18.7.2023
EN
Official Journal of the European Union
C 253/23
The wide height range of the area, with lowland areas and slopes that rise to a height of over 380m, results in variations in growing conditions and determines the spatial distribution of varieties and the types of wine obtained.
The lowland area and the lower third of the slopes have more fertile soils and better water supplies, thus allowing for more vigorous growth and higher yields, and are mainly used to obtain still and quality sparkling wines which are fresh and velvety/unctuous.
The area provides balanced wines, that are averagely extracted, with aromas of flowers (vine flowers, acacia, basil) and fruit (apricots, citrus, berries), moderate alcoholic strength, or fruitiness (exotic fruit, citrus).
In order to control vegetative growth, alternative long-term grassing of the intervals between rows is generally used, and the fruit loads per plant upon harvesting are greater than elsewhere.
The middle portion of the slopes (at a height of 280 - 300 m) is the part of the area with the highest potential, producing highly-rated wines.
The slopes, which are moderate, are south-, south-east- and south-west-facing, , with thin soils, average fertility and areas of limestone rock, are cultivated to produce still and quality aromatic sparkling wines that fully optimise the quality potential in terms of intense, well-balanced, fresh and fruity aromas.
The red wines come from vineyards that are mainly south-facing and with thinner and less fertile soils, conditions which make them less vigorous, ensuring that the leaf canopy is perfectly exposed to the sun and with ideal conditions for accumulating polyphenols and sugars.
They are intensely coloured and rich in primary scents of blueberries, blackberries, plums and black cherries.
The wine-growing areas of Ceptura, Tohani and Merei enjoy the advantage of rich heliothermal resources and light-textured soils, producing robust, full-bodied and vigorous still red wines with a higher colour intensity.
Locally, in the western part of the Dealu Mare massif (the wine-making centres of Valea Călugărească and Urlați-Ceptura), soils with high iron oxide content, comprising red clay, marlstone and fine reddish sands, produce wines with distinctive sensory characteristics – average and high colour intensity, unctuous, intensely aromatic and fruity (quality sparkling wines, semi-sparkling wines), as well as characteristics such as well-defined floral aromas, and a special freshness.
The soils in this area are extremely favourable and are used to produce white wines that are typically aromatic, balanced, extractive, with a mineral character and specific floral and botanical aromas.
They are mainly located on eastern and western slopes, with more moderate levels of heat and sunshine, which better preserve acidity and ensure the fruitiness of the still and semi-sparkling wines.
The presence in the area, particularly in the eastern part of the vineyard (the wine-making centres of Pietroasa and Breaza), of rocky soils with a high calcium carbonate content, is exploited to cultivate the typical aromatic varieties of still and quality aromatic sparkling wines, which are extracted, fresh, with a mineral character and complex welldefined floral aromas (acacia, basil, honey).
Also the eastern part of the vineyard, which is planted on Sarmatic limestone, clay, sandstone and deposits of fine sand and gravel, is used to produce intensely coloured red wines and intensely fruity white wines.
The area at the highest altitude (300 - 380 m) has great sun exposure and great potential, with the least fertile soils and a high limestone rock content, with southern exposure favourable for red varieties, western and north-western exposure favourable for white varieties, and areas of plateau, where the more vigorous varieties are fully exploited.
The white wines produced there are more fruity with a more pronounced mineral character.
The vineyards on western slopes are protected from the strong sun exposure specific to south-facing plots and, combined with the more moderate temperatures at high altitude, this better preserves the grapes' acidity and aromatic botanical and floral notes.
At the same time, due to the reduced vigour resulting from the less fertile soil and more moderate temperatures at high altitudes, the red wines (quality sparkling, quality aromatic sparkling and semi-sparkling) from this area are full-bodied, robust, rich in tannins and with high ageing potential.
9.
Specific further requirements (packaging, labelling, other requirements) Conditions for labelling Legal framework: In national legislation Type of further condition: Additional provisions relating to labelling