Floricica

Floricica is a Moldovan interspecific white variety bred at the National Institute for Viticulture and Winemaking in Chișinău (authors N. Guzun, T. Olari and colleagues) from Rhine Riesling × Seyve-Villard 20-365 (Dattier de St. Vallier); VIVC confirms both parents, and the variety is listed in the European catalogue. It was approved in Moldova in 2006–2007 for the Centre (Codru) and South (Cahul) zones. Its bunches are conical, about 140–150 g, with medium, green-yellow berries; the vine is of medium vigour and ripens in mid-September, some 140–145 days from budburst, at 190–220 g/l of sugar and 9–12 g/l acidity, yielding 11–13 t/ha. It withstands frosts down to −25 °C and resists mildew, oidium, anthracnose and grey rot well enough to need only one or two sprays. The name means “little flower”, after the floral taste of its dry, quality and sparkling white wines. Purcari bottles it on its own and blended with Fetească albă.