using traditional methods. The grapes are hand-picked and carefully selected, and the wine matures in clay amphorae, which gives it a distinctive character, before a short rest in oak barrels for extra complexity and texture.
Academia Viorica is produced in very small quantities – 3,250 bottles a year. The number carries a story: 3 symbolises creativity, passion and dedication and 250 is the number of times the winemaker bows to the vine during the year.
