🥃 Vinars Vaslui

Vinars Vaslui is an EU-protected geographical indication for a Romanian wine spirit from Vaslui County in eastern Romania, near the Prut River. The vinars is distilled to no more than 86% vol., aged for at least a year in contact with oak and sold from 37.5% vol.; it may not be sweetened or flavoured.

The zone is the whole of Vaslui County. More than 70% of the vineyards lie in the Huși basin, bounded by hills to the south, west and north and by the Prut valley to the east. The hills reach about 300 m, with slopes of 5° to 25°. The file links the distinctiveness of the vinars to regional varieties: Busuioacă de Bohotin, Fetească Regală and Fetească Albă, Tămâioasă Românească, Frâncușă and Grasă.

Two distillations over an open fire in copper stills or continuous column distillation are permitted, as is a blend of spirits from both methods. Distillation and ageing take place in the county, and at least 75% of the spirits must come from there. The barrels hold 400–650 l; the file also allows stainless-steel tanks with oak inserts. The spirit yield is up to 22 hl per hectare.

The category on the label is mandatory: V at least one year, VS three, VSOP five, XO seven years. The technical file was sent to the EU on 25 July 2018; the applicant is the same as for Vinars Vrancea.

Why it matters for you. The producer may add the name of a smaller locality or vineyard of the county on the label, but the age category must always be there. WHO reminds us: there is no safe level of alcohol consumption.