Romania

The Republic of Romania (Romanian România, derived from the Latin Romanus) in SoutheastEurope with the capital Bucharest covers 238,397 km². The country is located on the Black Sea and extends westward over the Carpathian arch to the Pannonian Plain. It borders Bulgaria to the south, Serbia and Hungary to the west, and Ukraine and Moldova to the north and east. Romania has been a member of the European Union since 2007.

History

Romania, with 6,000 years of winemaking history, is one of the oldest and most traditional wine-producing countries in Europe. The Greek poet Homer mentioned Thracian wines in his Iliad in the 8th century BC, and the historian Herodot (482-425 BC) tells of the wine trade of the Greek colonists on the Black Sea coast. German settlers from the Rhine-Moselle region responded to the call of the Hungarian King Géza II (1130-1162), the then ruler of this area, and revitalized winegrowing in Transylvania in the 12th century. In the 18th century, it was the Swabians brought to the country by the Habsburg ruler Maria Theresia (1717-1780). The historical region Bessarabia, which today belongs to Moldova, was mainly inhabited by Romanians in the early 19th century and belonged to Romania from 1917 to 1940.

Wine Regions

Romania belongs to the temperate climate zones and is located at the same latitude as France. Balanced precipitation, warm summers, and long, dry autumns are ideal for winegrowing. However, the parts of the country differ climatically due to the natural barrier of the Carpathians. Transylvania, west of the Carpathians, is still characterized by the maritime climate of the Atlantic winds. However, the Carpathians prevent these from reaching the east and south of the country. In Moldova (east of the Carpathians), a continental climate prevails with cold air currents from Ukraine. In Wallachia (south of the Carpathians) and Dobruja, there are Mediterranean influences. The three most important regions are Moldova, Muntenia, and Oltenia, where about 80% of the wines are produced.

During the communist era, production was state-controlled. Following the political upheaval, a large wave of privatization began in 1990 with many smallholders. Nearly 500 wineries are registered as producers. A certification system for the origin of wines allows traceability through a QR code (see image middle). There are 33 DOC/DOCC areas for quality wines and quality wines (PDO = protected designation of origin) covering 20,000 hectares and 12 IG areas for country wines (PGI = protected geographical indication) with about 6,500 hectares. The map shows the regions with their typical wine types. What Tokaji is for Hungary, the similar wine type Cotnari is for Romania. This traditional wine has been revived.

Banat

The region is located in the southwest of the country on the border with Serbia and Hungary. The winegrowing areas are Buzias-Silagiu, Dealul-Tirolului, Minis (known for its red wines from Cadarca and Cabernet Sauvignon), Moldova-Noua, Recas, Severinului, and Teremia-Mare (known for its white wines from Riesling Italian = Welschriesling).

Crisana and Maramures

The two regions are located in the northwest on the borders with Hungary and Ukraine. The winegrowing areas are Diosig, Simleul-Silvaniei, and Valea lui Mihai. Red wines and white wines.

Dobrogea (Dobruja)

The region is located in the far southeast on the Black Sea and is bordered to the west by the Danube (Dunarea). The winegrowing areas are Istria-Babadag, Murfatlar, Ostrov, and Sarica-Niculitel. In Romania's sunniest climate with low precipitation, soft red wines and rosé wines are grown here.

Moldova (Moldova)

The largest region with one-third of the vineyard area is located east of the Carpathians in the eastern part of the country on the border with Moldova and Ukraine. The winegrowing areas are Bujor, Cotesti, Cotnari, Covurlui, Dealul Bujorului, Husi, Iasi, Ivesti, Nicoresti, Odobesti, Panciu (known for its sparkling wines), Tutova, and Zeletin.

Muntenia (Great Wallachia)

The region with the capital Bucharest is located in the south in the Southern Carpathians. The winegrowing areas are Dealurile Buzaului, Dealul Mare, Pietroasele, Samburesti, and Stefanesti. Here, the highest average temperatures in Romania are recorded. The hilly land is now mainly known for its red wines and rosé wines from international varieties. During the USSR times, these were preferably produced sweet.

Oltenia (Little Wallachia)

The region is located in the southwest of the country. The winegrowing areas are Corcova, Crusetu, Dealurile-Craiovei, Dragasani, Drincea, Plaiurile-Drincei, Sadova-Corabia, Segarcea, and Targu-Jiu. Here, excellent red wines are produced from the autochthonous variety Fetească Neagră and from Cabernet Sauvignon. The German winery Reh Kendermann acquired 350 hectares of vineyard area here in 2001 and founded the "Carl Reh Winery".

Transilvania (Transylvania)

The region in the center is particularly known for its white wines. German immigrants brought many of their own grape varieties. The winegrowing areas are Alba Iulia, Bistrita-Nasaud, Lechinta, Sebes-Apold, and Tarnave.

Grape Variety Overview

In 2022, the vineyards covered 187,934 hectares, and the wine production volumes were 3.79 million hectoliters. About 75% are white wines, 25% are red wines. A total of 163 grape varieties with nearly 40,000 hectares are classified as "Noble Winegrape Varietes". Romania also has a significant production of table grapes; the most important are Afuz Ali, Chasselas, Muscat of Hamburg, Italia (grape variety), and Victoria. The grape variety overview (ONVPV Romania):

Wine Law & Wine Categories

In August 2009, the EU wine market regulation came into effect with fundamental changes to wine designations and quality levels. The following new designations or quality levels exist (see also under quality system):

• Vin (formerly Vin de Masă or table wine) = wine
• IG = Vin de Regiune or country wine
• DOC = Vin de Calitate or quality wine
• DOCC = essentially quality wine

IG = Indicație Geografică or Vin de Regiune

The existing alcohol content must be at least 9.5% (for wine-growing zone B) or 10.0% vol (wine-growing zones CI and CII). The total alcohol content must not exceed 15% vol. There are about 50 country wine areas, whose names are mostly identical to the political district or region.

DOC = Denumire de Origine Controlată

Quality wines from specific growing areas with controlled origin. Prescribed quality wine grape varieties. The potential alcohol content must be at least 11.5%, and the existing content must be at least 10% vol.

DOCC = Denumire de Origine Controlată si trepte de Calitate

This corresponds essentially to a quality wine. Minimum must weights are prescribed for each type. The codes refer to ripeness level or proportion of noble rot grapes; the second "C" refers to "Cules" (wine harvest):

• CMD (Cules la Maturitate Deplină) = Kabinett (73 Oe or 196 g/l sugar)
• CT (Cules Târziu) = late harvest (82 Oe or 220 g/l sugar)
• CS (Cules Selectionat) = select harvest
• CIB (Cules la Înnobilarea Boabelor) = berry selection (125 Oe or 240 g/l sugar)
• CSB (Cules la Stafidirea Boabelor) = dry berry selection (noble rotten berries, Stafidirea = raisins)

Special Wine Designations/Types

• Vin Spumante cu Denumire de Origine Controlată = sparkling wine with origin designation.
• Rezervă = reserve (maturation at least 6 months in oak barrel and 6 in bottle)
• Vin de Vinotecă (maturation at least 1 year in oak barrel and 4 months in bottle)
• Vin Tănăr = young wine (marketing until the end of the harvest year)

Map: © Goruma 
Flag: by AdiJapan - Own work, Public domain, Link 
Coat of Arms: Public domain, Link
Cotnari: by Ulrich prokop - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, Link 
Wine regions: Agroinform 
Source 1st paragraph: WIKIPEDIA Romania