Corcova Roy & Dâmboviceanu

Corcova's winemaking has a long history, that most certainly dates back to the Dacian period. But the first written reference to viticulture is an act dated the 1st July, 1594, signed by Michael the Brave himself.

The vineyard became more famous in the late nineteenth century when its owners were the renowned Bibescu family. Prince Anton Bibescu, well-known in Parisian circles and close friend of Marcel Proust, put Corcova on the map by constructing new cellars and adopting modern winemaking techniques. The young French agronomist, Aristoteles Sauget, planted noble grapes brought from France and, in the Bordeaux style, created the excellent blend "Corcovin", famous in its' time. Meanwhile, the natural beauty of the region made Corcova a favoured holiday destination for Anton and Martha Bibescu and their friends, which included notable talents such as Mihail Sebastian, Ion Pillat and Ion Minulescu.

Corcova Roy & Damboviceanu Winery was founded in 2005, at which time only 18 hectares of the 470 hectares of vines still survived and the original cellars built by Prince Anton Bibescu were in a state of ruin. From 2005 until the present day, 60 hectares have been replanted with French and native noble varieties and the cellars have been completely renovated and modernised with modern machinery and equipment with the support of European Funds for Agriculture and Rural Development.

Located in Mehedinti in southwest Romania, the Corcova vineyard produces wines that have the so-called "gout du terroir", which embodies the rich environment and characteristics of the vineyard. The temperate continental climate with Mediterranean influences - hot, dry summers, mild winters -, combined with soils rich in minerals, give extremely favourable conditions for Corcova's noble vines. The varieties cultivated are the same that thrived during the Bibescu period, plus the new Syrah. Plantings were made from north to south in order to optimise exposure to the sun's warmth and light.

Picking and grape selection at the sorting table are all done by hand. After harvesting, the delicate and lengthy process of transforming grape must into wine follows multiple stages, culminating with maturation in oak barrels. The integrity of the grapes is carefully respected throughout their journey from the vineyard to the final product.

So remember, when you open a bottle of Corcova: an excellent wine is a world in itself. Nature, history, and, above all, people.

Viticola Corcova Company is a beautiful story, a discussion between friends turned into a successful reality. Owned by Michel Roy and Șerban Dâmboviceanu, the business was founded in 2005, when, of the 470 hectares of vines owned by the Corcova IAS, only 18 hectares remained, and the wineries, built by Prince Anton Bibescu at the beginning of the 20th century, were in ruins.

Now the Corcova Roy & Dâmboviceanu vineyard includes 70 hectares on which the traditional varieties of the place, existing even at the time of the Bibești estate, included in the authorized DOC Mehedinți-Corcova varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Fetească Neagră, Muscat Ottonel, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, as well as two new varieties, Syrah and Viognier. Also, during 2008-2009, the wineries were completely renovated and modernized, equipped with modern machines and equipment that facilitate processing.

The winery is open for visits from Monday to Friday from 8 am to 5 pm, and on weekends only for groups of at least 10 people (with prior reservation).