Port Cetate Cuisine

Beside the natural beauty of the place, what makes staying at Port Cetate a truly special and memorable experience is the gastronomy. Inspired by 19th century recipes of Romanian ‘boyar’ cuisine – an eclectic mix of several Balkan and European culinary traditions – Mircea Dinescu had set out to rediscover and recreate, beyond simple dishes and recipes, a whole culinary culture which has been nearly lost – or just ignored – in the past half-century.
All the items on the menu are prepared using only local, organic ingredients: seasonal vegetables and herbs from the local markets, freshly captured fish, free-range poultry, pigs and calves from small individual farms.

 

Our Wines

‘Vinul lui Dinescu’ (Dinescu’s Wine) is produced at Galicea Mare, a century-old winery which has been equipped with new, up-to-date technology.
The grapes come from two 125-acre vineyards, one located right under the wings of the winery, the other by the river Danube, on the sunny slopes of Drincea Hills. Both vineyards are quite young and have been planted in the context of a European project aimed at the renewal and re-ennobling of old Romanian vineyards.
Our plantations are distinguished by the diversity of the grapes we grow: seven whites (Fetească Albă, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Tămîioasă Românească, Muscat Ottonel, Pinot Gris, Italian Riesling), and five reds (Fetească Neagră, Merlot, Cabernet, Shiraz, Pinot Noir).
Finished with great care by the talented oenologist Vasile Grecu, our wines illustrate a broader philosophy of life, which advocates paying close and respectful attention to the beauty and savours of nature.

Dinescu’s Wine Website
Dinescu’s Wine Facebook

Varieties:

<em>SAUVIGNON BLANC 2013 </em>
SAUVIGNON BLANC 2013 Dry
A friendly, well-balanced and refreshing wine with discrete almond flavours and a fresh perfume of elderflower and ripe melon. Semi-dry variety, with an alcoholic concentration of 13%.
<em>FETEASCĂ ALBĂ 2013 </em>
FETEASCĂ ALBĂ 2013 Dry
This Romanian variety has the typical bouquet of citrus & acacia honey for which it is so widely appreciated and which makes it our best long-distance runner for the discerning drinker.

<em>TĂMÂIOASĂ ROMÂNEASCĂ 2013 </em>
TĂMÂIOASĂ ROMÂNEASCĂ 2013 Semi-Dry
A fruity Romanian variety – the name refers to a resin used as incense in churches – with well-tempered sweetness and blossoming muscatflavours. Demi-dry wine with an alcoholic concentration of 11%.
<em>MERLOT 2013 </em>
MERLOT 2013 Dry
It has adapted so well to our Southern climate that it bewildered our colleagues from Dealul Mare (a famous vineyard at the foot of the Carpathian Mountains which claims ideal conditions for the variety).

<em>PINK PANTHER 2011</em>
PINK PANTHER 2011Dry
A fruity rosé from Cabernet Sauvignon grapes that keeps a fine balance between its sweetness and acidity, with flavours reminding of red berries, grapefruit, and a blushing touch of roses. Semi-sweet, with an alcoholic concentration of 13,5%.

<em>BLACK PANTHER 2011</em>
BLACK PANTHER 2011Dry
A complex, nocturnal Cabernet Sauvignon, with deep ruby colours and an untamed feline character – refuses to settle in and mellow out in a barrel. The flavours remind of gooseberries and bitter cherries. A dry wine with an alcoholic concentration of 14%.
<em>FETEASCĂ NEAGRĂ 2011</em>
FETEASCĂ NEAGRĂ 2011Semi-Dry
A Romanian variety uniquely crafted from grapes harvested in late autumn. Intense as a Port wine, ideal for aging. For occult parties, with fine cheeses and fruits confits.