Rkatsiteli

The legendary wine that is considered the “ancestor” of dessert collection wines in Moldova. The “Gratiesti” brand was created by specialists from the Chișinău grape-growing and winemaking school, founded on the basis of the Gratiesti state farm in 1952. The wine was produced from the Caucasian grape variety Rkatsiteli, which has a sugar content of over 20% and grows wonderfully not only in its homeland of Georgia but also on the hilly vineyards of central Moldova.

The harvest year was 1986. The wine was aged for 3 years in oak barrels and then bottled under special conditions in the underground wine galleries of “Milestii Mici,” where ideal humidity and temperature are maintained for wine storage. The wine was awarded the State Quality Mark and is included in the Golden Collection of wines recorded in the Guinness World Records.

The wine has an amber, dark golden color. Over the aging period, the complex aromas have developed into a rich bouquet, dominated by notes of honey made by bees from wildflowers, quince jam, candied orange, and white cherry jam. The taste is full, rich, harmonious, and oily, with a long aftertaste of candied fruits.

Before serving, it needs to be decanted to remove sediment, which is, however, completely safe for consumption. It pairs wonderfully on its own as a digestif and can also accompany desserts such as panna cotta and tiramisu; it goes exceptionally (Brie, Camembert).