Fautor

The estate and its history

Fautor is a family business founded at the end of the 20th century. The name comes from Latin; the house itself translates it as creator or maker. The estate lies near the village of Tigheci, on the hills between the Prut and the Codrii Tigheciului forest reserve, in the Valul lui Traian wine region. It is one of the highest wine-growing areas in southern Moldova, which according to the house benefits the freshness and acidity of the wines.

The vineyards cover about 350 hectares of black earth and chalky soils. Alongside the native Fetească Regală, Fetească Neagră and Rară Neagră, Fautor also grows varieties that are rare in Moldova, such as Albariño and Tempranillo.

The cellars and the wines

The flagship is Negre, a blend of Fetească Neagră and Rară Neagră that ages for twelve months in new French oak. Aurore is the range built around Rară Neagră, and *310 Altitudine combines Merlot with Rară Neagră. The house also makes white wines, including Riesling and a wood-aged Sauvignon Blanc. According to the national wine office ONVV, Fautor was the Moldovan producer with the most medals at international competitions in 2017, 2018 and 2019, and the house has also received scores from Robert Parker's Wine Advocate. According to Wine with Seth, Negre 2017 won a Grand Gold in 2022 at the Concours Mondial de Bruxelles, the competition that started in Brussels. Fautor's export markets include Belgium.

Visiting and tasting

Fautor does not publish a fixed visitor programme like the big tourist wineries do; if you want to see the estate, get in touch beforehand via the official website. The wines are easier to find than the estate itself: Fautor exports to more than fifteen countries. Tigheci lies about 110 kilometres south-west of Chișinău, a drive of just over two hours. A visit can be combined with the Prut valley and the town of Leova.