NECTAR OF THE GODS

The Moldovan people believe they are chosen by God to grow grapes. This oldest wine-producing country among the fi ve OIV founding countries used to be the most important wine region in the former Soviet Union.

Text & Photos by Outlook Channel Translation by Sonia

Grape growing and winemaking are national characteristics to Moldova. In the 3rd century BC, the Greek brought traditional winemaking knowledge with them when they invaded Moldova. The knowledge of grape growing and winemaking started to spread in Moldova. Hills and valleys pave the landscape of Moldova. 75% of the land consists of Chernozem soils, best fi t for growing grapes. The climate of Moldova is much like that of Bordeaux and Burgundy, all in similar latitudes, with humid winter sand dry summers. Moldova is known as a country of sunshine because of the extended sunshine hours during the long summer days. These climatic and soil conditions endow Moldova with an extraordinary environment for growing world-famous grapes.

The country's land surface is only twice the size of Beijing but it has the world's largest underground wine cellars. Cricova wine cellars were built in 1952. The abandoned tunnels drew the winemakers' attention: the stones in the tunnels absorb humidity, keeping the temperature between 12 and 16 degree Celsius and humidity at 80% and above, perfect for wine ageing and storage. Thus the tunnels were adaptedto underground cellars.

The total area of Cricova wine cellars is 64 square kilometres, at 50 to 80 meters underground. The cellars have housed 648 kinds of wines in one and a half million bottles for over half a century. All the wines are displayed in chronological order and make a spectacular wine gallery 120 km in length. The oldest is a bottle of brandy made in Jerusalem back in 1902 and a bottle of Jan Becher produced in what is now the Czech Republic in the same year.

New Findings 新發現

1. White Storks Bring Victory

帶來勝利的白鸛

During a war, white storks flew above the fortress and brought the defenders of the fortress the grapes carried in their beaks. The soldiers ate the grapes and defeated the enemies in the end. White storks became a symbol of good luck ever since. Grapes have also been an unbreakable part in the country.

2. Wine Festival

葡萄酒狂歡節

Moldova welcomes the annual wine festival in October, time of grape harvest. The tradition of celebrating grape harvest and winemaking in the form of a festival can be traced back to the 15th century.

3. Gagarin's Note

加加林的留言

Yuri Gagarin, the former Soviet Union cosmonaut, visited Cricova and left a passionate note, “If the Earth will lack metals to print medals for the local wines, I will deliver it from the moon or other planets.”

天賜佳釀

摩爾多瓦人民認為，他們是上帝造出來專門種植葡萄的民族。這個國際葡萄酒組織OIV五個創始國中歷史最為悠久的葡萄酒生產國，曾是前蘇聯最重要的葡萄酒產地。

葡萄種植和葡萄酒釀造是摩爾多瓦的國家特色。公元前3世紀，希臘人在入侵摩爾多瓦的同時，帶來了傳統的葡萄酒釀造技術，葡萄種植與葡萄酒釀造技術開始在這里普及。摩爾多瓦全國丘陵和谷地縱橫交錯，75%以上的土地為最適合葡萄生長的黑鈣土。與波爾多、勃艮第所處的地理緯度相似，冬季潮濕、夏季干燥，每年持續日照時間長，有“陽光之國”的美譽。這些氣候和土壤條件，為摩爾多瓦種植世界知名葡萄品種，創造了得天獨厚的自然環境。

摩爾多瓦全國的面積只有兩個北京大，卻擁有世界上最大的地下酒窖。克利科瓦大酒窖始建于1952年，當時這里的廢棄隧道吸引了釀酒專家們的注意力。隧道中的石頭具有吸濕的特性，里面的溫度常年保持在12—16攝氏度，濕度保持在80%以上，非常適于葡萄酒的陳釀和貯藏，便利用這些隧道建成了地下酒窖。

克利科瓦酒窖的總面積達64平方公里，平均深度為50—80米。酒窖收藏了648種保存年限已超過半個世紀的各類名酒150萬瓶，所有這些酒都按酒齡分類陳列在隧道兩側，形成長達120公里的儲酒長廊。年代最久遠的是耶路撒冷1902年生產的一瓶白蘭地和捷克于同年生產的一瓶健身酒。