Stefan Voda District
Moldova's premier red wine region—Purcari (1827) won 1878 Paris gold mistaken for Bordeaux; 10,000ha with IGP status, Dniester-moderated climate.
At the 1878 Paris World Exposition, French wine experts tasted a dry red with intense ruby color. Convinced they had discovered a new Bordeaux, they awarded it gold—then learned the wine came from Purcari, a village on the Dniester in what is now Ștefan Vodă District. Emperor Nicholas I had granted Purcari winery status in 1827, the first in Bessarabia. By the time Nicholas II, George V, and Queen Victoria were drinking its wines, the terroir's reputation was continental.
The 10,000-hectare wine region shares Bordeaux's climate zone, moderated by the Dniester River and Black Sea proximity. Vineyards climb rolling hills—79% on slopes—above limestone bedrock and black soil at 110-185 meter elevations. The local Rara Neagra grape joins Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Malbec in a portfolio that positions Ștefan Vodă as Moldova's premium red wine district. Château Purcari's 270 hectares remain the flagship, but the Protected Geographical Indication covers multiple producers.
By 2026, EU integration may transform this reputation into market access. The Ștefan Vodă IGP (Indicație Geografică Protejată) provides quality certification that European consumers recognize. Whether premium positioning translates to premium prices depends on marketing investments and distribution networks that small Moldovan producers have historically lacked. The terroir exists; the question is commercial infrastructure.