Moldovan viticulture can be characterized as continental. The southern half of the country benefits from climate and soil conditions that are favorable for wine production. The latitude is comparable to Bordeaux, France, being intersected by the 47° parallel. Annual hours of sunshine range from 2,100 to 2,500 and rainfall is modest — typically from 350mm to 500mm per year. Its elevation averages from 100 to 300 meters above sea level, although at its highest point, Moldova is 490 meters above sea level.

These factors have contributed to making viticulture an important part of Moldovan life. Today, approximately 101,500 hectares of vineyards are planted to Vitis vinifera varieties of Western European, Caucasian, or indigenous origin. Nearly 86,000 hectares are dedicated to wine grapes, with roughly 70 percent planted to white varieties, mainly concentrated in the central part of the country, and 30 percent to red varieties, mainly in the south.

The following is a list of the most prevalent grape varieties in Moldova: