Drăgășani

Drăgășani lies in Vâlcea County in Oltenia, on the hills of the western bank of the Olt in the foothills of the Carpathians; the podgorie is regarded as the oldest in Oltenia. Viticulture around Drăgășani has a long tradition, and the region is regarded as distinctive because of its native varieties.

The climate is temperate continental, with warm summers and cold winters. The relief consists of hills and narrow ridges at roughly 200 to 500 metres; the best sites face east and south-east towards the Olt. The soils are clay with limestone traces, sand, gravel and marl.

Characteristic are the white varieties Crâmpoșie Selecționată and Tămâioasă Românească and the reds Negru de Drăgășani and Novac, both of which had almost disappeared by the 20th century. Sauvignon Blanc, Fetească Regală and Cabernet Sauvignon are also grown. The revival is due to estates such as Prince Știrbey, Avincis and Via Sandu; the whites are fresh and spicy, the reds fruit-driven with medium structure.