1Băleni
Klassifiziert📍 Băleni
Soil:Loess
Varieties:Fetească Albă, Fetească Regală, Băbească Neagră, Merlot
Wine centre (centru viticol) of the Covurlui podgorie, DOC origin.
Photo: Ioan Cepaliga, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Moldavian Hills · Sub-regions
Covurlui
Băleni, Scânteiești, Smârdan and Pechea north of Galați: dry loess hills overlooking the Danube.
1Wineries
Grape Varieties
Fetească Albă, Fetească Regală
Băbească Neagră, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon
Most Famous Site
Băleni
Vineyard Area
4.000 ha
Harvest
September – October
TERROIR PROFILE · Moldavian Hills
Covurlui Covurlui – Continental
Băleni, Scânteiești, Smârdan and Pechea north of Galați: dry loess hills overlooking the Danube.
☀ Cool continental⛰ Slope: moderateFetească AlbăFetească RegalăBăbească NeagrăMerlot
What is terroir? →SOILS
Loessround, fruity, full
Loess stores water and nutrients. Wines tend to be rounder, juicier and fuller.
CLIMATE · Cool continental
Dry continental climate in the south-east of Moldavia with cold winters and warm to hot summers. Rainfall is low, and the proximity of the Danube and Siret moderates conditions only slightly; summer drought stress is possible.
TOPOGRAPHY · moderate
The Covurlui Plateau north of Galați around Băleni, Scânteiești, Smârdan and Pechea is hill country cut by valleys. Vineyards occupy sloping hillsides.
WHAT IT MEANS IN THE GLASS
ripearomaticindigenousregional character
Typical Flavours of the Region
Fetească Albă
WhiteWhite blossomPeachApricotHoney
Fetească Regală
WhiteGreen appleCitrusWhite blossomPear
Băbească Neagră
RedSour cherryCranberryPepperRedcurrant
Merlot
RedPlumBlack cherryChocolateTruffle
Cabernet Sauvignon
RedBlackcurrantBlackberryCedarwoodGraphite
Region aroma cloud
White blossomPeachApricotHoneyAlmondGreen appleCitrusPearHerbsSour cherryCranberryPepperRedcurrantPlumBlack cherryChocolateTruffleCedar
→ Aroma wheel and variety profilesMoldavian Hills overview
This sub-region is part of Moldavian Hills. The map shows all 12 sub-regions — Covurlui is highlighted.
Overview
Wineries1
Detailed profiles1
Typical Varieties
Fetească Albă
Fetească Regală
Băbească Neagră
Merlot
Cabernet Sauvignon
Terroir & Climate
Wine Character
Covurlui lies in Galați County in eastern Romania, north of the city of Galați on the Covurlui plateau. The podgorie includes Băleni, Scânteiești, Smârdan and Pechea. The vineyards are on dry loess hills with views towards the Danube and the Siret valley.
The climate is continental and dry, with hot summers, cold winters and low rainfall. The soils are loess, which is deep, calcareous and well aerated. On the hill ridges the wind helps keep grapes healthy, and yields depend strongly on the water balance.
Fetească Albă and Fetească Regală are grown for white wine, and Băbească Neagră, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon for red. The vineyards are large and the wines mostly light and intended for regional consumption. The whites are fresh and dry, the Băbească reds pale and fruity. The podgorie is among the more extensive growing areas of Galați County.
Soil Type
Loess
Climate
Continental, dry
Classified Single Vineyards
4 sitesThe most important classified single vineyards in the region. Classification per VDP (German Prädikat Wine Estates Association) and traditional vineyard registers.
2Scânteiești
Klassifiziert📍 Scânteiești
Soil:Loess
Varieties:Fetească Albă, Fetească Regală, Băbească Neagră, Merlot
Wine centre (centru viticol) of the Covurlui podgorie, DOC origin.
3Smârdan
Klassifiziert📍 Smârdan
Soil:Loess
Varieties:Fetească Albă, Fetească Regală, Băbească Neagră, Merlot
Wine centre (centru viticol) of the Covurlui podgorie, DOC origin.
4Pechea
Klassifiziert📍 Pechea
Soil:Loess
Varieties:Fetească Albă, Fetească Regală, Băbească Neagră, Merlot
Wine centre (centru viticol) of the Covurlui podgorie, DOC origin.
Sources: VDP, state vineyard registers, Wikipedia vineyard articles, traditional vineyard literature.
Top profiles
1 detailed profiles — all filterable in the list belowAll Wineries
1 resultsEvents in Moldavian Hills
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Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Covurlui and which villages belong to it?
Covurlui lies in Galați county north of the city of Galați on the Covurlui plateau. The wine district includes Băleni, Scânteiești, Smârdan and Pechea.
What are the vineyards of Covurlui like?
The vineyards lie on dry loess hills with views to the Danube and the Siret valley. On the ridges the wind keeps the grapes healthy, and yields depend strongly on water supply.
What is the climate like in Covurlui?
The climate in Covurlui is continental and dry. The harvest runs from September to October.
Which grape varieties define Covurlui?
The key grape varieties in Covurlui are Fetească Albă, Fetească Regală, Băbească Neagră, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. The best-known vineyard is Băleni.
When is the best time to visit Covurlui for wine?
The harvest in Covurlui takes place September – October – when vineyards and cellars are busiest. May to July suits tastings without harvest bustle; many estates open their tasting rooms off-season by appointment.
How many wineries are there in Covurlui?
Cellarmap lists 1 wineries in Covurlui across roughly 4,000 hectares of vines. Every profile shows location, contact, grape varieties and, where available, vineyards, classification and visitor information.
All wineries in Covurlui, A to Z
📖 Look up in glossary
All terms →Related wine terms — clearly explained in the Cellarmap glossary.