S.E.R.V.E.-„0” Kilometer of Romanian wine

In the 1990s, major international wine critics knew that Romania had once produced wine—but nothing more. The country was a blank spot on the map, while the domestic market teetered between deceptive labels, flawed bottles, and stocks of so-called "aged" wines from "privatized" warehouses. The few wines circulating on the market were semi-dry or semi-sweet, with the residual sugar (or, frequently, added sugar) serving solely to mask hygiene-related flaws.

With such a wealth of knowledge, which didn't sound good at all, we headed in the midst of the pandemic and at the beginning of 2021 to S.E.R.V.E, a company of premieres, a winery pioneering the way in the Romanian wine landscape.

Several firsts in the Romanian wine sector following the fall of the communist regime are associated with the name of Euro-Romanian Society for Exceptional Wines (S.E.R.V.E.).

This is the first private company in the field. Under its brand, the first Romanian cuvée (Cuvée Charlotte), the first association between local and established varieties and the first authton rosé were created.

Count Guy de Poix was an example of perseverance, dedication and infinite generosity. He dedicated himself to oenology and decided to lay the foundations of his legacy, just like his parents.

Inspired by a quote from Hugh Johnson’s “World Atlas of Wine” (“The Western world of wine has already been conquered”), Guy Tyrel de Poix was determined to identify an investment target in Eastern Europe.

It was 1993 and Europe was going through an uncertain period, to which language barriers were added. Although it seemed post-apocalyptic, in the count’s vision, Romania stood out among other countries for its distinct and undeniable beauty, but also for its Francophone character.

Coming from a family with three centuries of experience in viticulture, he himself owned a vineyard in Corsica (Peraldi Estate), the founder of S.E.R.V.E. described Romanian wines from the late 20th century as “princes in beggars’ clothing”.

Aurel Rotărescu is the oenologist who first revealed to Count Guy Tyrel de Poix the potential of the Fetească Neagră variety and the Ceptura area, in Dealu Mare. He is also the one who accompanied Guy in his efforts to extract the maximum potential of the harvests year after year and is the one who took over and continued, with diligence and inspiration, after the founder’s death, what had already become a tradition of wine care and excellence.

After almost three decades, Aurel Rotărescu identifies himself – and is seen – as part of the “SERVE Family”.

Along with him, we also met the person who made a valuable contribution from the very beginning, through pragmatism and dedication, to implement the best ideas and objectives related to the development of S.E.R.V.E.

Mihaela Tyrel de Poix, CEO and wife of Guy, the co-founder of SERVE, shares her husband's ideals, revealing respect and infinite love for wine.

The company owns 116 hectares, divided approximately equally into two different terroirs: at Ceptura, in the Dealul Mare Vineyard, and at Cogealac, in the Istria-Babadag Vineyard.

After so much SERVE history, we visited the entire complex. The stainless steel tanks were impeccably maintained and supervised, the bottling line was fully automated and the barrel room was sparkling clean and smelled inviting.

We must say, let's remember SERVE's first big commercial success: Vinul Cavalerului (The Knight's Wine).

Step by step, Vinul Cavalerului entered the public consciousness, but one of the key moments was the launch of the first dry rosé wine in Romania, at a time when most of the local wines, but absolutely all rosés – were semi-dry, semi-sweet or sweet.

It had started to snow outside when I arrived in the tasting room.

We were lucky to taste the most successful creations of winemaker Aurel Rotărescu: Terra Romana 2019-Sauvignon Blanc and Fetească albă; Terra Romana 2021-Rosé; Cuvée Amaury 2017-Sauvignon Blanc 50%, Riesling de Rin 38%, Chardonnay 12%; Terra Romana 2016-Fetească Neagră and Cuvée Charlotte 2014-Merlot 55.8%, Cabernet Sauvignon 29.3%, Fetească Neagră 14.9%.

And to make everything perfect, the surprise came at the end of the tasting: because it was exactly 10 years (what a strange coincidence!) since the founder of SERVE-Guy de Poix had left this world (29.01.2011), we received an invitation to additionally taste the Cuvée Guy de Poix 2016-Fetească neagră!

Cuvée Guy de Poix is ​​like an elixir of youth with its overripe fruit taste, it is a balanced drink that will leave its mark on your soul. But more than that, the complex aroma seduces your senses with aromas of well-ripened black fruits, raisins, lightly smoked plums, blueberries, black pepper and vanilla.

Obtained exclusively from the Fetească Neagră variety, Cuvée Guy de Poix 2016 is a velvety, consistent wine that gets even better with age.

It was the wine that ended our adventure in the happiest way in the Dealul Mare Vineyard, more precisely at the 0 kilometer marker of Romanian wine – S.E.R.V.E.

Every day is a new stop on our journey through life. It is not for nothing that they say that sometimes the journey is more important than the destination.

It depends on us how we manage to make the most of the moments we experience and to make them count.

No matter where my steps will take me from now on, the dear memories will always remain in my soul. From today, my journeys in the fascinating world of wine add another name: S.E.R.V.E.

That means: Courage, Innovation, Respect, Solidarity.