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, that Burebista, 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. Roman coins

Dyonisos god of wine

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
Romanian vineyard acreage
Unit of measurement Ha 2007 180.402 2008 181.542 2009 181.793 2010 181.562

Wine regions Total of which Moldova

2007 180.402 87.023

2008 181.542 86.179

2009 181.793 85.893

2010 181.562 85.700

Dobrogea
Muntenia Oltenia Banat Crisana Maramures Transylvania

25.301
80.460 34.437 4.368 10.973 12.468

25.057
69.871 42.760 4.117 11.257 11.462

24.463
70.439 43.570 3.763 11.284 11.758

22.182
69.570 43.418 3.700 11.184 11.873

Romanian vineyards

Grapes varieties
For red wines For white wines

Romanian varieties : - Feteasc Neagr; - Bbeasc Neagr - Pandur - Novac

Foreign varieties Cabernet Sauvignon; Pinot Noire; Merlot Burgund

Romanian varieties : - Feteasc Alb; - Feteasc regal - Gras de Cotnari - Frncu - Tamioas Romneasc - Galben de Odobeti
Foreign varieties Chardonnay; Sauvignon Banc; Muscat Ottonel; Pinot gris Italian Riesling

Grapes varietie for red wines

Merlot

Cabernet Sauvignon

Pinot Noire

Burgund

Feteasca Neagr

Novac

Pandur

Azur

Grapes varietie for white wines

Italian riesling

Chardonnay

Pinot Gris

Sauvignon Blanc

Frncue

Grasa de Cotnari

Feteasc Regal

Tamaioasa Romaneasca

Romanian vineyards Oltenia

Segarcea Smbureti Drgni Banu Mrcine Vnju Mare Craiova

Segarcea Domeniul Coroanei

SURFACE: 270 Ha VARIETIES: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Feteasca Neagra. Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc, Feteasca Alba, Riesling Italian, Tamaioasa Roza, Pandur, Novac History : 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 times Geography : Domeniul Coroanei Segarcea situated in the Oltenias field, resembles in the summer to a green island bothed by the cereal cultures and sands.

Wines

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

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

Tamioas romneasc 2001 Year 12.70 Alcoholic degree Segarcea Provenience White Color Sweet Type

Banat
Reca Mini Teremia Mare

Reca
SURFACE: 350 Ha VARIETIES: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Feteasca regal. 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
Wine Bootle Type Alcohol

Riesling Italian
Merlot/ Pinot noire Merlot/ Burgund

0.75

Dry
Semy sweet Sweet Semi dry

12.5%
12.5 % 13.5 % 12.5%

Burgund rose 0.75 0.75 0.75

Riesling Italian Merlot& Pinot noire Merlot& Burgund

Burgund Rose

Transylvania
Jidvei Blaj Media Trnave Sebe-Apold Lechina

Jidvei
SURFACE: 2000 Ha Altitude 400-600 m VARIETIES: Gewurtztraminer, Feteasc Alb, Muscat ottonel, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris, Italian Riesling, Feteasc Regal, 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
Wine Dry Riesling Feteasc Regal Chardonnay Feteasc alb Dry Riesling Feteasc Regal Type Dry Dry Dry Demi sweet Year 2009 2009 2009 2000 Alcohol 12 vol% 12 vol% 12.5 vol% 12 vol%

Chardonnay

Feteasc alb

Moldavia
Husi Uricani Cotnari Cotesti Panciu Nicoresti Odobesti

Cotnari
SURFACE: 2000 Ha Altitude 400-600 m VARIETIES: Frncu, Gras de Cotnari, Tmioas Romneasc, Feteasc Alb, Feteasc Regal. 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 phenomenon of air masses that determine the heating process. Grasa de Cotnari cant be obtain in any other vineyard from Romania or the world.

Wines
Tmioas romneasc Frncu

Gras de Cotnari

Wine Gras de Cotnari Tmioas romneasc Frncu Feteasc alb

Type Sweet Sweet Dry Demi sweet

Year 2007 2007 2009 2009

Alcohol 12.5 vol% 13.5 vol% 12 vol% 12 vol% Feteasc alb

Dobrogea
Murfatlar Medgidia Niculitel Tulcea Ostrov Harsova

Surface: 3000 Ha Varieties : Feteasc Regal, Feteasc Alb, Feteasc Neagr, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noire, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Muscat Ottonel History :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.

Murfatlar

Wines
Cabernet Sauvignon

Wine Cabernet Sauvignon Cabernet Sauvignon

Type Dry

Year 2007

Alcohol 13.5 %

Sauvignon Blanc
Feteasca neagr Cabernet Sauvignon Rose

Dry
Dry Dry

2007
2009 2009

12.5 %
13.5 % 12 %

Sauvignon Blanc

Feteasca neagra

Romanian wines export

Country Germany Moldavia UK USA Ceh Republic Israel Denmark Italy Rusia Total Hectolitres 000 US $ 152.360 218.10 11230 5.850 35.180 8.820 7.000 23.270 6.470 504.530 7.470 6.540 1.523 1.021 895 791 735 401 294 23.035 $/liter 0.49 0.30 1.36 1.75 0.25 0.90 1.05 0.17 0.44 0.46

Romanian wines import

Country France Italy Germany Austria Spain Portugal Hectolitres 000 US $ 1.510 2.200 690 170 150 80 660 530 166 22 57 35 $/liter 4,38 2,40 2.41 1,27 3,66 4.54

Others Total

7.000 7.770

735 1.762

1.05 2,27

Thank you for your attention !