1Cetate
Klassifiziert📍 Cetate
Soil:Sand, gravel
Varieties:Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Fetească Neagră, Fetească Regală
Wine centre (centru viticol) of the Calafat podgorie, DOC origin.
Photo: Andrei Stroe, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Southern Sands · Sub-regions
Calafat
Cetate, Ciuperceni and Poiana Mare near Calafat on the Danube: sand dunes and gravel, new red-wine estates (Domeniul Cetate).
3Wineries
Grape Varieties
Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon
Fetească Neagră, Fetească Regală, Sauvignon Blanc
Most Famous Site
Cetate
Vineyard Area
3.500 ha
Harvest
September – October
TERROIR PROFILE · Southern Sands
Calafat Calafat – Hot
Cetate, Ciuperceni and Poiana Mare near Calafat on the Danube: sand dunes and gravel, new red-wine estates (Domeniul Cetate).
☀ Warm · Dry · Sunny⛰ Slope: gentleMerlotCabernet SauvignonFetească NeagrăFetească Regală
What is terroir? →SOILS
Sandaromatic, approachable
Loose sand and wind-blown sand warm up quickly and hold little water — they give aromatic, early-drinking wines with soft tannins; phylloxera-resistant.
CLIMATE · Warm · Dry · Sunny
Hot, dry climate on the lower Danube in south-western Romania with hot summers, moderately cold winters and low rainfall. The Danube tempers extremes slightly; ripening is early.
TOPOGRAPHY · gentle
Flat terrain on the Danube terraces of the Oltenian plain near Calafat at roughly 40 to 100 metres altitude, with sites in Cetate, Ciuperceni and Poiana Mare. Vines grow on sand flats and dune deposits with no significant slope.
WHAT IT MEANS IN THE GLASS
ripearomaticindigenousregional character
Typical Flavours of the Region
Merlot
RedPlumBlack cherryChocolateTruffle
Cabernet Sauvignon
RedBlackcurrantBlackberryCedarwoodGraphite
Fetească Neagră
RedBlack plumBlackberryPruneClove
Fetească Regală
WhiteGreen appleCitrusWhite blossomPear
Sauvignon Blanc
WhiteGooseberryNettleBoxwoodGreen pepper
Region aroma cloud
PlumBlack cherryChocolateTruffleCedarVioletBlackcurrantBlackberryCedarwoodGraphiteBell pepperLeatherTobaccoBlack plumPruneCloveSmokeVanilla
→ Aroma wheel and variety profilesSouthern Sands overview
This sub-region is part of Southern Sands. The map shows all 3 sub-regions — Calafat is highlighted.
Overview
Wineries3
Detailed profiles3
Typical Varieties
Merlot
Cabernet Sauvignon
Fetească Neagră
Fetească Regală
Sauvignon Blanc
Terroir & Climate
Wine Character
Calafat lies in Dolj County in south-western Romania on the Danube, opposite the Bulgarian town of Vidin. The podgorie includes Cetate, Ciuperceni and Poiana Mare. The landscape is flat and belongs to the sandy-soil zone of Oltenia, an area of dunes in the south of the country.
The climate is hot and dry, with very warm summers and low rainfall. The sand and gravel soils store little water and warm quickly; phylloxera gets little hold in sand, so many vines here stand on their own roots. Yields are low and the grapes ripen early.
Mainly red varieties are grown, such as Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Fetească Neagră, along with Fetească Regală and Sauvignon Blanc. In recent years new red-wine estates have been established here, including Domeniul Cetate. The reds are powerful, soft and marked by ripe fruit.
Soil Type
Sand, gravel
Climate
Hot, dry
Classified Single Vineyards
3 sitesThe most important classified single vineyards in the region. Classification per VDP (German Prädikat Wine Estates Association) and traditional vineyard registers.
2Ciuperceni
Klassifiziert📍 Ciupercenii Noi
Soil:Sand, gravel
Varieties:Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Fetească Neagră, Fetească Regală
Wine centre (centru viticol) of the Calafat podgorie, DOC origin.
3Poiana Mare
Klassifiziert📍 Poiana Mare
Soil:Sand, gravel
Varieties:Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Fetească Neagră, Fetească Regală
Wine centre (centru viticol) of the Calafat podgorie, DOC origin.
Sources: VDP, state vineyard registers, Wikipedia vineyard articles, traditional vineyard literature.
Top profiles
3 detailed profiles — all filterable in the list belowAll Wineries
3 resultsEvents in Southern Sands
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Frequently Asked Questions
What wines are made in Calafat?
Mainly red varieties such as Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Fetească Neagră are grown. The reds are powerful, soft and marked by ripe fruit; new wineries such as Domeniul Cetate have emerged.
What is the climate like in Calafat?
The climate in Calafat is hot and dry. The harvest runs from September to October.
Which grape varieties define Calafat?
The key grape varieties in Calafat are Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Fetească Neagră, Fetească Regală and Sauvignon Blanc. The best-known vineyard is Cetate.
When is the best time to visit Calafat for wine?
The harvest in Calafat 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 Calafat?
Cellarmap lists 3 wineries in Calafat across roughly 3,500 hectares of vines. Every profile shows location, contact, grape varieties and, where available, vineyards, classification and visitor information.
Which is the most famous vineyard in Calafat?
Cetate is regarded as the most famous vineyard of Calafat. The vineyard overview on this page shows which estates farm it.
All wineries in Calafat, A to Z
📖 Look up in glossary
All terms →Related wine terms — clearly explained in the Cellarmap glossary.