Small and mighty: Moldova takes on the wine heavyweights 

In a small unassuming ex-mining town it’s not uncommon to find a European supermarket selling strings of smoked sausages and fruit flavoured spirits. But what might be more surprising is a Moldovan wine bar serving a glass that easily rivals those of Bourdeux or Burgundy. 

InKnotts in Mansfield has a simple mission, to share great tasting wine and put Moldova on the map as the powerhouse that it is. This little country in Eastern Europe is home to the largest wine cellar in the world – Mileștii Mici winery – and has a budding wine scene determined to shake the memory of the cheaper mass produced stuff the country was forced to produce during its decades in the Soviet Union. 

Going to my first wine tasting evening I was nervous because of my assumed snobbery around wine, but when welcomed by Martin and Galina my mind was automatically put at ease. Over an hour we sampled three wines, and were guided on the proper ways to drink each one: a flute shaped glass for sparkling, a small chalice for white, and a wider glass to swirl and aerate the red. We were treated to Moldovan cheese and salami, and anecdotes from many visits to the easy-going country and the warmth of its residents. I spoke to Martin and Galina about the motivation behind InKnotts and why Moldovan wine should be on your next dinner party table too. 

The concept was a simple one, to share Moldovan wine and encourage others to sample this affordable and high quality wine. Martin says “It’s definitely an idea that sort of stemmed from the quality of the wine and the fact it’s such good value. You’d pay about five times the price as we charge to get that similar quality if you were to buy a Bordeaux blend.”

It’s only in the past decade Moldovan wine has really started making its way into Western markets. Historically Moldovan wine was cheap and plentiful for the Russian market, but following a political fallout in 2014 and the invasion of Ukraine in 2022 relationships have bittered whilst the wine got sweeter, and the West is all the better for it. Martin adds “They’re pushing towards European markets and it has certainly brought the quality up to a European standard.”

If you’re not sure about abandoning your usual choice, at InKnotts you can still find your French familiars like Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay. But you can also discover Romanian and Moldovan grapes too like the smooth Feteasca Neagra and fruity Rara Neagra. “Most people from experience have been impressed at how good it is, and the fact that you’re getting it at such a good price, that’s the main thing for us,” says Martin. 

So far the response to InKnotts wine tasting events has been positive, with a host of small parties and larger event bookings becoming more regular. A wine society visit gave such good feedback, it “Reaffirmed to us these wines are good wines, it’s simply getting people to know about them.”

In February Corten winery will be joining InKnotts for the Notts Derby wine fair, allowing you to find out more about the wine making process. They’ve been making wine since 2008, starting out providing grapes to other wineries including prestigious industry giants like Purcari. Since 2011 they’ve expanded their operations and have been producing their own quality wine for the past few years. 

You can buy your next bottle or tasting experience at https://inknotts.com/