Crastelec Wine Cellar is a part of the Şimleul Silvaniei Vineyard and is found in the Crastelec village, Sălaj County, in the North - West of Transylvania region. It is the first wine winery from Romania that produce new generation sparkling wines, with double fermentation in the bottle, according to the traditional method and it has an annual production capacity of 160000 bottles.
The wine cellar was buit up in 2011, when 22 hectares of grape varieties were planted in order to obtain high-quality sparkling wines produced by fermentation and long aging in the bottle (at least 20 months) - the Champenoise method. In 2013, the Crastelec wine cellar received the most advanced wine-making technology and so became the first wine cellar from Romania that produced sparkling wines. These wines have carbon dioxid, obtained from the pressed grapes (Asti method) that provides a maximum of freshness.
In 2017 Crastelec Crastelec Wine Cellars launched on the market in Romania and Hungary the Carassia sparkling range, financed with European funds. Sparkling wines from Crastelec Wine Cellars, besides the Carassia brand, also includes Friza, wine made from Fetească Regală and Pinot Noir. A still wine, limited edition, matured in oak barrels is Vinca, a Rhein Riesling variety with personality.
The Crastelec Wine Cellar offers to the tourists who want to know more about the technological process of wine making visits to the vineyards and wine cellars and wine tasting sessions with an advnaced booking scheduale.
Photo credit:
http://www.carastelecwinery.com/
https://www.facebook.com/pg/carastelec/photos /?ref=page_internal
Sources:
Marinela V. Adelean: The Wine Book of Romania / Carte vinurilor românești, București, Humanitas Publishing House, 2018
Alina Mafa
International editions: