Miniș-Măderat

Miniș-Măderat lies east of Arad in Arad County, at the foot of the Zărand Mountains. The vineyards lie about 20 kilometres from Arad on the sheltered slopes of the Zărand Mountains, around villages such as Miniș, Păuliș, Ghioroc and Măderat; to the west the view opens onto the Pannonian Plain. Viticulture is old here; the red wine of Miniș was known in the 18th century as the Aszú of Miniș.

The climate is temperate and Pannonian in character, with warm summers and mild autumns; the south-facing slopes ripen the grapes reliably. The soils consist of weathered volcanic rock and loam, on slopes with good drainage.

Characteristic is the red variety Cadarcă (Kadarka), which has a long tradition here. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Pinot Noir are also grown, along with the white varieties Mustoasă de Măderat, Fetească Regală and Furmint. The reds are spicy and acid-driven. The Balla Géza winery is regarded as the leading estate of the region.