Fautor Winery
Key Romanian and Latin Terms
Moldova's most decorated winery, blending indigenous grapes like Fetească Neagră with international varieties across 350 sun-drenched hectares in the Tigheci microzone.
Fautor Winery is Moldova's most awarded producer, earning top honors six consecutive years from 2017 to 2022. Located in the Tigheci microzone of Valul lui Traian PGI, the family-owned estate farms 350 hectares of chernozem soils shaped by the Codrii Tigheci forest and Prut River terraces. Its daring blends of indigenous and international varieties have earned over 150 international medals.
- Family-owned winery founded at the end of the 20th century in southern Moldova
- 350 hectares of vineyards in the Tigheci microzone, the highest elevation in southern Moldova
- Named Moldova's most awarded winery six consecutive years: 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022
- Fautor Negre 2017 won Grand Gold at Concours Mondial de Bruxelles 2022, named best red wine globally among approximately 5,000 entries
- Riesling Lake Breeze won Grand Gold Medal at Concours Mondial de Bruxelles 2024
- Robert Parker Wine Advocate scored the Fumé Blanc 90/100 and Negre 88/100
- Wines exported to 16 or more countries including Romania, Belgium, USA, Canada, China, and Japan
Location and Terroir
Fautor sits within the Tigheci microzone of the Valul lui Traian Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) in southern Moldova. At the highest elevation in the region, the estate benefits from a forest-steppe climate with temperate-continental influences from the Black Sea. The growing season delivers 310 to 320 sunny days per year, 450 to 550mm of annual precipitation, and an active temperature sum of 3,200 to 3,450 degrees Celsius.
- Soils are chernozem and carbonate types, shaped by the Tigheci Hills and Prut River terraces
- The Codrii Tigheci forest reservation moderates temperatures and contributes to site distinctiveness
- The Tigheci microzone is recognized as one of Moldova's best areas for high-quality white and red wines
- Elevation is the highest in southern Moldova, aiding freshness and acidity retention
Grape Varieties and Wine Style
Fautor grows an unusually broad range of varieties across its 350 hectares, combining rare international grapes with Moldovan indigenous cultivars. The portfolio is built around daring blends, pairing varieties like Fetească Neagră and Rara Neagră with Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Syrah in the reds, while whites showcase Albariño blends, oaked Sauvignon Blanc, and single-variety expressions of Viorica and Muscat Ottonel.
- Indigenous red varieties: Fetească Neagră and Rara Neagră
- Indigenous white varieties: Fetească Regală, Viorica, and Muscat Ottonel
- International whites include Albariño, Chardonnay, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigio, Aligoté, and Traminer
- International reds include Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, and Tempranillo
Awards and Recognition
Fautor is the benchmark producer for Moldovan wine quality on the international stage. The winery claimed the title of Moldova's most awarded producer six years running, from 2017 through 2022. Its Negre 2017 blend was named the best red wine in the world at the Concours Mondial de Bruxelles 2022, selected from approximately 5,000 entries. In 2024, the Riesling Lake Breeze added another Grand Gold at the same competition. The total medal count now exceeds 150 international awards.
- Grand Gold, Concours Mondial de Bruxelles 2022: Fautor Negre 2017, best red wine globally
- Grand Gold, Concours Mondial de Bruxelles 2024: Riesling Lake Breeze
- Robert Parker Wine Advocate: Fumé Blanc scored 90/100, Negre scored 88/100
- Over 150 international medals across the portfolio
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Open in the app →Export and Market Presence
Fautor exports to 16 or more countries, with key markets spanning Europe, North America, and Asia. Export destinations include Romania, Belgium, the USA, Canada, China, and Japan. The name Fautor is derived from Romanian and Latin, meaning 'creator' or 'maker,' a fitting identity for a producer that has redefined expectations for Moldovan fine wine.
- Classified under IGP Valul lui Traian (Protected Geographical Indication)
- Present in markets across Europe, North America, and Asia
- Name derives from Romanian/Latin for 'creator' or 'maker'
Reds led by Fetească Neagră and Rara Neagră show dark fruit, earthy depth, and structured tannins, often enriched by blending with Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot. Whites range from aromatic and floral (Viorica, Muscat Ottonel, Traminer) to textured and oak-influenced (Fumé Blanc, Chardonnay), with Riesling showing precision and freshness at altitude.
- Fautor Fetească Neagră$12-18Moldova's signature indigenous red grape, grown on chernozem soils in the Tigheci microzone.Find →
- Fautor Fumé Blanc$20-30Oaked Sauvignon Blanc scored 90/100 by Robert Parker Wine Advocate.Find →
- Fautor Riesling Lake Breeze$22-32Grand Gold Medal winner at Concours Mondial de Bruxelles 2024.Find →
- Fautor Negre$50-70Named best red wine globally at Concours Mondial de Bruxelles 2022 from approximately 5,000 entries.Find →
- Fautor is classified under IGP Valul lui Traian (Protected Geographical Indication) in southern Moldova
- The Tigheci microzone is the highest-elevation subzone in southern Moldova, with chernozem and carbonate soils
- Climate delivers 310 to 320 sunny days annually and an active temperature sum of 3,200 to 3,450 degrees Celsius
- Fautor Negre 2017 won Grand Gold at Concours Mondial de Bruxelles 2022 as best red wine among approximately 5,000 entries
- The estate grows both indigenous Moldovan varieties (Fetească Neagră, Rara Neagră, Viorica) and rare international grapes (Albariño, Tempranillo)