Viticulture and Wine Technology in Romania

Viticulture is practiced in Romania, almost the entire country, from the Danube in the south, until Botosani and Maramures in the north. Only a few counties located in areas of higher altitude (Brasov, Covasna, Harghita) and one county in the far north of the country (Suceava) does not provide favorable conditions this vineyard.

A vine and wine road trip requires that such a long journey through all the Romanian provinces. It is certainly difficult for a traveler on the road to go wherever there are living and producing wine. Restricting their only route leading to places of Romanian viticulture the traveler has yet to go a long way, filled with countless moments of excitement and unexpected revelations.

History

The beginnings of viticulture in this region dates back at least 4,000 years.Legend says that Dionysus, god of wine, was born in Thracia, where is now Romania.Romania or Dacia as the Romans knew it had an established wine culture.Abundance of food and famous wines of the Dacian were known so tempting, thatBurebista, the Dacian king first centralized (first century BC), ordered the destruction of vineyards end of repeated invasions of migratory peoples, as High Priest advised him,Deceneu.Coins minted by the Romans after the conquest of Dacia (106 AC) depicted a woman two children gave her grapes as a symbol of the main wealth of Dacia Felix, this fact evidence that the vineyards was reborned.

Dyonisos god of wine

Roman coins

19th century and the beginning of the 20th century until World War were characterized by extensive and close links with France.

In the vineyard, these links have culminated with practical help given by French wine growers, after ravages of Phylloxera in the last two decades of the 19th century.

The result was that it replanted who had their origin in France to foreign varieties: Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and others.

During the communist period (1948-1989), when there are three distinct types of wine organizations, such as: Research Institutes, Wine Farms and Wine Centers of state and cooperative farms. Romanian wines managed to conquer important medals at international competitions despite the heavy emphasis placed on quantity and less quality.

Vineyard acreage

Unit of measurement

2007 2008 2009 2010

Ha 180.402 181.542 181.793 181.562

Romanian vineyard acreage

Wine regions 2007 2008 2009 2010

Total of which 180.402 181.542 181.793 181.562

Moldova 87.023 86.179 85.893 85.700

Dobrogea 25.301 25.057 24.463 22.182

Muntenia 80.460 69.871 70.439 69.570

Oltenia 34.437 42.760 43.570 43.418

Banat 4.368 4.117 3.763 3.700

Crisana Maramures

10.973 11.257 11.284 11.184

Transylvania 12.468 11.462 11.758 11.873

Romanian vineyards

Grapes varietiesFor red wines

Romanian varieties :- Fetească Neagră;- Băbească Neagră- Pandur- Novac

Foreign varieties

- Cabernet Sauvignon;- Pinot Noire;- Merlot- Burgund

For white wines

Romanian varieties :- Fetească Albă;- Fetească regală- Grasă de Cotnari- Frâncușă- Tamâioasă Românească- Galbenă de Odobești

Foreign varieties

- Chardonnay;- Sauvignon Banc;- Muscat Ottonel;- Pinot gris- Italian Riesling

Grapes varietie for red wines

Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon

Feteasca Neagră Novac Pandur

Pinot Noire

Azur

Burgund

Grapes varietie for white wines

Italian riesling

Frâncușe Grasa de Cotnari Fetească RegalăTamaioasa Romaneasca

Chardonnay Pinot Gris Sauvignon Blanc

Romanian vineyards

Segarcea SâmbureștiDrăgășăniBanu MărăcineVânju MareCraiova

Oltenia

Segarcea – Domeniul CoroaneiSURFACE: 270 HaVARIETIES: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Feteasca Neagra. Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc, Feteasca Alba, Riesling Italian, Tamaioasa Roza, Pandur, NovacHistory : The vine culture on these lands as well as on the entire of Romanian territory, has a very old tradition, with loses itself in ancient timesGeography : Domeniul Coroanei Segarcea situated in the Oltenia’s field, resembles in the summer to a green island bothed by the cereal cultures and sands.

Wines

Tamâioasă românească Year 2001 Alcoholic degree 12.70 Provenience Segarcea Color White Type Sweet

Merlot Year 2008 Alcoholic degree 13.50 Provenience Segarcea Color Red Type Dry

Cabernet Sauvignon Year 2008 Alcoholic degree 13.50 Provenience Segarcea Color Red Type Dry

RecașMinișTeremia Mare

Banat

RecașSURFACE: 350 HaVARIETIES: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Feteasca regală. Pinot Noir, Muscat ottonel, Feteasca alba, Riesling Italian, Merlot, Pinot grigio.HISTORY : The first records of viticulture in the Banat region date back from the period of the Roman invasion of Dacia, in their century AD. Earlier legends tell of the god of wine Bacchus spending his childhood here. More recent history shows that the vineyard of Recas were already renowned by 1447 when the lord of Severin, Mihail de Ciorna purchased the vineyards in Recas from Ioan and Ecaterina Magyar, for 32 Hungarian gold florins.

Wines

Merlot& Pinot noire

Merlot& Burgund

Riesling Italian

Burgund Rose

Wine Bootle Type Alcohol

Riesling Italian

0.75 Dry 12.5%

Burgund rose

0.75 Semy sweet 12.5 %

Merlot/ Pinot noire

0.75 Sweet 13.5 %

Merlot/ Burgund

0.75 Semi dry 12.5%

Transylvania

JidveiBlajMediașTârnaveSebeș-ApoldLechința

Jidvei SURFACE: 2000 Ha Altitude 400-600 m

VARIETIES: Gewurtztraminer, Fetească Albă, Muscat ottonel, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris, Italian Riesling, Fetească Regală, Chardonnay.

HISTORY : Jidvei wines are nurtured in the Tarnave Vineyard, laid along the two Tarnave rivers. 150 kilometers away from the ancient Dacian fortress Sarmisegetuza, the cradle of the old Dacian civilization, the Tarnave Vineyard represents the heart... ...of a place filled with history and histories, some true, others imaginary, which bring Transylvania a touch of charm.

Wines

Dry Riesling Fetească Regală

Chardonnay Fetească albă

Wine Type Year Alcohol

Dry Riesling Dry 2009 12 vol%

Fetească Regală

Dry 2009 12 vol%

Chardonnay Dry 2009 12.5 vol%

Fetească albă

Demi sweet 2000 12 vol%

Moldavia

HusiUricaniCotnariCotestiPanciuNicorestiOdobesti

CotnariSURFACE: 2000 Ha Altitude 400-600 m

VARIETIES: Frâncușă, Grasă de Cotnari, Tămâioasă Românească, Fetească Albă, Fetească Regală.HISTORY : From ancient times until today, vines embraced continuously hills of the area, profited from its features. The vineyard is sheltered from cold winds and local currents due phoenizare phe-nomenon of air masses that determine the heating process.Grasa de Cotnari can’t be obtain in any other vineyard from Romania or the world.

Wines

Grasă de Cotnari

Tămâioasă românească Frâncușă

Fetească albă

Wine Type Year Alcohol

Grasă de Cotnari

Sweet 2007 12.5 vol%

Tămâioasă românească

Sweet 2007 13.5 vol%

Frâncușă Dry 2009 12 vol%

Fetească albă

Demi sweet 2009 12 vol%

Dobrogea

MurfatlarMedgidiaNiculitelTulceaOstrovHarsova

MurfatlarSurface: 3000 HaVarieties : Fetească Regală, Fetească Albă, Fetească Neagră, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noire, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Muscat OttonelHistory :With one of the best natural sites between the Danube and Black Sea, Murfatlar vineyard is most famous in Romania. Growing vines is the main occupation here since ancient times. Scythia Minor, Dobrogea in ancient was known for famous wines who trade with the Greek colonies on the Black Sea.

Wines

Cabernet Sauvignon

Sauvignon Blanc Feteasca neagra

Cabernet Sauvignon

Wine Type Year Alcohol

Cabernet Sauvignon

Dry 2007 13.5 %

Sauvignon Blanc

Dry 2007 12.5 %

Feteasca neagră

Dry 2009 13.5 %

Cabernet Sauvignon Rose

Dry 2009 12 %

Romanian wines exportCountry Hectolitre

s‘000 US $ $/liter

Germany 152.360 7.470 0.49

Moldavia 218.10 6.540 0.30

UK 11230 1.523 1.36

USA 5.850 1.021 1.75

Ceh Republic

35.180 895 0.25

Israel 8.820 791 0.90

Denmark 7.000 735 1.05

Italy 23.270 401 0.17

Rusia 6.470 294 0.44

Total 504.530 23.035 0.46

Romanian wines importCountry Hectolitre

s‘000 US $ $/liter

France 1.510 660 4,38

Italy 2.200 530 2,40

Germany 690 166 2.41

Austria 170 22 1,27

Spain 150 57 3,66

Portugal 80 35 4.54

Others 7.000 735 1.05

Total 7.770 1.762 2,27

Thank you for your attention !