Climate

The orientation of the slopes matters greatly. The best sites lie between one hundred thirty and five hundred fifty meters. Behind them stand the southern Carpathians. Anyone looking for a vineyard in Dealu Mare finds the best parcels on slopes facing south or southeast, catching every hour of sunshine the day has to offer, while behind these slopes stand the forests and hills of the Carpathians.

This mountain chain acts like a wall. Summers here are hot. Autumns stay mild and dry. It blocks the cold north winds that sweep across the Romanian lowlands in winter, creating a climate in its shelter that's milder than in more exposed sites nearby — ideal conditions for letting the grapes ripen in peace, without rain ruining everything right before harvest.

Rain falls mainly in spring. That's when the vines send out their first shoots. Without heat, the wine stays green and hard. For the tannins in the skin, the summer heat means one thing above all: they need warmth to turn soft rather than bitter, much like an unripe apple that only sweetens with time.

Roughly a hundred kilometers separate Prahova from Bucharest. In the city, warmth lingers and builds up. On the slopes, the nights stay cool. Even so, there's a noticeable climate shift between the capital and the slopes of Dealu Mare, since altitude and forest bring cooler nights that help preserve acidity, while the day drives forward the sugar ripeness of the grapes.