Fetească Neagră
How to Say It
An old red grape of disputed origin, sometimes referred to as the 'black maiden'.
Fetească Neagră is an old red grape variety of disputed origin, sometimes referred to as the 'black maiden'. Jancis Robinson credits it with "some of Romania's best reds", and in the Republic of Moldova it is among the most planted red grapes. Its wines show black fruit, dried plum and dark chocolate.
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Open the appOrigin and parentage
Fetească Neagră carries the VIVC prime name Feteasca Neagra and variety number 4120, and its passport gives the berry skin colour as noir. Its origin is disputed. VIVC records Romania as its country or region of origin, while Jancis Robinson describes it as an "Old variety thought to be of Moldovan origin". Its parentage is unknown: both parent fields in its VIVC passport are blank, and no full pedigree is recorded.
- VIVC prime name: Feteasca Neagra; VIVC variety number 4120
- Berry skin colour: noir
- Origin: disputed between Romania, the country on its VIVC passport, and the Moldovan origin given on the Jancis Robinson page
- Parents: none recorded (parentage unknown)
- VIVC variety number 4120, prime name Feteasca Neagra
- Origin disputed: Romania on its VIVC passport, while Jancis Robinson calls it an "Old variety thought to be of Moldovan origin"
- Sometimes referred to as the 'black maiden'
- Among the most planted red grapes in the Republic of Moldova
Name
Fetească Neagră is sometimes referred to as the 'black maiden'. It is an old variety.
- Sometimes referred to as the 'black maiden'
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In Jancis Robinson's view, Fetească Neagră is now producing some of Romania's best reds. In the Republic of Moldova it is among the most planted red grapes, and the country's three wine regions are Codru, Ștefan Vodă and Valul lui Traian. Moldova's vineyards lie on chernozem, a rich black soil.
- Republic of Moldova: among the most planted red grapes
- Moldova's three wine regions: Codru, Ștefan Vodă, Valul lui Traian
- Moldovan vineyards lie on chernozem soil
In the Glass
Fetească Neagră produces red wines of black fruit, dried plum and dark chocolate. It also goes into blends with Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot; Davino, for one, makes a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Fetească Neagră.
- Black fruit, dried plum and dark chocolate
- Blended with Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, as at Davino
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Caroline Gilby MW, author of The Wines of Bulgaria, Romania and Moldova, names Fetească Neagră among Romania's local grapes, alongside Negru de Drăgășani, Fetească Albă, Fetească Regală and Grasă, that "can all produce high-quality and even exciting wines with the right attention".
- Named by Caroline Gilby MW among Romania's local grapes that can produce high-quality wines
Sources and last verified
Primary sources: https://www.vivc.de/index.php?r=passport%2Fview&id=4120 ; https://davino.ro/purpura-valahica Reference sources: https://www.jancisrobinson.com/learn/grape-varieties/red/feteasca-neagra ; https://www.decanter.com/wine-travel/could-romania-be-europes-next-wine-destination-468167/ ; https://www.thedrinksbusiness.com/2026/07/10-reasons-why-moldovan-wine-should-be-on-your-radar/ Last verified 2026-10-20
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- Davino Purpura ValahicaMade from Fetească Neagră parcels planted with vine material selected from the Ceptura area.
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- Fetească Neagră is registered in VIVC under variety number 4120
- Origin disputed: Romania on its VIVC passport; Jancis Robinson calls it an old variety thought to be of Moldovan origin
- Grown in Romania and in the Republic of Moldova, where it is among the most planted red grapes
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