Purcari Winery Today: Innovation Rooted in Heritage and Nature

Purcari Winery today impresses with its unique ability to harmonize industrial-scale production with scientific excellence and a deep respect for Nature. Here, cutting-edge viticultural technologies are seamlessly integrated with the conservation of adjacent forest landscapes, the safeguarding of biodiversity, and the revival of rare grape varieties. Purcari demonstrates how one can achieve world-class quality standards while remaining rooted in Nature and the exclusive cultural heritage of the region.

Yesterday, we had the rare opportunity to explore the Purcari estate from the inside, through a perspective not often accessible. We spent over two hours with Purcari’s R&D Director, Dr. Gheorghe Arpentin, who walked us across the vineyards, presenting the technologies and scientific approaches used today to cultivate the most important foundation of their wines—premium-quality grapes that later become globally acclaimed wines.

To say I was impressed would be an understatement. Precision viticulture, based on the most advanced technologies sourced from around the world—right here in Moldova! When science, technology, and agriculture converge organically, something remarkable emerges—not only in terms of the final product that is sought after on global markets, but also in terms of the joy of the process itself and the pride it inspires in our country.

Key Innovations That Stood Out: 

1. Non-Invasive Soil Scanning and Digital Mapping
   All vineyard plots have been scanned using a French-designed soil scanner at depths of up to two meters. This scanner provides instantaneous analysis without drilling or laboratory sampling. The outcome is a highly detailed digital soil map for every plot, revealing the structure and composition of the soil down to each square meter, as well as its stratification by depth.
   It is not uncommon to find up to five distinct soil types within a single vineyard block (100 × 150 m). For each soil variation, a tailored rootstock is chosen, while the same scion (the grape variety) is grafted above. This ensures the best possible adaptation to variable site conditions, optimizing vine health and grape quality.
   
   The general map of soils types on Purcari vineyards
   
   
   
   
2. Monitoring and nutrition
   

   In addition to soil type and structure, there is constant monitoring of organic and mineral content, as well as soil moisture retention capacity. Based on these maps, precise fertilization schemes and irrigation regimes are created for each block, each row, each vine! Such fine individualization in Moldovan agriculture is truly impressive! Until recently, one could only see this at exhibitions or in documentaries. And now—it’s here, in Moldova!

   This also results in significant savings on fertilizers—meaning fewer surpluses leaking into the environment.

   
   
3. Subsurface irrigation
   The vineyards are irrigated through underground systems, which save 30–70% of water. Water is pumped from the Dniester River to an altitude of about 200 meters, and then a computer regulates supply for each block and each row with mathematical precision, according to the exact water needs of each cell.
   
   Irrigation basin on the altitude aprox. 200m 
   
   
   At the end of each row, the ends of the underground hoses can be seen; through them, the air is released. The irrigation depth is about 60 cm.
   
   
   
4. Automated weather stations and sensors
   Across 400 hectares, six autonomous weather stations and dozens of underground moisture sensors monitor microclimate and soil condition in real time. All the above data are collected on a central server, which regulates irrigation and assigns individualized tasks for liquid fertilizer application and crop protection.
   
   
   
5. Soil conservation
   Grass is partially maintained between vineyard rows. This not only reduces evaporation but also prevents soil erosion and nutrient wash-off during heavy rains. Grass also captures carbon in the soil, which later feeds the vines. A simple but very wise solution. At the same time, the approach is dynamic: one row remains grassed for three years, while the next is tilled. Then the process is rotated.
   
   --->>> The full video can be viewed in the closed album for Patreon subscribers.
   
   
6. Nature Based Protection
   A significant share of grape pests is controlled by… bats! They may come hunting from nearby wild habitats and even from neighboring Ukraine. For spatial orientation, bats need tall trees, since they emit ultrasonic signals and capture their echoes. To make navigation easier, forest belts are maintained, new ones are planted, and surrounding forests are managed sustainably. Combined with other precision agriculture methods, this has reduced chemical spraying almost threefold: from 15–16 treatments per year down to 6–7. Proximity to Nature becomes an integral part of the system! Beyond the image, this also brings economic benefits and a more ecological character to the final product.
   
   In the middle of the vineyard, a drought-resistant almond alley serves precisely as one of those bat landmarks.
   
   
7. ESG and biodiversity
   In recent years, the company has implemented and published ESG reporting, considering a wide range of indicators. In this context, dozens of automatic photo-trap cameras have been installed to monitor biodiversity. The results were astounding: wildlife in the vineyards turned out to be far more abundant than even the researchers expected. And all this—thanks to the vineyard’s proximity to the forest! Watch the video where a roe deer fights jackals, while badgers, martens, pheasants, rabbits, foxes, and an entire herd of wild boars with young cross through… and a wildcat strolls on its own!
   
   
   
   
   Gheorghe Arpentin adjusts the direction of a camera trap to capture biodiversity.
   
   
8. Neighboring ancient oaks and untouched forests
   This is not just a heritage from centuries past or a production system element—it also integrates with the tourism component, which the company has been actively developing in recent years.
   
   Among the branches of the majestic oak, a footbridge was built leading to the other side of the ravine.
   
   
   
   It seems that these very oaks will become the source of acorns for seedlings that will be used to restore adjacent plots.
   
   
9. Reviving the Rara Neagră variety
   

   One of the most inspiring efforts was the restoration of the Rara Neagră variety. This unique grape, which originated in our region and spread worldwide, has been rapidly degrading under industrial production. At Purcari, an extensive regional and international inventory of every known Rara Neagră vine was conducted, collecting the best specimens from around the world. Now, a special closed nursery—an observatory—has been established, where guaranteed virus-free and the most promising forms are preserved. These will be observed for several years, with the most resilient and promising ones selected. They will form the basis of the revival of this legendary variety, which is part of the famous wines Negru de Purcari, Rara Neagră, and others.

   If you, dear reader, also have such vines in your garden or vineyard and are happy with them, but Purcari’s team is not yet aware, please contact their research team! Your vine might contain a unique and promising form that could be included in the collection.

   
   That unique rudiment between the two parts of the leaf, which distinguishes the Rara Neagră variety from all the others.
   It almost forms a heart.
   
   
   
   
   One of the most productive Rara Neagră vines in the collection.
   
   

The people behind the innovation

It’s important to note that behind all these innovations stand real people. The main heroes of our story are Moldovans, although they have traveled the globe multiple times and are well-known among the international wine elite! Leading the large Purcari team is CEO Victor Bostan, while science and innovation are driven by R&D director, habilitated doctor, Gheorghe Arpentin.

Victor Bostan acquired the Purcari estate from the state in 2002, when it was in dire condition—almost bankrupt. Sixteen years later, the Purcari Group was listed on the Bucharest Stock Exchange under the ticker WINE—the first Moldovan company ever listed on a regional capital market!

Interestingly, despite his colossal workload, Mr. Arpentin still supervises doctoral theses at the Technical University’s PhD school. At the moment, he mentors three PhD candidates: two from China and one from Moldova, plus a young intern from Odesa.

Mr. Arpentin’s greatest regret is that, in the past ten years, not a single Moldovan PhD student has chosen to take over and further develop the hands-on expertise accumulated in high-precision, science-driven viticulture.

Selfie: Alexandru V. Sainsus, Diana Sainsus, Gheorghe Arpentin

Honestly, this was one of the most impressive documentary visits I have ever experienced! And so far, it was just a walk through the vineyards. We haven’t even explored the production processes, cellars, distribution, or eco-tourism yet… I can only assume that all of those also match the same high standard and are worth admiring!

Until now, I perceived Purcari as one of the few Moldovan brands to gain global recognition. But now I understand that behind this brand stands a super-advanced enterprise! One that implements the latest innovations and sets the highest quality standards in the industry for precision agriculture—under very complex conditions in southern Moldova. Today’s Purcari is fully worthy of the historic heritage it has inherited—and, most importantly, it confidently carries that legacy forward into the future!

Everything I saw was truly inspiring, broadened my horizons, and once again confirmed that in Moldova—absolutely everything is possible! As long as there is talent, hard work, and respect for heritage. This post is not sponsored. I genuinely tried to reflect what I experienced with my own impressions.

So, you’ve read the article to the end. Tell us in the comments—what do you think about this? Would you be interested in joining such a tour? Where else in Moldova or the region can one visit a production site of such a high level?

Author: Alexandru V. Sainsus
This article was written as part of my work for the ARBORETUM.LIVE platform.

In a paid version of that article, you can access additional materials:

• Album with original photo and video content on iCloud (with geolocation preserved)

• Specialized presentations on the described topics and ESG report, kindly provided by the Purcari scientific department—certainly valuable for professionals in the field.

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