Native variety · White variety

Fetească Albă

A delicate native white variety with floral and meadow-fruit aromas. It gives fine, balanced and elegant wines, most enjoyable in youth.

Fetească Albă is one of the oldest and most representative native varieties of the Carpathian-Danubian-Pontic lands, grown for centuries in Romania and the Republic of Moldova. It is thought to have appeared as a clonal variation of an older variety from the historic region of Moldova, and is closely bound to the winegrowing identity of the region and to the white wine tradition of this part of Europe. Its name, full of poetry, evokes the delicacy, purity and finesse of the wines it produces.

An early variety with relatively modest heat requirements and good cold resistance, Fetească Albă adapts well even to cooler zones, needing a short growing season and a moderate sum of useful temperatures. In the Republic of Moldova it is grown in several areas, with a notable presence in the central Codru region, where the cooler climatic conditions favour freshness, elegance and balance in the white wines, preserving the natural acidity of the grapes.

Characteristics of the wine

Fetească Albă wines are dry or off-dry, with a moderate alcohol content and a remarkable natural finesse. In the glass they reveal discreet, elegant aromas of meadow flowers, green apple, pear, peach and sometimes fine honey, supported by a moderate and pleasant acidity. The style is round, velvety, ample and balanced, which makes them easy to drink and very agreeable. Fetească Albă can give both fresh wines intended for young consumption and more concentrated examples capable of a short maturation in which they develop additional complexity.

Food pairings

Its delicate profile recommends it for starters, salads, white fish, seafood, white poultry meat and fresh cheeses. The off-dry versions pair handsomely with lightly spiced dishes, with Asian cooking or with plăcinte and desserts that are not too sweet, making it a versatile companion well suited to traditional Moldovan cooking, from home-made plăcinte to light vegetable dishes.

An emblematic variety of the winegrowing heritage, Fetească Albă is vinified by numerous Moldovan wineries, either as a single-variety wine or in white blends alongside Fetească Regală, Sauvignon Blanc or Chardonnay, contributing to the assertion of the authentic identity of Moldova's native white wines.

Aroma profile

Flori de câmpPiersicăMigdale

Signature wines

Vinuri albe seci de autor

Colour: White variety
Type: Native variety
Origin: Native Romanian variety

Taste this variety

We arrange themed tastings at wineries across Moldova.

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Other grape varieties

Fetească Regală

White variety

See

Viorica

White variety

See

Chardonnay

White variety

See

Sauvignon Blanc

White variety

See

Frequently asked questions

Questions about Fetească Albă

Is Fetească Albă a white or a red variety?

Fetească Albă is a grape variety used for white wine. Native Romanian variety.

Is Fetească Albă a native variety?

Yes. Fetească Albă is one of the native varieties, and those are what give Moldovan wine its identity. At a tasting they are worth asking for ahead of the international varieties — you can find those anywhere in the world.

What aromas does a Fetească Albă wine have?

You will often find notes of flori de câmp, piersică, migdale. The intensity varies with the producer, the vintage and how the wine was aged.

Which Fetească Albă wines are worth trying?

The better-known ones include Vinuri albe seci de autor. You will come across them at tastings in the wineries that work with this variety.

Where can you taste Fetească Albă in Moldova?

At the wineries that grow it — most of them take visitors by prior appointment. See the winery directory for contacts and opening times.