Moldova: Climate and geography

Much of Moldova is low and hilly, rarely rising above 350 m/1,150 ft above sea level and with a gradual descent towards the Black Sea in the south. The climate is ideal for viticulture, with average summer temperatures of around 20 °C/68 °F. Spring (and occasionally winter) frost can be a problem but the active temperature summation is between 2,700 °C in the north and 3,400 °C in the south. (see climate classification). The main rivers are the Dniester and the Prut. The country’s four historical wine production zones are: Bălți (most northerly), Codru (central), Ștefan Vodă (south east), and Valul lui Trajan (south west). The last three of these have been established as pgis while the remaining region of Bălți grows only 3% of the country’s vines, mainly for distillation.