Romanian Wine-Producing Areas
Major wine producing regions:
ALBA IULIA - To the west of the vineyard of Târnave, nicknamed the country of wine, on the hillsides of Mures. The vines Italian Riesling, Feteasca Alba, Feteasca Regala, Pinot Gris, Sauvignon, Muscat Ottonel, distinguish themselves by their bouquet.
BISTRITA - Region that produces the wines of Lechinta in the North of Transylvania and to the South of Maramures. This zone is also known for its good traminers.
COTNARI region is known for its dessert wines. A very beautiful wine region of Moldavia, it produces the most beautiful sweet wines of Romania from the Grasa, Tamâioasa, Francusa, and Feteasca Alba vines. Cotnari, situated in the hills of the Northwest of Iasi, enjoys a microclimate that favors the belated wine-harvests, up until the end of November. The region of Cotnari is also interesting for the old cellar vestiges, the castles of Paraclis and Cârjoaia as well as for the ruins of the palace of Hârlau (15th century).
DEALU MARE - This area produces soft red wines. Some of the best Pinot Noirs, Cabernet and Merlot wines come from this region.
ODOBESTI PANCIU - Close to the city of Focsani. Very varied vines with white and red wine production. It produces a wine descended from a local vine, Galbena de Odobesti, a light white wine, little aromatic but appreciated for its freshness and its balance. It was the favorite wine of the prince of Moldavia Dimitrie Cantemir at the end of the 18th century.
DEALU MARE - "The Big Hill". This region is one of the most important wine regions of Romania. It spreads on more or less 400 km˛ of hillsides South the Sub-Carpathian mountains, in the south of the Carpathians. It favors the production of red wines rich in fruits and perfumes, soft and without excessive tannins. The climate is ideal for Cabernet-Sauvignon, Merlot and Pinot Noir. In the wine zone of Pietroasele, in the East of the Dealu Mare region, where the soil is chalky and stony, we produce white wines descended of Tamâioasa and Grasa. All these wines can be tasted in the tourist center of Boldesti, close to Ploiesti.
DRAGASANI - The vineyards of this zone produce red wines descended of Feteasca Neagra and Cabernet Sauvignon of Sâmburesti (awarded the Gold Medal in Paris in 1867), on low in altitude hills.
MURFATLAR - Another very important wine region of Romania, it is located less than 10km of the Black Sea on a surface of 2.000 hectares. Having an sun exhibition of about 300 days per year with hot and long falls, the Black Sea provides it the freshness and the necessary humidity to permit the culture of the grape and the possibility to produce noble rot. The Chardonnays and the Pinot Gris are vinified in liquory of exceptional quality, with an astonishing longevity potential. There are also produced red wines descended of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Pinot Noir that are soft, rich and very fragrant. There are also produced wines for dessert descended of Tamâioasa Româneasca and Muscat Ottonel. An excellent modified wine, descended of Muscat Ottonel is produced at Ovidiu, that is "Lacrima lui Ovidiu".
TARNAVE - Region situated to the North of Sibiu, on the cool tray of Transylvania between the two rivers of the region, Târnava Mica and Târnava Mare. This region enjoys a cool microclimate due to the high altitude and to the humidity provided by the rivers, which allows it to produce cool, fruity white wines and with a very good acidity. There are produced wines from the vines Feteasca Alba, Ruländer, Sauvignon Blanc, Muscatel Ottonel and Traminer Rose. Perla is a flexible wine, light and aromatic, which is also a product of this region.
TEREMIA- The growers at Teremia Mare practice, on a sandy soil, a classical viticulture with small distances between vines. Here neutral white wines are produced: Steinschiller, Majarca, Grasa and Banat Riesling suitable for the blend of the native which were highly appreciated by the court suppliers of the former Austrian-Hungarian monarchy.
THE GRAPES
- Native varieties -
FETEASCA ALBA is an old Romanian variety, grown especially in Moldavia and Transylvania. Wines are either dry or semi-dry, with a balanced alcohol content (11.5-12%), acidity and sugar and feature a velvety, natural finesse.
FETEASCA REGALA is an old variety from Transylvania. Wines are dry, fresh, have high acidity and a distinguished flavor.
FETEASCA NEAGRA is an old indigenous variety, grown in several areas in Moldavia and Muntenia (southern Romania). These grapes produce dry, semi-dry 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 and its fragrance is out of this world.
TAMAIOASA ROMANEASCA 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 - This UNIQUE grape grows in a tiny area in Moldavia. The wine has a unique golden rusty color and flavor resembling honey suckle and ripe juicy peaches, with a perfect harmony of sugar, alcohol and acidity.
- Foreign varieties -
