It is "Vinicer" (popular name for September) and wineries open their doors to visitors, boasting freshly picked grapes.
On a sunny Saturday, September 19, in the morning we left to SERVE Dealu Mare, together with other journalists, bloggers and wine lovers. In Ceptura, we were greeted by the winery owner, Mihaela Tyrel de Poix, with her special charm, and she introduced us to the program of the day.
First on the list was the SERVE premium wines tasting, where Mihaela and winemaker Aurel Rotărescu told us about each collection, but not before they said a few words about the history of the winery.
The founders, Count Guy Tyrel de Poix and his wife Mihaela Tyrel de Poix, laid the cornerstone of Romanian wine through the first private winery in the country, SERVE (Euro-Romanian Society of Exceptional Wines). SERVE has its origins in an old Corsican area with a history of over 500 years - Domaine Peraldi, owned by Tyrel de Poix family. Guy de Poix inherited from his father the love for wine and the spirit of adventure. Thus, in 1994 when he founded SERVE, Guy was already in love with Fetească Neagră and has promised to "create" here in Romania L'experience française du vin.
SERVE offers a full sensory experience when wines are associated with matching food. Visitors and tourists get to enjoy such experiences thanks to the winery's collaboration with local catering companies that reinterpret traditional cuisine and use almost entirely local products.
Returning to the tasting, we had the privilege to enjoy two comparisons between wines, Chardonnay Terra Romana from 2011 to 2014 and the Fetească Neagră in the same range, from 2010 to 2013. Also present were the reputed Cuvee Amaury and the elegant Cuvee Charlotte, but the stars of the day were Fetească Neagră Guy de Poix and Cuvee Alexandru.
Joyful after tasting, guests visited the wine cellar and tried some stum directly from the tank, under the guidance of winemaker Aurel Rotărescu. They learned about the bases of wine, vinification methods and how technology and tradition combine.
Back into SERVE garden, we were pleasantly surprised with lunch served as a food & wine pairing presentation. Dishes prepared by Terra Carpatica were perfectly matched with wines.
Before leaving, we took a walk through the vineyard and Mihaela showed us her favorite view of the vineyard.
After 21 years on the Romanian market, SERVE owns 116 hectares of vineyards, and the investment exceeds 2.5 million euros. SERVE contributed to the change and evolution of Romanian viticulture, being the first manufacturer to come out with dry vinified rose wine, to plant Chardonnay in Dealu Mare and to found the Chevaliers Club.
We thank Mihaela and the late Count de Poix, not only for the SERVE experience, but also for their contribution to the Romanian wine industry.
TEXT: Alexandra Hash ▪ ▪ ▪ PHOTO: Alina Iancu
