Grasa de Cotnari
Encyclopedia
Grasă de Cotnari (ˈɡrasə de kotˈnarʲ) is a Romania
n wine variety associated with the Cotnari
vineyard, Moldavia
, where it has been grown ever since the rule of Prince Stephen the Great
(1432–1504). With the general decline in demand for sweet wines after the second world war and bad wine making during the communist era, Grasă de Cotnari became largely forgotten in the international wine market. Even today it is seldom available, although the offered qualities have improved considerably in recent years.
ed sweet wine (although semi-sweet varieties are also made) and usually has a high residual sugar content, sometimes as much as 300g/liter. The harvest of 1958 reached the maximal sugar content in the history of this wine of about 520g/liter.
The wine is made primarily from a grape variety also called Grasă de Cotnari. or Grasă (an old white grape cultivated in the Furmint
group), although some additional Fetească Alba
is allowed. It is produced from grapes that fully reached and exceeded their maturity, hence the high residual sugar content.
A carefully made Grasă de Cotnari is a golden yellow wine, and in spite of its residual sweetness should retain a fine acid structure and 11,5-14% alcohol by volume
. It ages well, its color darkens from pale yellow to reach a dark yellow with an orange note in it. A good Grasă de Cotnari should have a distinct bouquet of apricot, walnut and almond and should be drunk chilled at about 10-12 degrees Celsius.
The grape variety Grasa is similar to Kövérszőlő
, a grape cultivar grown in Tokaj
, Hungary and both of them can be found in some areas in Alba county, supporting the thesis that they share common roots..
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
n wine variety associated with the Cotnari
Cotnari
Cotnari is a village and the center of the eponymous commune in Iaşi County, Romania, in the informal region of Moldova. It is located north-west of Iaşi and south of Hârlău, in a major wine-producing region of Romania, and is famous for the wine variety known as Grasă de Cotnari...
vineyard, Moldavia
Moldavia
Moldavia is a geographic and historical region and former principality in Eastern Europe, corresponding to the territory between the Eastern Carpathians and the Dniester river...
, where it has been grown ever since the rule of Prince Stephen the Great
Stephen III of Moldavia
Stephen III of Moldavia was Prince of Moldavia between 1457 and 1504 and the most prominent representative of the House of Mușat.During his reign, he strengthened Moldavia and maintained its independence against the ambitions of Hungary, Poland, and the...
(1432–1504). With the general decline in demand for sweet wines after the second world war and bad wine making during the communist era, Grasă de Cotnari became largely forgotten in the international wine market. Even today it is seldom available, although the offered qualities have improved considerably in recent years.
Wine styles
Grasă de Cotnari is usually a botrytisBotrytis
Botrytis may refer to:*Botrytis, the anamorphs of fungi of the genus Botryotinia**Botrytis cinerea, a mold important in wine making*Botrytis, the cauliflower cultivar group of Brassica oleracea...
ed sweet wine (although semi-sweet varieties are also made) and usually has a high residual sugar content, sometimes as much as 300g/liter. The harvest of 1958 reached the maximal sugar content in the history of this wine of about 520g/liter.
The wine is made primarily from a grape variety also called Grasă de Cotnari. or Grasă (an old white grape cultivated in the Furmint
Furmint
Furmint is a variety of wine grape from the Pontian Balcanica branch of Vitis vinifera, used for white wines. The name Furmint is taken from the word "froment" for the wheat-gold color of the wine it produces. While it is possible that it the grape is native to Hungary, the grape was likely...
group), although some additional Fetească Alba
Feteasca alba
Fetească Albă is a Romanian - Moldovan white grape variety, mainly cultivated in Moldova and Romanian regions of Moldavia and Transylvania, as well as in the Hungarian wine region of Eger.In Moldova, it uses the biggest area planted among local varieties -...
is allowed. It is produced from grapes that fully reached and exceeded their maturity, hence the high residual sugar content.
A carefully made Grasă de Cotnari is a golden yellow wine, and in spite of its residual sweetness should retain a fine acid structure and 11,5-14% alcohol by volume
Alcohol by volume
Alcohol by volume is a standard measure of how much alcohol is contained in an alcoholic beverage .The ABV standard is used worldwide....
. It ages well, its color darkens from pale yellow to reach a dark yellow with an orange note in it. A good Grasă de Cotnari should have a distinct bouquet of apricot, walnut and almond and should be drunk chilled at about 10-12 degrees Celsius.
The grape variety Grasa is similar to Kövérszőlő
Kövérszolo
Kövérszőlő is a variety of grape indigenous to the Transylvania wine region, but is also grown in Tokaj-Hegyalja wine region of Hungary. The variety almost entirely disappeared from Tokaj after the phylloxera epidemic of the 19th century. Kövérszõlõ is characterized by its relatively large big...
, a grape cultivar grown in Tokaj
Tokaj
Tokaj , is a historical town in Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén county, Northern Hungary, 54 kilometers from county capital Miskolc. It is the centre of the famous Tokaj-Hegyalja wine district where the world famous Tokaji wine is produced.- History :...
, Hungary and both of them can be found in some areas in Alba county, supporting the thesis that they share common roots..