Fetească Neagră Nativus, produced by Averești Estates, Romania, has been included in the prestigious Top 100 Wine Merchant, being chosen by dozens of top merchants at the London Wine Fair.
The blind tasting that led to the selection took place in April, when experts chose the 100 most interesting wines from over 1,000 samples.
The Top 100 Wine Merchant guide, to be published in July, is considered one of the most influential wine guides in the world, with wines selected based on their intrinsic quality and value for money.
What is the Top 100 Wine Merchant?
The Top 100 Wine Merchant is a competition dedicated to wines from the independent trade in the UK—wines that are not intended for supermarkets, specialized chains like Majestic or Oddbins, or large online retailers.
Each year, a jury made up exclusively of independent wine merchants (this year, 36 companies were represented) tastes the wines presented at the London Wine Fair and establishes a selection that they recommend to all specialised merchants.
To be included in the Top 100 Wine Merchant, a wine must: be available in stock in the UK, have a price that reflects the quality offered, how "personality", meaning it provides a memorable experience for the consumer, and have an attractive presentation.
The competition was created by Graham Holter and David Williams in 2013, initially under the name The Wine Merchant Top 50. In 2015, the number of winners was expanded in response to increasing entry levels and the overall quality of the wines submitted.
Averești Estates: Respect for Balance and Refinement
“We are happy to add this important recognition to our portfolio of achievements. In a ranking dominated by wines from well-established wine regions, Nativus Fetească Neagră de Averești 2022 stands out for its authenticity and elegance, confirming the value of our terroir and the potential of this indigenous variety.
Nativus Fetească Neagră 2022 is the expression of careful winemaking and a clear philosophy: we preserve the integrity of the variety and highlight its identity without gimmicks, with respect for balance and refinement. We thank the team at The Wine Merchant Magazine for this recognition, and all those who accompany us on this journey of Romanian wine”, said Crina Duluțe Florea,co-owner of Averești Estates Romania.
A Cool-Climate, High-Altitude Wine
“A deep red wine with ruby reflections, Fetească Neagră stands out with complex aromas of plum, plum jam, and sour cherry compote, with subtle smoky notes in the background. The taste offers rustic notes characteristic of red grapes grown in cooler regions, dominated by forest berries and black cherries. The nose includes a hint of white pepper, typical of red wines from higher altitude zones,” notes the wine’s technical sheet.
Born and raised on the gentle slopes of Huși, the grapes used for this wine were hand-picked in the early morning hours to preserve their full aromatic potential.
And an important detail for those who consider the Moldova region more suited to white or rosé wines (yes, part of Averești Estates’s prestige indeed comes from rescuing Zghihară and Busuioacă de Bohotin from extinction): Fetească Neagră is an ancient variety, now regarded as “national,” but whose roots lie in Moldova!
