Romanian wine

The winery of Hagianoff mansion in Manasia, Ialomița County, established in 1899

Romania has one of the oldest wine-making traditions in the world and its viticulture dates back more than 6,000 years.[4] Due to suitable climate, relief and soils, viticulture became a current activity of the local inhabitants mainly in the hilly areas. Numerous local wine grape varieties have been obtained during medieval time by empirical selection, becoming representatives for Romanian wine regions. Up to the phylloxera crisis, each Romanian wine region had its own wine grape assortment, that generated specific local wines. Since the medieval period, wine has been the traditional alcoholic beverage of the Romanians.

In the 1880s phylloxera (a pale yellow sap-sucking insect that attacks the roots of vines) was introduced accidentally also in Romania (1872, Chitorani, Dealul Mare wine-growing region), and destroyed the local viticulture in the coming years. Restoration of the Romanian viticulture lasted until the beginning of the 20th century, and was done mainly by planting French wine grape varieties such as Merlot, Chardonnay, Pinot noir, Sauvignon, Cabernet Sauvingnon etc.[5] Besides these, phylloxera-resistant grape hybrids were also planted.

Romania has about 187,000 hectares of vine plantations; that ranks it on sixth place between the European wine-producing countries.[6] With a wine production of about 4.5 million hl/year, Romania is the thirteenth largest wine-producing country in the world.[7]

Main wine regions of Romania are:[8]

• Podișul Transilvaniei
  • Târnave
  • Alba
  • Aiud
  • Sebeș-Apold
  • Lechința
• Dealurile Moldovei
  • Cotnari
  • Iași
  • Huși
  • Zeletin
  • Colinele Tutovei
  • Dealul Bujorului
  • Iveşti
  • Nicoreşti
  • Covurlui
  • Panciu
  • Odobești
  • Cotești
• Dealurile Munteniei și Olteniei
  • Dealurile Buzăului
  • Dealu Mare
  • Ștefănești
  • Sâmburești
  • Drăgășani
  • Dealurile Craiovei
  • Podgoria Severinului
  • Plaiurile Drâncei
• Dealurile Banatului
  • Moldova Nouă
  • Recaș
  • Silagiu
  • Teremia
  • Tirol
• Dealurile Crișanei și Maramureșului
  • Miniș-Măderat
  • Diosig
  • Șimleu Silvaniei
  • Valea lui Mihai
• Colinele Dobrogei
  • Sarica-Niculițel
  • Istria-Babadag
  • Murfatlar
• Terasele Dunării
  • Greaca
  • Ostrov
• Regiunea nisipurilor și altor terenuri favorabile din sudul țării
  • Sadova-Corabia
  • Calafat
  • Podgoria Dacilor

The wine grape assortments of Romanian wine-growing regions encompasses many varieties for white, red and aromatic wines. Each wine-growing region has its own, traditional varieties, as: Zghihara de Huși and Busuioaca de Bohotin for the Huși wine-growing region; Feteasca neagră for the Iași wine-growing region; Grasa de Cotnari and Frâncușa for the Cotnari wine-growing region; Crâmpoșie for the Drăgășani wine-growing region; Băbeasca Neagră for the Nicorești wine-growing region; Iordană și Ardeleancă for the Târnave; or Mustoasă de Măderat for the Miniș wine-growing region. Also, each wine-growing region cultivate international wine grape varieties, mainly: Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Riesling italico, Pinot gris and Traminer for white wines; and Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Pinot noir for red wines. All these local and international varieties form the basis of many wines, presented mainly under the name of the wine grape variety (e.g. Sauvignon, Feteasca albă, Tămâioasă românească) and less under the name of producer (e.g. DAVINO, ALIRA, LACERTA), or under a marketing name (e.g. Serafim, Bon Viveur, Gramma, René Faure etc.).

• Whites
  • The most known Romanian wine grape varieties for white wines are Fetească albă, Crâmpoșie and Fetească regală. Feteasca albă and Fetească regală produces dry or semi-dry wines, with a moderate alcohol content (11.5 to 12%) and acidity, with finesse and rich floral aromas, while Crâmpoșia is known for freshness and fruitiness wines, with moderate alcohol content and pronounced acidity.
• Reds
  • The most known Romanian wine grape variety for red quality wines is Feteasca neagră, originating in the Uricani, Iași wine region. It produces ″dry, demi-dry or sweet wines, with an alcohol content of 12-14%, a deep red colour with ruby shades, and a black currant flavour, which becomes richer and smoother with ageing″.[9]
• Aromatics

Between the aromatic wine grape varieties, the most appreciated and cultivated are Tămâioasa românească and Busuioacă de Bohotin. Beside these traditional wines obtained from native varieties, one can find wines obtained from all best known international wine grape varieties for white, red and aromatic wines.

• Cuisine of Romania
• Old World wine

• Romanian terroir and wine grape assortments