The wines of Et Cetera

Et Cetera is a family winery in the village of Crocmaz, in the far south-east of Moldova, close to the Dniester river and the border with Ukraine. It is owned by the Luchianov family and is regarded as one of the pioneers among the country's small quality wineries. The winery is also a popular wine tourism destination, with a restaurant, two hotels and even its own airstrip for light aircraft.

The story began in 2002, when Alexandru Luchianov bought land in the south of Moldova. He had spent a long time living and travelling abroad, including in the United States, in search of his calling. In the end he returned to his roots. Alexandru has a background in mathematics and had no experience in agriculture, but he was driven. He immersed himself in viticulture, travelled to wine countries all over the world and tasted as many wines as possible, in search of the ideal formula.

The first vines were planted in 2003. The first harvest followed in 2005, and that first wine immediately won a gold medal at a Moldovan competition. The family then decided to invest heavily. In 2006 Alexandru's brother Igor joined the business, and construction of the winery began.

In 2009 Et Cetera entered the Decanter World Wine Awards for the first time and won one silver and two bronze medals. In 2013 Alexandru, who is owner and head winemaker, was named Moldovan Winemaker of the Year.

In the years that followed the winery kept expanding. A restaurant opened in 2015, the first hotel in 2016 and a swimming pool in 2018. In 2019 the family built a hangar and an airstrip for light aircraft, always handy for guests who aren't living on benefits. A second hotel followed in 2022.

Crocmaz lies in the Ștefan Vodă district, one of Moldova's four wine regions with a protected geographical indication. The area is considered one of the most favourable in Moldova for growing grapes. The historic Purcari winery is close by. The climate is warmer and drier than in the centre of the country, and the moderating influence of the nearby Black Sea benefits the vineyards.

The vineyards are farmed using ecological methods. We wouldn't go so far as to call the wines organic, but every effort is made to keep the use of chemicals to a minimum. The vineyards are surrounded by peach orchards and lavender fields. They are planted mainly with international grapes: Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Viognier and Glera (the 'Prosecco grape'). We were surprised to find relatively exotic varieties such as Carmenère and Albarossa. Finally, Et Cetera works with Moldova's indigenous Fetească Neagră and the Georgian Saperavi, both of which have long been grown in Moldova.

Visitors to Et Cetera can taste wine, eat in the restaurant and stay in one of the hotels. You can park your plane right next to the hotel, free of charge. The restaurant works with local produce, and the cheesecakes made by Nina (the winemaker's mother) are a speciality. For now the restaurant mainly receives guests by appointment, so it's best to call ahead.

If you want to know more about this winery, here you will find the link to the website of Et Cetera.