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ROMANIAN WINES• Wine growing has been known for

centuries long in Romania. The country has been favoured by its geographical position in South-Eastern Europe, by its proximity to the Black Sea, as well as by the specificity of the local soil and climate.

• Alongside France, Italy, Spain, Germany, countries in this area like Romania could also be called "a vine homeland" in Europe.  Archaeological finds and historical documents place the beginnings of wine culture on the present territory of Romania some 4000 years ago. High quality wines produced in this region were object of trade ever since ancient times. 

WINE HISTORY

• As the legend has it, Dionysus, the God of wine, was born in the northern part of Thoracic, north of the Danube River. This region was called Dacia Felix (Happy Dacia) after it was conquered by the Romans in 106 AD Wine was one of the riches of this land. Centuries prior to the Roman occupation, Dacia had a well established wine culture. On the land of former Dacia, a new people evolved, and a new country appeared, but the grape cultivation and wine making was taught from generation to generation.

• Today's Romania, the ninth vine grower in the world, enjoys the recognition of some prestigious wineries that made it renown abroad. From this point of view, the Romanian wine maker is the descendent of some millenary traditions passed on from one generation to the other. Romania's geographical location and its remarkably varied relief (with numerous amphitheatres of light between sandy hills and dunes in some regions) allow the grapevine to express all its qualities into rich crops.

ROMANIA WINE REGIONS

FAMOUS VINEYARDS

• The TARNAVE region is situated in Transylvania, a plateau surrounded by the Carpathian Mountains. Because of the cooler climate, the sugar content is low, but fine fruit flavors develop in the grapes. This region produces mainly white wines.

• The DEALU MARE region occupies an area of 15,000 ha. on the gentle slopes of the sub-Carpathian Hills to the south and southeast of the main range. The positioning is ideal for the production of soft red wines. Some of the best Pinot Noirs, Cabernet and Merlot wines you have ever tasted, come from this region.

• The COTNARI region is a part of Moldavia and is situated in northeastern Romania. It has a warm microclimate favorable to the accumulation of high sugar levels in grapes which is ideal for the production of aromatic, dessert wines. The area also allows for the development of NOBLE ROT. Grape picking can continue late into the middle of November. Most of the wines coming from the Cotnari region, are from indigenous grapes. •The MURFATLAR region is just a few miles from

the Black Sea coast and has an average of 300 days of sunshine out of the year. The conditions of this area allow for the development of the NOBLE ROT.

ROMANIAN GRAPE VARIETIES

• There are two categories of grapes cultivated in Romania: the international varieties imported after the phyloxeric period and the old traditional Romanian varieties.

• The most known Romanian local varieties are Feteasca Neagra (The Black Maiden), Feteasca Alba (The White Maiden), Feteasca Regala (The Royal Maiden) and Tamaioasa Romaneasca (Romanian Incensed Maiden). All these varieties are unique in the world and we invite you to discover them in this section.

• International varieties such as Cabernet, Sauvignon or Sauvignon Blanc are cultivated on large surfaces.

THE GRAPESNATIVE VARIETIES

• FETEASCA ALBA (white maiden grape) is an old Romanian variety, grown especially in Moldavia and Transylvania. Wines are either dry or semidry, with a balanced alcohol content (11.5-12%), acidity and sugar and feature a velvety, natural finesse. FETEASCA REGALA (royal maiden grape) is an old variety from Transylvania. Wines are dry, fresh,have high acidity and a distinguished flavor.

• FETEASCA NEAGRA (black maiden grape) in an old indigenous variety, grown in several areas in Moldavia and Muntenia (southern Romania). These grapes produce dry, semidry or sweet wines, with an alcohol content of 12-12.5%, a deep red color with ruby shades, and a black currant flavor, richer and smoother with aging.

• GRASA de COTNARI, belongs to the old Cotnari vineyard and has been grown for many centuries. It is picked when the grapes shrivel and is affected by Botrytis Cinerea(Noble Rot). Its sugar content is high over 240 gr. per liter, and its fragrance is out of this world.

• TAMAIOASA ROMANEASCA (Romanian frankincense) produces high quality aromatic wines. The color of the wine is golden-yellow, with a wild flowers and honey aroma,a rich taste and 12-12.5 % alcohol by content. Better with age..

•BUSUIOACA de BOHOTIN (sweet basil grape)-the UNIQUE grape ,grows in a tiny area in Moldavia, County of Iassy. The wine has a golden rusty color, unidentifiable with any other wine. Its flavor is unique to, resembling honey suckle and ripe juicy peaches, with a perfect harmony of sugar, alcohol and acidity. The sweet taste , sometimes has a barely perceptible almond like bitter aroma   

FAMOUS VINEYARDS IN ROMANIACOTNARI

The COTNARI vineyard is relating to the great Romanian prince Stephen the Great (15th century). Not only did he bravely fight against the Turks, but seems to have been very fond of wines too. Besides a beautiful church that can be visited today, Stephen the Great commissioned bridges and paved roads for wine transport as well as deep cellars to keep it nice.

The leading wine of the vineyard is Grasa de Cotnari. It was described as having the bitterish taste of a nutshell and a strong flavour; it is an excellent wine, whose ageing enhances its noble qualities and draws it near perfection. In 1900, at the World Exhibition in Paris, Grasa de Cotnari was awarded a golden medal, and has since acquired the name of "Romania's Bloom".

COTNARI WINE REGION• The "Kingly Wine" of Moldavia.

When Stephen the Great reigned these great lands he became very fond of the wine and commissioned bridges and paved roads for wine transport as well as deep cellars that some can still be visited today. Situated in the hills of the Northwest of Iasi, this region produces some of the most beautiful sweet wines of Romania.

• Wineries: Cotnari, Cucuteni, Frumusica

• Range of wines: Region specialized in white wine growing, with controlled name of origin (DOC) and controlled name of origin and quality levels (DOCC): Grasa de Cotnari, Tamaioasa Romaneasca, white Feteasca, Francusa.

HUSI VINEYARD

• The HUSI vineyard is acknowledged for its flavoured high quality wines, among which Busuioaca de Bohotin, of a traditional Romanian stock, holds pride of place. Among other varieties of vine grown in the region can be mentioned table wines like Zghihara de Husi, Aligoté, Feteasca regala, along with higher quality white wines i.e. Feteasca Alba, Italian Riesling. The range of red table wines includes Babeasca Neagra and Porto, whereas the Feteasca Neagra, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot can be counted among higher quality red wines.  

ODOBESTI VINEYARD

• The ODOBESTI vineyard is one of the largest and oldest in Romania. It is renowned for its table wines, resulted from Romanian traditional varieties, like Galbena de Odobesti, Plavaie and Feteasca regala. Other vines have been acclimatized of late. Vine-growers in the area have drawn old distillates of varieties like Mustoasa de Maderat, Feteasca regala and Galbena de Odobesti.

TARNAVE WINE REGION

• In Transylvania just north of Sibiu surrounded by the Carpathian Mountains. This region enjoys a cool climate due to the high altitude and humidity provided by the nearby rivers. Because of this cool, fruity white wines with very good acidity are mainly produced in this region

• Wineries: Blaj, Jidvei, Medias, Tarnaveni, Zagar, Valea Nirajului.

• Range of wines: quality white wines: Pinot Gris, Italian Riesling, Sauvignon, Furmint, Chardonnay, Feteasca Alba; aromatic wines: Muscat Ottonel; Sparkling wines: Royal Feteasca, Italian Riesling, White Feteasca.

MURFATLAR WINE REGION

A very important wine region in Romania, located just off the Black Sea in the region of Dobrogea. With an average of 300 days of sunshine a year. The Black Sea provides it the freshness and necessary humidity to permit the culture of the grape and possibility to produce noble rot. Murfatlar wine is renowned for its sweet wines made of grapes highly sugared as they are reaped after they have dried up.

Wineries: Murfatlar, Medgidia, Cernavoda, independent winemaking center: Adamclisi

Range of wines: High quality white wines: Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, Italian Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Muscat Ottonel.

High quality red wines: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, black Feteasca, Pinot Noir. White wines:

Representative wines: Pinot Gris, Chardonnay

DEALU MARE WINE REGION

In Romanian it is translated as Big Hill. Spreading approximately 400 square kilometres over sub-Carpathian Hills this is the most compact vine region in Romania. Old in tradition the Dealu Mare vineyard is the cradle of the red wines, whose special taste and flavour are given by the local soil and climate.

Wineries: Valea Calugareasca, Urlati, Ceptura, Tohani, Breaza, Tohani, Pietroasa. Special wines tasting are held in the tourist center of Boldesti, close to Ploiesti.

Range of wines: Dealu Mare vineyard is the land of the red wine: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, black Feteasca, Pinot Noir. White wines: white Feteasca, Sauvignon Blanc, Muscat Ottonel, and Tamaioasa Romaneasca.

Representative wines: black Feteasca, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir

FINANCIAL ASPECTS• According to the Romanian wine

producers ,the sales grew up by an average 25 percent during the Easter holidays versus the usual months

• Last year, sales of Romanian wines decreased by up to 10% against 2008 in terms of both volume and value, according to the Association of National Vineyards Owners and Wine Makers (PNVV). The growth was due to meteorological conditions favourable to vineyard harvest. The Romanian wine market in terms of volume was estimated at 6 million hectolitres in 2009, of which only up to 1.5 million hl came through “official” producers.

• Less than 10% of the wine produced in Romania is exported and nearly all of the wine that does leave the country remains within Europe.

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