Romanian wine
Encyclopedia
Romania
is one of the world's largest wine producers
, producing (as of 2009) around 610,000 ton
s of wine
. In recent years, Romania has attracted many European business people and wine buyers, due to the affordable prices of both vineyards and wines compared to other wine producing nations such as France, Germany, and Italy.
Later on, during the medieval ages, Saxons emigrated to Romania, bringing along with them different variations of Germanic grape vines. However, by the 1800s, most of these grape vines were replaced by grapes from Western Europe
.
In the 1880s, phylloxera
(a pale yellow sap-sucking insect that attacks the roots of vines) arrived in Romania from North America
. The phylloxera wiped out a majority of Europe
's vineyards, including those in Romania. Eventually, many of the Romanian vines were replaced by those imported from France
and other foreign nations, such as Merlot
, Chardonnay
, and Pinot Noir
.
In 2008, Romania was the twelfth largest wine producing country in the world, and, in 2009, the eleventh largest.
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
is one of the world's largest wine producers
Winemaking
Winemaking, or vinification, is the production of wine, starting with selection of the grapes or other produce and ending with bottling the finished wine. Although most wine is made from grapes, it may also be made from other fruit or non-toxic plant material...
, producing (as of 2009) around 610,000 ton
Ton
The ton is a unit of measure. It has a long history and has acquired a number of meanings and uses over the years. It is used principally as a unit of weight, and as a unit of volume. It can also be used as a measure of energy, for truck classification, or as a colloquial term.It is derived from...
s of wine
Wine
Wine is an alcoholic beverage, made of fermented fruit juice, usually from grapes. The natural chemical balance of grapes lets them ferment without the addition of sugars, acids, enzymes, or other nutrients. Grape wine is produced by fermenting crushed grapes using various types of yeast. Yeast...
. In recent years, Romania has attracted many European business people and wine buyers, due to the affordable prices of both vineyards and wines compared to other wine producing nations such as France, Germany, and Italy.
History
Romania has one of the oldest wine making traditions in the world, it's viticulture dating back more than 6000 years. Due to the hot dry summers, the location proved to be successful and the grape vineyards thrived. Since the medieval times, wine has been the traditional alcoholic beverage of the Romanians.Later on, during the medieval ages, Saxons emigrated to Romania, bringing along with them different variations of Germanic grape vines. However, by the 1800s, most of these grape vines were replaced by grapes from Western Europe
Western Europe
Western Europe is a loose term for the collection of countries in the western most region of the European continents, though this definition is context-dependent and carries cultural and political connotations. One definition describes Western Europe as a geographic entity—the region lying in the...
.
In the 1880s, phylloxera
Phylloxera
Grape phylloxera ; originally described in France as Phylloxera vastatrix; equated to the previously described Daktulosphaira vitifoliae, Phylloxera vitifoliae; commonly just called phylloxera is a pest of commercial grapevines worldwide, originally native to eastern North America...
(a pale yellow sap-sucking insect that attacks the roots of vines) arrived in Romania from North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
. The phylloxera wiped out a majority of Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
's vineyards, including those in Romania. Eventually, many of the Romanian vines were replaced by those imported from France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and other foreign nations, such as Merlot
Merlot
Merlot is a darkly blue-coloured wine grape, that is used as both a blending grape and for varietal wines. The name Merlot is thought to derive from the Old French word for young blackbird, merlot, a diminutive of merle, the blackbird , probably from the color of the grape. Merlot-based wines...
, Chardonnay
Chardonnay
Chardonnay is a green-skinned grape variety used to make white wine. It is originated from the Burgundy wine region of eastern France but is now grown wherever wine is produced, from England to New Zealand...
, and Pinot Noir
Pinot Noir
Pinot noir is a black wine grape variety of the species Vitis vinifera. The name may also refer to wines created predominantly from Pinot noir grapes...
.
In 2008, Romania was the twelfth largest wine producing country in the world, and, in 2009, the eleventh largest.
Wine producing regions
- CotnariCotnariCotnari is a village and the center of the eponymous commune in Iaşi County, Romania, in the informal region of Moldova. It is located north-west of Iaşi and south of Hârlău, in a major wine-producing region of Romania, and is famous for the wine variety known as Grasă de Cotnari...
- Dealu MareDealu Mare VineyardDealu Mare vineyard is the cradle of the red wines. It spreads about 400 square kilometres under the Carphatians Hills.- Range of wines :Dealu Mare vineyard is the land of the red wine:* Cabernet Sauvignon* Grasa de Cotnari* Feteasca neagra* Feteasca regala...
- JidveiJidveiJidvei is a commune in Alba county, Romania, located on the Târnava River. Jidvei is located in the north-western part of Romania, in the Transylvanian plateau. Jidvei was first mentioned in documents in 1309, but traces of human presence go further back in time...
- Murfatlar
- PanciuPanciuThe town of Panciu in the county of Vrancea in Romania lies on the river Şuşiţa, in southern Moldavia, northwest of Focşani. It has a population of approximately 9,000. It administers five villages: Crucea de Jos, Crucea de Sus, Dumbrava, Neicu and Satu Nou....
- OdobeştiOdobestiOdobeşti is a town in Vrancea County, Romania. The town administers one village, Unirea....
- CoteştiCotestiCoteşti is a commune located in Vrancea County, Romania. It is composed of four villages: Budeşti, Coteşti, Goleştii de Sus and Valea Coteşti....
- RecaşRecasRecaş is a town in Timiş County, Banat, Romania. Six villages are administered by the town: Bazoş, Herneacova, Izvin, Nadăş , Petrovaselo and Stanciova.-Population:...
- TârnaveTârnave VineyardThe Târnave wine region is situated just north of Sibiu surrounded by the Carpathian Mountains. It is one of the most important and oldest in Romania,being mentioned by Herodot about 600 b.C....
- Vânju MareVânju MareVânju Mare is a small town located in Mehedinţi County, Romania. It has a population of 7,074. Four villages are administered by the town: Bucura, Nicolae Bălcescu, Oreviţa Mare and Traian....
- BuciumIasiIași is the second most populous city and a municipality in Romania. Located in the historical Moldavia region, Iași has traditionally been one of the leading centres of Romanian social, cultural, academic and artistic life...
Wines
- Whites
- Grasă de CotnariGrasa de CotnariGrasă de Cotnari is a Romanian wine variety associated with the Cotnari vineyard, Moldavia, where it has been grown ever since the rule of Prince Stephen the Great . With the general decline in demand for sweet wines after the second world war and bad wine making during the communist era, Grasă...
- Fetească albăFeteasca albaFetească Albă is a Romanian - Moldovan white grape variety, mainly cultivated in Moldova and Romanian regions of Moldavia and Transylvania, as well as in the Hungarian wine region of Eger.In Moldova, it uses the biggest area planted among local varieties -...
and Fetească regalăFeteasca RegalaFetească Regală is a variety of Romanian - Moldovan white grape variety, created in the 1930s, in Mureş County. It is a crossing of Grasă and Fetească albă.This variety is cultivated mainly in Romanian regions of Moldavia and Transylvania, and in Moldova....
; FeteascăFeteascaFetească can refer to* One of the following traditional Romanian/Moldovan wine grapes or wines:** Fetească Albă** Fetească Neagră** Fetească Regală* Fetească of Romania*Feteasca, a village in Leuşeni Commune, Hînceşti district, Moldova...
is the most spread and known typical Romanian wine. - Galbenă de Odobeşti
- Grasă de Cotnari
- Reds
- Băbească NeagrăBăbească NeagrăBăbească Neagră is an old native Romanian - Moldovan wine grape variety. It is cultivated in the south of Moldova and in Romania , and is the second most planted grape variety in Romania, with about in 2005...
- Fetească neagrăFeteasca NeagraFetească Neagră ; ) is an old pre-phylloxeric variety of Romanian - Moldovan grape, cultivated mainly in several areas in the Romanian regions of Moldavia and Muntenia and also in the Republic of Moldova....
- Băbească Neagră
- Aromatics
- Tămâioasă RomâneascăTamâioasa RomâneascaTămâioasă Românească is a Romanian - Moldovan grape variety used for the production of aromatic wines, Tămâioasă are natural sweet or semi-sweet wines, with alcohol content of 12%-12.5%....
- Busuioacă de BohotinBusuioaca de BohotinBusuioacă de Bohotin is a unique grape which originates from Bohotin region, in Southeast Iaşi County, and is also cultivated in other small areas: Huşi in Vaslui County, Pietroasele in Buzău County and Tohani in Prahova County, on a total area of no more than 100 ha.The wine has a light red...
- Tămâioasă Românească
- Others
- Zaibăr is a wine originated from Romania. It is made in OlteniaOlteniaOltenia is a historical province and geographical region of Romania, in western Wallachia. It is situated between the Danube, the Southern Carpathians and the Olt river ....
, a region in the southwest of the country. The colour of the wine is dark red. - Sânge de Taur is a wine originated from Vrancea CountyVrancea CountyVrancea is a county in Romania, with its seat at Focşani. It is mostly in the historical region of Moldavia but the southern part, below the Milcov River, is in Muntenia.-Demographics:...
. The colour of the wine is dark red. - Frâncușă
- Zaibăr is a wine originated from Romania. It is made in Oltenia