Licorna Winehouse
Key Romanian Terms
A century-old Romanian estate revived in 2013, crafting quality-focused reds from 30 hectares in the heart of Dealu Mare DOC.
Licorna Winehouse is a boutique Romanian estate in Dealu Mare DOC, producing up to 150,000 bottles annually from 30 hectares. Founded in 2013 by Virgil Harabagiu, the property centers on a manor built in 1907-1909 by Italian artisans. The estate focuses on quality over quantity, with hand-harvested grapes and limited edition releases.
- Located in Gura Vadului, Mizil, 7 km from Mizil town in Dealu Mare DOC, Romania
- Established in 2013; manor built 1907-1909 by Italian artisans
- 30 hectares under vine at 215 meters elevation on south-southwest facing slopes
- Annual production capacity of 150,000 bottles; processes up to 150 tons of grapes
- Bottling capacity of 1,000 bottles per hour
- Serafim Fetească Neagră won silver at the Decanter World Wine Awards 2018
- Owner: Virgil Harabagiu; oenologist: Gabriel Lăcureanu
History and Heritage
Licorna Winehouse sits on a property with roots stretching back over a century. The estate's manor was constructed between 1907 and 1909 by Italian artisans, and when the modern winery was established in 2013 under owner Virgil Harabagiu, the historic cellars were reopened and restored. The combination of century-old infrastructure and contemporary winemaking philosophy gives Licorna a distinctive identity within the Romanian wine landscape.
- Manor built 1907-1909 by Italian artisans
- Historic cellars with roots over 100 years old reopened at founding
- Winery established 2013 under owner Virgil Harabagiu
- Oenologist Gabriel Lăcureanu leads winemaking
Location and Climate
The estate occupies 30 hectares in Gura Vadului, within the Mizil area of Dealu Mare DOC in southern Romania. Vineyards sit at 215 meters elevation on south-southwest facing slopes, benefiting from a continental climate moderated by the protective influence of the Carpathian hills. This combination of aspect, altitude, and climatic shelter creates favorable conditions for ripening both red and white varieties.
- Situated 7 km from Mizil town in Dealu Mare DOC
- 215 meters elevation on south-southwest facing slopes
- Continental climate with Carpathian hill protection
- 30 hectares total vineyard area
Grape Varieties
Licorna Winehouse cultivates a diverse portfolio of both international and indigenous Romanian varieties. The estate's emphasis falls on red wine production, with Fetească Neagră standing out as a key variety alongside Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. White varieties grown include Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Fetească Albă, and the aromatic indigenous Tămâioasă Românească. The estate also produces rosé wines.
- Red varieties: Fetească Neagră, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon
- White varieties: Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Fetească Albă, Tămâioasă Românească
- Primary focus on red wine production
- Portfolio includes white and rosé styles
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Open Wine Lookup →Production Philosophy
Licorna prioritizes quality over volume across all operations. Grapes are hand-harvested with pre-sorting in the vineyard before reaching the winery. Processing capacity stands at 150 tons of grapes per harvest, with bottling at 1,000 bottles per hour and an annual ceiling of 150,000 bottles. The estate produces limited edition wines, and this restrained approach to output has earned international recognition, most notably a silver medal at the Decanter World Wine Awards 2018 for the Serafim Fetească Neagră.
- Hand-harvested grapes with pre-sorting for quality control
- 150 tons grape processing capacity per harvest
- 150,000 bottle annual production maximum
- Serafim Fetească Neagră: silver medal, Decanter World Wine Awards 2018
Licorna's red wines, particularly the Fetească Neagră-based Serafim, reflect the Dealu Mare DOC's warm continental character with ripe dark fruit and structured tannins. The range of white varieties, from the aromatic Tămâioasă Românească to Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay, spans from floral and spiced styles to fresher, more internationally recognized profiles.
- Licorna Winehouse Serafim Fetească Neagră$20-40Silver medal at Decanter World Wine Awards 2018; the estate's flagship expression of Romania's key indigenous red grape.Find →
- Licorna Winehouse Tămâioasă Românească$12-18Aromatic indigenous Romanian white variety grown on estate; reflects Dealu Mare's warm continental character.Find →
- Licorna Winehouse Fetească Neagră Limited Edition$50-70Limited edition release from hand-harvested, pre-sorted fruit; estate's quality-over-quantity production philosophy.Find →
- Licorna Winehouse is a private estate winery, not a wine region or appellation; it falls within Dealu Mare DOC in Romania
- Founded 2013; historic manor dates to 1907-1909; located in Gura Vadului, Mizil, Prahova County
- Grows eight varieties including indigenous Fetească Neagră, Fetească Albă, and Tămâioasă Românească alongside international grapes
- Serafim Fetească Neagră won silver at Decanter World Wine Awards 2018, demonstrating international benchmark quality
- Production model: hand-harvest with pre-sorting, 150-ton processing capacity, 150,000-bottle annual ceiling, limited editions