Vine cultivation in Romania spans the entire country, highlighting the diverse landscapes, climates, and terroirs, as well as the deep-rooted cultural significance of wine.
Explore this vibrant tapestry and meet the producers representing Romania's regions and DOCs at Prowein 2024.
Transylvania Plateau
Transylvania’s enchanting landscapes and rustic charm have long captivated visitors. Historic castles, gothic hotels, and charming cottages nestled among traditional fields create a fairy-tale setting where brown bears and wolves still roam the dark forests.
For vintners, the Transylvania Plateau offers numerous benefits. Situated on a high central plateau surrounded by the Carpathian Mountains, this region boasts over 6,000 hectares of vineyards. The altitude (up to 500 meters above sea level) results in a cooler climate, ideal for cultivating white grapes. Late-ripening and cool-climate varieties thrive here, including Fetească Regală, Fetească Albă, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris, Fetească Neagră, and Pinot Noir.
Key appellations in this area include Jidvei DOC, Lechința DOC, and Târnave DOC, where the elevation's cooling effects are enhanced by two nearby rivers, Târnava Mică and Târnava Mare.
Jidvei
Located in its namesake DOC, Jidvei is a cornerstone of Transylvanian wine production, both historically and in scale. With 2,500 hectares of vineyards aged 4-20 years, Jidvei is Romania’s largest vineyard owner and among Europe’s largest under single ownership. Founded in 1949 and privatized in 1999, Jidvei has embraced innovation and education, incorporating cutting-edge technology and establishing Romania's first private viticulture and oenology school. Notably, Jidvei houses Crama Tauni, Romania’s first and one of Europe's largest gravity wine cellars.
Liliac
A relative newcomer, Liliac has swiftly built a strong reputation in Lechința DOC since its first vintage in 2011. Pioneering red wines in the region and experimenting with styles like recioto and Romania’s first orange wine, Liliac also focuses on sustainable viticultural practices, using bats for natural pest control through vineyard nesting boxes.
Crișana and Maramureș
Northwest of Transylvania, Crișana and Maramureș regions host the Minis and Crișana DOCs and are known for their sparkling wines. Influenced by neighboring Hungary, the regions feature a continental climate with diverse soils (volcanic, shale, limestone, gravel, clay, iron oxide) and long, warm autumns. The climate and soil produce balanced, aromatic grapes, including local varieties like Fetească Albă and Fetească Regală, as well as Hungarian Furmint, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Pinot Noir. The Apuseni mountains, located in the region’s southeast, attract over 200,000 tourists annually to the famous Bears’ Cave, showcasing well-preserved cave bear skeletons from the Ice Age.
Darabont Winery
Darabont Winery (Familia Darabont), based in Crișana DOC, is a family-owned operation for three generations. Managing over 40 hectares of vineyards with limestone, clay, and loess soils, Darabont focuses on precision viticulture, sustainability, and innovation, vinifying only its own grapes.
Moldovan Hills
Located in Romania’s east, the Moldovan Hills region borders Moldova along the river Prut and includes the historic Cotnari DOC. To protect against harsh northerly winds, vineyards are often planted on south- and south-west-facing terraces. This region enjoys high levels of sunshine (over 2,000 hours annually) and receives around 500mm of rainfall each year. Iași, the regional capital and Romania’s third-largest city, is renowned for its cultural and academic significance, featuring landmarks like the Grand Hotel Traian and Iași University, home to a leading viticultural research lab. The Cetățuia Monastery, dating back to the 1600s, preserves its own wine cellars.
The Moldovan Hills region is known for extensive plantings of Grasă, Tămâioasă Românească, Fetească Albă, and Frâncușă, traditionally blended for Cotnari’s famous sweet white wine, which has been celebrated since the 1500s.
Cotnari
Cotnari, with over 1,700 hectares of vineyards (1,300 in production), focuses on Romanian varieties such as Grasă de Cotnari, Frâncușâ, Fetească Albă, and Tămâioasă Românească. The estate produces premium dry and semi-dry whites from low-yielding vines, with Grasă de Cotnari being the flagship variety known for its unique character and aging potential.
Domeniile Avereşti
Domeniile Avereşti operates in the high-altitude, cool-climate area of Huși DOC. With a cellar dating back to 1874, the estate values its historical roots while producing white wines from local varieties like Zghihară and Busuioacă de Bohotin. Each vintage's first bottle is ceremoniously placed in the cellar, honoring nature and the region’s former vinegrowers.
Gîrboiu Family Estate
Established in 2005, the Gîrboiu family-owned winery spans around 200 hectares in Cotești DOC. The vineyard includes plantings of unique local varieties Șarbă and Plăvaie, and the portfolio features brands that reference the area's frequent seismic activity.
Muntenia and Oltenia Hills
South of Transylvania, Muntenia and Oltenia Hills regions are largely devoted to red wine production, with Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Syrah, and Fetească Neagră being the most planted varieties. The area around Pietroasele, 99km northeast of Bucharest, is known for sweet, late-harvest Tămâioasă, often botrytised, grown on calcareous soil.
Muntenia is home to the renowned Dealu Mare DOC, often referred to as "Romania’s Tuscany." This large DOC, covering about 3,200 hectares, produces acclaimed red and white still wines.
Viile Budureasca
A prominent Dealu Mare producer, Viile Budureasca has won 500 international medals for its wines, exporting to 23 countries. Its portfolio includes sparkling, organic, and orange wines, blending tradition with modern techniques under winemaker Stephen Donnely.
Domeniile Franco-Române
Founded by Burgundian winemaker Denis Thomas in 2000, Domeniile Franco-Române (DFR) began converting to organic farming in 2003 and produced Romania’s first certified organic wine in 2006. Today, under the Olariu family's ownership, DFR continues its legacy with 40 additional hectares from the historic Domeniile Persu-Eminescu estate.
Aurelia Vișinescu
Oenology-trained Aurelia Vișinescu, who co-founded her namesake winery in 2003, combines New World techniques with a passion for Romania’s winemaking history. She pioneered the dry vinification of Fetească Neagră, showcasing the grape’s potential.
Davino
Established in 2003, Davino quickly became one of Romania’s most esteemed producers. With 88 hectares of vineyards, Davino produces blends expressing terroir, single-varietal wines highlighting local grapes, and the renowned Domaine Ceptura and Flamboyant collections.
DeMatei
Known for the quality and age-worthiness of its wines, DeMatei manages 70 hectares of vineyards, including old vines planted over 40 years ago. The producer of the iconic Prince Matei Merlot since 1998, DeMatei also earned international recognition for its Migala and Patima ranges.
Ceptura
Crama Ceptura, with 120 hectares of vineyards in Dealu Mare, boasts sophisticated state-of-the-art equipment and produces a diverse range of wines from local and international grape varieties.
Viile Metamorfosis
Founded by Piero Antinori in 2008, Viile Metamorfosis aims to express Dealu Mare's full potential. The estate, with 70 hectares of vineyards, focuses on Romanian varieties and is known for its Via Marchizului single-vineyard range.
Sâmburești Vineyards
Sâmburești, with origins dating back to the early 20th century, focuses on Bordeaux blends. The Valvis family has expanded the estate to 500 hectares, continuing its historical reputation while investing in modern equipment.
Oprişor Wine Estate
Located in Mehedinți county, Oprişor Wine Estate manages 252 hectares of vineyards and combines modern equipment with traditional methods, including a tasting room in an enormous concrete tank from the 1970s.
Dobrogea
In the southeastern corner of Romania, Dobrogea benefits from a warm climate with some maritime influence. The region's vineyards receive very low rainfall (150-200mm) and up to 300 days of sunshine annually. The region is also home to the Danube Delta, a unique ecosystem supporting over 300 bird species.
Crama Histria
Founded by university professor Marin Lupașcu, Crama Histria, located near the Black Sea, focuses on both local and international varieties, producing wines that reflect the coastal terroir.
Murfatlar
With over 3,000 hectares of vineyards, Murfatlar is one of Romania’s largest wine producers. The winery is known for its diverse portfolio and commitment to quality, blending tradition and modernity.
M1.Crama Atelier
M1.Crama Atelier, established in 2011, is a boutique winery that emphasizes terroir-driven wines. With a focus on sustainable practices, the winery produces limited quantities of high-quality wines from selected vineyards.
Crama Rasova
Crama Rasova, founded in 2014, combines traditional methods with state-of-the-art technology. The winery produces a range of wines that showcase the unique characteristics of the Dobrogea region.
Vinuri de Macin
Vinuri de Macin, located in the heart of Dobrogea, focuses on both local and international grape varieties. The winery is known for its commitment to quality and innovation, producing wines that reflect the region's diverse terroir.
Dragaică
A boutique winery, Dragaică focuses on premium wines from local grape varieties. The winery emphasizes sustainable practices and the unique terroir of the Dobrogea region.
Rasova
Rasova, a modern winery with a focus on quality, produces a range of wines that showcase the unique characteristics of the Dobrogea region. The winery emphasizes innovation and sustainability in its production methods.
Crama Dobrogea
Crama Dobrogea, with a commitment to quality and tradition, produces a range of wines that reflect the unique terroir of the Dobrogea region. The winery focuses on both local and international grape varieties.
Crama Mircea
Crama Mircea, located in the heart of Dobrogea, produces high-quality wines that reflect the unique terroir of the region. The winery emphasizes sustainable practices and traditional methods.
The Role of Terroir
Romanian terroir plays a crucial role in the quality and diversity of its wines. The country’s diverse climates, soils, and topography create a unique environment for vine cultivation. From the cooler, high-altitude vineyards of Transylvania to the warm, sun-drenched hills of Muntenia and Oltenia, Romanian winemakers harness the nuances of each region to produce wines with distinct character and quality.
Conclusion
Romania's wine industry is a dynamic blend of tradition and innovation, with regions and producers dedicated to showcasing the country's rich viticultural heritage. At Prowein 2024, discover the diverse range of wines that reflect Romania’s unique terroirs, grape varieties, and winemaking expertise.
Source: Decanter in partnership with Wines of Romania