La Catina Estate Chardonnay 2018

Romania may not be the first country you think of for wine, yet it’s home to “some of Europe’s greatest cool climate vineyards,” says Hugh Johnson, the world’s best-selling wine writer.

Here, you’ll find wineries as advanced as any in Europe, thanks to investment pouring into the country. Yet winemaking tradition dates back thousands of years. Plato himself is rumored to have hailed the region’s vineyards as “the best in the world,” and the origin story of Dionysus (the Greek god of wine) points to this stunning countryside. Transylvania, which means “beyond the forest,” may be home to Count Dracula, but it’s also a world-class spot for grape growing.

Our intrepid expert, Beth Willard (the International Wine Challenge 2015 Eastern Europe Specialist of the Year), is passionate about this burgeoning region – and she’s very excited for you to try her latest discovery. She uncovered La Catina at a top cellar that has supplied wine to the Romanian Royal Court of King Michael. Their luscious, barrel-fermented Chardonnay positively brims with the same kind of rich charm you’d find in Napa Valley (but for a far friendlier price).

In the glass, look for ripe peach, apricot, tropical fruit, and spice, followed by a wonderfully creamy (and mile-long) finish. Perfect for roasted white meats, creamy pastas, or a cheese plate with friends. And at this price, you can afford to pour very generously. Hurry.