History
The Romanian princely family Stirbey, officially documented for the first time in the 15th century, had its origin in Walachia in southern Romania, and exercised over the course of many generations great influence on the political and economic fortunes of the country.
Under the reign of Prince Barbu Stirbey (1795 - 1869), following the Revolution of 1848, Romania was transformed from a purely feudal and agricultural country subject to Turkish sovereignity to an enlightened nation with its first ventures into industrialization, a modern school system and improved roads and railways.
During Romania’s golden age in the first half of the twentieth century, his grandson, Prince Barbu Alexandru Stirbey (1873 - 1946) was one of the most influential personalities. This is evident in politics - Stirbey was the closest adviser of King Carol I. and King Ferdinand I. - as well as in the economy. He was administrator of the royal domains and chairman of the supervisory boards in several industrial companies.
His own lands were increased in value very early on, through investments in processing facilities for agricultural products. For example, a model farm was built near Bucharest with the country’s very first canning factory. And in the huge cellar of Stirbey Palace in Bucharest, wines from his own vineyards in Walachia and Moldova were aged and preserved.
At the beginning of the 20th century, when following the phylloxera most of the country’s vineyards had to be replanted, Prince Stirbey was owner of the largest vine nursery in the country. Its research focused on furthering indigenous grape varieties, which had been nearly displaced by foreign grape varieties.
In 1946, his daughter, Princess Maria Stirbey, inherited the vineyards in Dragasani, which have been in family ownership since the 17th century. After the national expropriation in 1949, its operations were carried on as a national wine producing industry. In 2001, the vineyards were restored to the heirs by the state. Baroness Ileana Kripp, granddaughter of Princess Maria Stirbey, has devoted her efforts to the revival of this traditional family property ever since.
