Romania is a major wine country in Europe with rich historical and cultural traditions. As legend says, the god of wine was born in Thracia, the present territory of Romania. Wine has been produced in this area since the 7th century BC. The abundance and fame of the Dacian (as this part of Thracia was called) wines were so well known that in order to put an end to the migratory people’s incursions, the Dacian king Burebista (1st century BC) ordered all the vineyards to be destroyed. Of course, not all the vineyards were uprooted and soon many of them were replanted. After Dacia was conquered by the Romans (106 AD), all coins issued by the victors were minted with the new Roman province represented as a woman to whom two children were offering grapes, a symbol of the regions main riches.

Today Romania undergoes profound changes and aspires to become a valued member of the world wine community as a producer and exporter of highly praised quality wines. The total vineyard area devoted to wine-grape production is spread throughout the country.

The continental climate, with hot summers and cold winters, is moderated by such local factors as the Black Sea, the Danube and the height of the Carpathian Mountains. The climate, soil and sun exposure are the key factors determining the quality of wines.

Main areas of production (% of vineyard area):

- Moldova 34.0

- Muntenia 28.0

- Oltenia 17.0

- Dobrogea 10.0

- Crisana-Maramures 4.6

- Transylvania 4.4

Romanian wines include several valuable native varieties, as well as some foreign varieties with well-known oenological characteristics, well adapted to the Romanian vine-growing conditions.

The main noble wines of Western European origin, with renown oenological characteristics, have been succesfully acclimatized in Romania since over two millennia, as follows :

- Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir as reds

- Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris and Muscat Ottonel as whites

Worth mentioning are also several extremely valuable native varieties, such as :

- Babeasca and Feteasca Neagra as reds

- Feteasca Regala, Francusa, Grasa, Galbena, Busuioaca and Tamaioasa as whites

BABEASCA NEAGRA - The variety, which yields Babeasca red wines, is an old native, grown in the vineyards of Moldavia (Odobesti, Costesti, Panciu, as well as others vineyards in the south of this area).

FETEASCA NEAGRA - An old indigenous variety, it is grown in several vineyards of central and southern Moldavia, as well as in Dealu Mare and Stefanesti vineyards of Valachia. They are dry or semi-dry, have a deep red colour with a ruby shade, a specific flavour resembling the blackcurrant, being at the same time robust and smooth, getting richer by ageing.

FETEASCA ALBA - This is an old variety and it is grown in most vineyards, especially in Moldavia and Transylvania; wines are dry or semi-dry, having a well-balanced content of alcohol (11.5-12 %), acidity and sugar, and feature a natural finesse.

FETEASCA REGALA - This variety originates from Transylvania and it is grown in most vineyards.The quality of wines ranges between table and high-quality ones.The wines have an alcoholic content of 10.5-11.5 %, are dry and fresh and have acidity and specific flavour.

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

GRASA DE COTNARI - This variety belongs to the old Cotnari vineyard, where it has been grown ever since the rule of the prince Stephen the Great. Made of grapes picked when they are already shrivelled and attacked by botrytis cinerea, this wine contains a high content of sugar (over 240 grams per litre).

TAMÂIOASA ROMÂNEASCA - Used for the production of high-quality aromatic wines, Tamaioasa are natural sweet or semi-sweet wines, with alcohol content of 12-12.5 % and imposing originality, offered by their yellow-golden colour, complex flavour resembling field flowers and honey, persistent rich taste, where alcohol, sugar and acidity reach a perfect harmony.

The main vineyards in Romania: Cotnari, Panciu, Odobesti, Vrancea, Cotesti, Tarnave, Jidvei, Dealu Mare, Ceptura, Valea Calugareasca, Tohani, Pietroasa, Murfatlar, Medgidia, Vanju Mare, Minis, Recas, Dragasani and the list may well continue.

The Romanian wine market reached some 350 million of euros in 2005, with estimates for 2006 reading approximately 450 million euros. Under these conditions, the volume of wine for export is to reach some 200,000 hectolitres, according to the Romanian National Union of Wine Producers and Vineyard Owners.

Warning: The abuse of alcohol is dangerous to your health. Consume in moderation.

Links: www.romanianwines.ch/history.htm, www.wineromania.com