Romania is one of the world's largestwine producers and sixth-largest among European wine-producing countries, afterItaly,France,Spain,Germany andPortugal. It produced more wine thanNew Zealand andAustria but is lesser-known on the world wine stage. In 2021 it produced around 4.5 millionhectolitres ofwine.[1][2] In recent years, Romania has attracted many European business people and wine buyers, due to the affordable prices of bothvineyards and wines compared to other wine-producing nations such as France, Germany, and Italy.[3]
Romania's most cultivated grape varieties are for white winesFetească Albă,Fetească Regală,Riesling,Aligoté,Sauvignon,Muscat,Pinot Gris,Chardonnay,Tămâioasă Românească,Grasă de Cotnari,Galbenă de Odobești. Also, the main grape varieties for red wines areMerlot,Cabernet Sauvignon,Băbească Neagră,Fetească Neagră,Pinot Noir.
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 1880sphylloxera (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 asMerlot,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.[7]
Main wine regions of Romania are:[8][9]
TheTransylvanian Plateau region (Podișul Transilvaniei)
TheMoldavian Hills region (Dealurile Moldovei)[10]
The Munteniei & Olteniei Hills region (Dealurile Munteniei și Olteniei)[11]
TheBanat Hills region (Dealurile Banatului)
TheCrișana Hills region (Dealurile Crișanei) andtheMaramureș region (Maramureșului)
TheDobruja Hills region (Colinele Dobrogei)
TheDanube Terraces region (Terasele Dunării)
Additional favorable sandy regions in central-southern Romania (Regiunea nisipurilor și altor terenuri favorabile din sudul țării)
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 andBusuioaca de Bohotin for the Huși wine-growing region;Fetească neagră for the Iași wine-growing region;Grasa de Cotnari andFrâncușa for theCotnari wine-growing region;Crâmpoșie for theDrăgășani wine-growing region;Băbeasca Neagră for theNicorești wine-growing region;Iordană și Ardeleancă for theTârnave wine-growing region; orMustoasă de Măderat for theMiniș wine-growing region.[citation needed]
Each wine-growing region additionally cultivates international wine grape varieties, mainly:Sauvignon,Chardonnay,Riesling italico,Pinot gris andTraminer for white wines; andCabernet Sauvignon,Merlot andPinot 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 commonly under the name of producer (e.g. DAVINO, ALIRA, LACERTA) or under a marketing name (e.g. Serafim, Bon Viveur, Gramma, René Faure etc.).[citation needed]
The most known Romanian wine grape varieties for white wines areFetească albă,Crâmpoșie andFetească regală. Feteasca albă and Fetească regală produce dry or semi-dry wines, with rich floral aromas. They have a moderate alcohol content (11.5 to 12%) and moderate acidity. Crâmpoșia is known for producing fresh and fruity wines, with moderate alcohol content and pronounced acidity.[citation needed]
The most known Romanian wine grape variety for red wines isFetească neagră, originating in theUricani, 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″.[13]
Among the Romanian aromatic wine grape varieties, the most appreciated and cultivated areTămâioasă Românească andBusuioacă de Bohotin.[citation needed]
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