Romania is one of the world's largest wine producers and fifth-largest among European wine-producing countries, after Italy , France , Spain , and Germany . Similar in size to wine-producing countries such as Chile and Portugal but lesser-known on the world wine stage. In 2018 it produced around 5.2 million hectolitres of wine . ^{[1] [2]} In recent years, Romania has attracted many European business people and wine buyers, due to the affordable prices of both vineyards and wines compared to other wine-producing nations such as France, Germany, and Italy. ^[3]

Romania's most cultivated grape varieties are for white wines Feteasc? Alb? , Feteasc? Regal? , Riesling , Aligote , Sauvignon , Muscat , Pinot Gris , Chardonnay , T?maioas? Romaneasc? , Gras? de Cotnari , Galben? de Odobe?ti . Also, the main grape varieties for red wines are Merlot , Cabernet Sauvignon , B?beasc? Neagr? , Feteasc? Neagr? , Pinot Noir .

History [ edit ]

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. ^{[ citation needed ]}

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 over a period of several years destroyed the local viticulture. 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 Sauvignon etc. ^[5] Besides these, phylloxera-resistant grape hybrids were also planted. Several traditional Romanian wine grapes did survive the phylloxera crisis, and are still cultivated in Romania in the 21st Century. ^[6]

Romania has about 187,000 hectares of vine plantations; that ranks it on sixth place between the European wine-producing countries. ^[7] With a wine production of about 4.5 million hl/year, Romania is the thirteenth largest wine-producing country in the world. ^[8]

Wine-producing regions [ edit ]

Main wine regions of Romania are: ^{[9] [10]}

The Transylvanian Plateau region (Podi?ul Transilvaniei)

• Tarnave
• Alba
• Aiud
• Sebe?-Apold
• Lechin?a

The Moldovan Hills region (Dealurile Moldovei) ^[11]

• Cotnari
• Ia?i
• Hu?i
• Zeletin
• Colinele Tutovei
• Dealul Bujorului
• Ive?ti
• Nicore?ti
• Covurlui
• Panciu
• Odobe?ti
• Cote?ti

The Munteniei & Olteniei Hills region (Dealurile Munteniei ?i Olteniei) ^[12]

• Dealurile Buz?ului
• Dealu Mare
• ?tef?ne?ti
• Sambure?ti
• Dr?g??ani
• Dealurile Craiovei
• Podgoria Severinului
• Plaiurile Drancei

The Banat Hills region (Dealurile Banatului)

• Moldova Nou?
• Reca?
• Silagiu
• Teremia
• Tirol

The Cri?ana Hills region (Dealurile Cri?anei) and the Maramure? region (Maramure?ului)

• Mini?-M?derat
• Diosig
• ?imleu Silvaniei
• Valea lui Mihai

The Dobruja Hills region (Colinele Dobrogei)

• Sarica-Niculi?el
• Istria-Babadag
• Murfatlar

The Danube Terraces region (Terasele Dun?rii)

• Greaca
• Ostrov

Additional favorable sandy regions in central-southern Romania (Regiunea nisipurilor ?i altor terenuri favorabile din sudul ??rii)

• Sadova - Corabia
• Calafat
• Podgoria Dacilor (in Mehedin?i County , Oltenia) ^[13]

Wines [ edit ]

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 grape varieties: Zghihara de Husi and Busuioaca de Bohotin for the Hu?i wine-growing region; Feteasc? neagr? for the Ia?i wine-growing region; Grasa de Cotnari and Francu?a for the Cotnari wine-growing region; Crampo?ie for the Dr?g??ani wine-growing region; B?beasca Neagr? for the Nicore?ti wine-growing region; Iordan? ?i Ardeleanc? for the Tarnave wine-growing region ; or Mustoas? de M?derat for the Mini? wine-growing region. ^{[ citation needed ]}

Each wine-growing region additionally cultivates 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 alb?, T?maioas? romaneasc?) and less commonly under the name of producer (e.g. DAVINO, ALIRA, LACERTA) or under a marketing name (e.g. Serafim, Bon Viveur, Gramma, Rene Faure etc.). ^{[ citation needed ]}

Traditional Whites [ edit ]

The most known Romanian wine grape varieties for white wines are Feteasc? alb? , Crampo?ie and Feteasc? regal? . Feteasca alb? and Feteasc? regal? produce dry or semi-dry wines, with rich floral aromas. They have a moderate alcohol content (11.5 to 12%) and moderate acidity. Crampo?ia is known for producing fresh and fruity wines, with moderate alcohol content and pronounced acidity. ^{[ citation needed ]}

Traditional Reds [ edit ]

The most known Romanian wine grape variety for red wines is Feteasc? neagr? , originating in the Uricani, Ia?i 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″. ^[14]

Traditional Aromatics [ edit ]

Among the Romanian aromatic wine grape varieties, the most appreciated and cultivated are T?maioas? Romaneasc? and Busuioac? de Bohotin . ^{[ citation needed ]}

Wineries [ edit ]

^{[ citation needed ]}

See also [ edit ]

• Cuisine of Romania
• Old World wine
• Winemaking
• Agriculture in Romania

References [ edit ]

External links [ edit ]

• Recommended wines and wineries
• Romanian terroir and wine grape assortments