A single glass of wine can reveal more than a story; my winemaking history begins with the love of nature. When you nourish love, passion and respect for the vineyard, you are able to bring out the very best from the vines which will be then reflected within the glass.
This love carried me to the New World, where winemaking was undertaken with innovation and the latest scientific research. During the 27 years that have passed since I finished wine school, I have focused my continued education in chemistry and microbiology with a particular emphasis on the taste and smell – the vital elements for the creation of good wines. Over the years, my passion for wine has developed along with my constant dream that I would one day cultivate my own vineyard. That day has arrived and my dream has become reality.
At Sahateni, I rely on people who have dedicated their lives to working in the vineyards. Here we make wine for those like us, who skilfully do their job with rigor and passion, people who know their goals. We don’t fabricate a perfect, sweet story without foundation or claim to have the secret knowledge of wine.
Good wine depends on the grace of nature, but evolves thanks to the skill and passion of the viticulturists and winemakers. Wine is what we offer you at our best, every year, from our cellar.
This is my belief and it can be found in each and every bottle of wine I make.
Aurelia Vișinescu
Winemaker
THE WINEMAKER
Our story began in 2003, when the company was established by oenologist Aurelia Visinescu and her associate, Steve Cacenco. In love with nature, during the last years attending Horticulture University, Aurelia Vișinescu chose to study oenology, fascinated by the science behind Bacchus’ liquor.
Following her passion for wine, the results of her work consequently appeared – the dream to have her own vineyards and winery. Nowadays, the vineyard reunites 82 hectares and the total capacity of production at Domeniile Sahateni is 1.000.000 bottles of wine per season.
OUR WINES
OUR VINEYARD
Our vineyard is located in Dealu Mare and the orientation of hills assures the vines a considerable quantity of light and water. Additionally, the soils are rich in clay and chalk, with high content of iron oxides.
We understand the importance of protecting, preserving and enhancing the quality of the fruit from our vineyards. The grape varieties we carefully grow here are: Feteasca Neagra, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Syrah – for red wines and Feteasca Alba, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Tamăioasă Romănească, Pinot Grigio – for white wines.
Most of the vineyards have been replanted starting with 2008 with new varieties, new clones and better selection of the grafts. The new plantations with ab 4500 density per ha (2.2mx1m), are trained on Double Guyot on 70 cm height trunk.
THE WINERY
Our winery has crushing facilities of 1 000 to per season with two separate production lines, complete automated controlled fermentation for both white and red wines. All machinery used in production process is alimentary steel.
The underground cellar equipped with more than 400 barriques provides excellent ageing conditions.
The automated bottling line, with 1500 btl (75cl) per hour capacity, allows bottling wines at the origins. High performance equipments protects from bottled wine oxidation by eliminating the air from the bottle before filling and injecting inert gas before corking.
Bottled wine is stored as finite product in our modern warehouse while another part of the wine is bottle aged in the cellar.
