Vine and terroir
At Catleya Estate, we respect nature, people, the vine and its production.
Since 2021, the Catleya estate has been converting to organic farming, both in the vineyard and in the cellar, in order to concretize our efforts through the certification of an approved body.
The soil
Soil is both the substrate on which the vine grows and its main power source. A great deal of attention is given to this element.
The soils specific to the area are brunisols silty clay, which are rich in iron. They are located on slopes facing either due East or South.
The soil is composed mainly of clay (between 20% and 45 %) depending on the location. These clays allow the vines a continuous, moderate water supply during its growth period from May to July.
The vertical increase in clay content increases the density of the soil. The development of the root system becomes more difficult, increasing the depth. The shoot is therefore preferable in the first tens of centimeters from the ground. Due to high density planting (6536 vines / ha), it creates competition between the roots of each plant. This competition limits the vigor of the vines and privileges the quality and concentration of the grapes.
The climate
Located on the 45th parallel north, at the foothills of the Carpathians, Corcova has a continental climate perfectly suited to the production of grapes that make high quality wines.
The average annual rainfall is between 500 and 800 mm.
The vines are all planted on hillsides, which avoids any stagnation of water in the ground. They are also surrounded by forest, which allows a strong cooling of the air on summer nights, a very favorable situation for obtaining a good maturity of the raisins, and especially of their tannins.
The annual variations of this climate will shape the characteristics of each product.
Vines
The grape varieties planted at the Catleya estate are: Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Syrah, Fetească Neagră, Fetească Regală, Fetească Albă.
All have adapted to soil and climate conditions of the Corcova appellation and have revealed their character with technical choices made during the planting of the vineyard.
Facts:
- vines were grafted onto rootstocks that have adapted to the specific soil giving the vine advantages synonymous with low yields.
- they were planted at high density (6535 vines / ha) and in a South/South East orientation.
- the height of the trellises, and therefore the leaf area, allows for maximum exposure to sunlight aiding the plants with photosynthetic capacity.
People's activity
Throughout the year, the entire Catleya team works with the vineyard in a reasonable and minimalist manner to help it produce the best grapes possible.
Thus:
– the much-needed organic inputs are in the form of decomposed cow manure or pomace.
– the treatments, essential to protect the vine against manna and powdery mildew, are limited to a minimum and exclusively with biological products.
– work such as pruning, weeding, tying, lifting and much of the maintenance of the soil under the stump is done by hand with the utmost care.
– harvesting is done by hand and the grapes are transported in small boxes to respect their integrity.
