With over 4 million hectolitres of white, red or rose wine produced in the last year, with 200.000 hectares of vineyards and a millenary wine tradition, Romania is one of the ten countries in the world which really matter when it comes to wine. Tens of grape varieties, either local or imported, allow for the production of more than 400 different wines. We’ll present some of the best known (or unknown).
Local white wines
Feteasca regala ... is the most common Romanian grape, grown on more than 13,000 hectares by Romanian wine producers according to ONVPV (National office for Wines and Wine Products). Originating in Transylvania, the grape was first identified in the 1920s in Danes, near Sighisoara. Today it is cultivated on most of Romanian vineyards in all regions of the country, but also in Austria and Hungary. With 10,5% up to 11.5% alcohol, Feteasca regala gives the white wines a high quality flavour and it is best served with fish, sea fruit and white meat.
Grasa de Cotnari …cultivated since the 15th century in the small village of Cotnari, a few kilometres south of Iasi, this was the favourite wine of legendary Moldavian prince Stefan the Great. The wine obtained from this grape is vintage, semi-dry or sweet, with high sugar concentration (240 g/l) and alcohol (15%). First introduced in Europe at the 1900 Paris World Exhibition, Grasa de Cotnari is today the brand wine of Cotnari vineyards and company, whose turnover last year exceeded 25 million euros.
Feteasca alba … is the second most common grape cultivated in Romania, with more than 11,000 hectares. It is grown on most vineyards, especially in Moldavia and Transylvania. The wines based on this grape are dry or semi-dry white wines, with a moderate concentration of sugar and alcohol between 11.5 and 12%.
Tamaioasa romaneasca … also called “the Romanian Muscat”, this grape originates in ancient Greece. It was brought here by Greek colonists trading with the colonies on the Black Sea shore. The wines based on this grape are vintage flavourful wines, with approximately 12% alcohol. Ideal for desert, these wines are rich in sugar and flower and honey flavours.
Galbena de Odobesti … cultivated mainly in Vrancea area, this grape is the basis for dry, acid wines with 9% to 11% alcohol, preferably consumed as young wines, after one year.
Local red and rose wines
Babeasca Neagra … is a millennia-old type of grape, cultivated mainly in Moldavia, Wallachia and Dobrudga on more than 6,000 hectares. The wines obtained from this grape are red table wines, light and fruity, with 10% to 11% alcohol.
Feteasca neagra … with its ruby colour and low concentration of sugar, the wines obtained from this grape have character. It is cultivated on 2,500 hectares, mainly in Moldavia and Wallachia.
Busuioaca de Bohotin … is a very original grape cultivated only on 100 hectares on the small vineyards of Bohotin, south of Iasi. The wine is an unique rose wine and easily recognisable by its flowery and blackberry flavours.
Grasa de Cotnari …cultivated since the 15th century in the small village of Cotnari, a few kilometres south of Iasi, this was the favourite wine of legendary Moldavian prince Stefan the Great. The wine obtained from this grape is vintage, semi-dry or sweet, with high sugar concentration (240 g/l) and alcohol (15%). First introduced in Europe at the 1900 Paris World Exhibition, Grasa de Cotnari is today the brand wine of Cotnari vineyards and company, whose turnover last year exceeded 25 million euros.
Feteasca alba … is the second most common grape cultivated in Romania, with more than 11,000 hectares. It is grown on most vineyards, especially in Moldavia and Transylvania. The wines based on this grape are dry or semi-dry white wines, with a moderate concentration of sugar and alcohol between 11.5 and 12%.
Tamaioasa romaneasca … also called “the Romanian Muscat”, this grape originates in ancient Greece. It was brought here by Greek colonists trading with the colonies on the Black Sea shore. The wines based on this grape are vintage flavourful wines, with approximately 12% alcohol. Ideal for desert, these wines are rich in sugar and flower and honey flavours.
Galbena de Odobesti … cultivated mainly in Vrancea area, this grape is the basis for dry, acid wines with 9% to 11% alcohol, preferably consumed as young wines, after one year.
Local red and rose wines
Babeasca Neagra … is a millennia-old type of grape, cultivated mainly in Moldavia, Wallachia and Dobrudga on more than 6,000 hectares. The wines obtained from this grape are red table wines, light and fruity, with 10% to 11% alcohol.
Feteasca neagra … with its ruby colour and low concentration of sugar, the wines obtained from this grape have character. It is cultivated on 2,500 hectares, mainly in Moldavia and Wallachia.
Busuioaca de Bohotin … is a very original grape cultivated only on 100 hectares on the small vineyards of Bohotin, south of Iasi. The wine is an unique rose wine and easily recognisable by its flowery and blackberry flavours.
TURUL VINURILOR SAU LUCRURI PE CARE NU LE STIATI DESPRE VINURILE ROMANESTI
Cu mai mult de 4 milioane de hectolitri de vin alb, rosu sau rose produsi in ultimul an, cu 200.000 de hectare cultivate cu vita de vie si cu o traditie viticola milenara, Romania face parte din cele zece tari din lume care conteaza in materie de vinuri. Zeci de tipuri de struguri autohtoni sau importati permit productia a mai mult de 400 de vinuri diferite. Vom prezenta aici cateva dintre cele mai cunoscute (sau necunoscute) dintre acestea.
Vinuri albe autohtone
Feteasca regala … este strugurele cel mai utilizat de viticultorii romani, cu aproape 13.000 hectare cultivate conform Oficiului National de Vinuri si Produse Viticole (ONVPV). Originar din Transilvania, a fost prima data identificat în anii 1920 în comuna Danes, langa Sighisoara. Astazi se cultiva in majoritatea podgoriilor in toate regiunile viticole ale Romaniei, dar este cultivat si in Austria si Ungaria. Cu un procent de alcool intre 10,5% si 11,5%, Feteasca regala da vinurilor albe de masa o savoare de calitate inalta care acompaniaza bine pestele, fructele de mare si carnea alba.
Grasa de Cotnari … cultivat inca din secolul al XV-lea in satul Cotnari, la cativa kilometri de Iasi, acest tip de strugure era preferatul voievodului legendar al Moldovei, Stefan cel Mare. Vinul obtinut este un vin superior, demi-sec sau licoros care se distinge prin concentratia mare de zahar (240 g/l) şi de alcool (15%). Prezentat prima oara la Expozitia universala organizata la Paris in 1900, vinul Grasa de Cotnari este astazi vinul vedeta al companiei Cotnari a carei cifra de afaceri a depasit 25 milioane de euro anul trecut.
Feteasca alba … este cel de-al doilea cel mai cultivat tip de strugure din Romania, cu mai mult de 11.000 ha. Se cultiva in majoritatea podgoriilor, mai ales in Moldova si Transilvania. Vinurile produse din acest strugure sunt vinuri albe, seci sau demi-seci, cu o concentratie moderata de zahar si alcool intre 11.5% si 12%.
Tamaioasa romaneasca ... numit si „muscatul romanesc”, acest tip de strugure este originar din Grecia antica. A fost adus pe teritoriul actual al Romaniei de catre colonistii greci care faceau comert la Marea Neagra. Vinurile obtinute sunt vinuri albe aromatice, de calitate, cu aproximativ 12% alcool. Vinuri ideale pentru desert, Tamaioasele sunt bogate in zahar si arome de flori si miere.
Galbena de Odobesti ... cultivat preponderent in zona Vrancea, acest tip de strugure sta la baza unor vinuri seci, putin acide cu un continut de 9% pana la 11% alcool, consumate de preferinta in primul an.
Vinuri rosii si rose autohtone
Babeasca neagra ... un strugure milenar cultivat pe aproximativ 6000 hectare in Romania, cu precadere in Moldova, Muntenia si Dobrogea. Vinurile obtinute sunt vinuri rosii de consum, lejere si fructate, cu alcool intre 10% si 11%.
Feteasca neagra ... cu nuante rosii ruginii si cu un continut moderat de zahar, vinurile obtinute din acest tip de strugure au cu siguranta caracter. Conform Oficiului National de Vinuri si Produse Viticole (ONVPV), se cultiva pe aproximativ 2500 hectare, mai ales in Moldova si Muntenia.
Busuioaca de Bohotin ... un strugure plin de originalitate, cultivat numai pe 100 hectare in mica podgorie de la Bohotin, la sud de Iasi. Vinul obtinut este un vin rose unic prin aromele sale de flori si mure coapte.
(dupa Mehdi Chebana - Petit Tour des Cepages, Regard – Magazine Francophone de Roumanie)
Grasa de Cotnari … cultivat inca din secolul al XV-lea in satul Cotnari, la cativa kilometri de Iasi, acest tip de strugure era preferatul voievodului legendar al Moldovei, Stefan cel Mare. Vinul obtinut este un vin superior, demi-sec sau licoros care se distinge prin concentratia mare de zahar (240 g/l) şi de alcool (15%). Prezentat prima oara la Expozitia universala organizata la Paris in 1900, vinul Grasa de Cotnari este astazi vinul vedeta al companiei Cotnari a carei cifra de afaceri a depasit 25 milioane de euro anul trecut.
Feteasca alba … este cel de-al doilea cel mai cultivat tip de strugure din Romania, cu mai mult de 11.000 ha. Se cultiva in majoritatea podgoriilor, mai ales in Moldova si Transilvania. Vinurile produse din acest strugure sunt vinuri albe, seci sau demi-seci, cu o concentratie moderata de zahar si alcool intre 11.5% si 12%.
Tamaioasa romaneasca ... numit si „muscatul romanesc”, acest tip de strugure este originar din Grecia antica. A fost adus pe teritoriul actual al Romaniei de catre colonistii greci care faceau comert la Marea Neagra. Vinurile obtinute sunt vinuri albe aromatice, de calitate, cu aproximativ 12% alcool. Vinuri ideale pentru desert, Tamaioasele sunt bogate in zahar si arome de flori si miere.
Galbena de Odobesti ... cultivat preponderent in zona Vrancea, acest tip de strugure sta la baza unor vinuri seci, putin acide cu un continut de 9% pana la 11% alcool, consumate de preferinta in primul an.
Vinuri rosii si rose autohtone
Babeasca neagra ... un strugure milenar cultivat pe aproximativ 6000 hectare in Romania, cu precadere in Moldova, Muntenia si Dobrogea. Vinurile obtinute sunt vinuri rosii de consum, lejere si fructate, cu alcool intre 10% si 11%.
Feteasca neagra ... cu nuante rosii ruginii si cu un continut moderat de zahar, vinurile obtinute din acest tip de strugure au cu siguranta caracter. Conform Oficiului National de Vinuri si Produse Viticole (ONVPV), se cultiva pe aproximativ 2500 hectare, mai ales in Moldova si Muntenia.
Busuioaca de Bohotin ... un strugure plin de originalitate, cultivat numai pe 100 hectare in mica podgorie de la Bohotin, la sud de Iasi. Vinul obtinut este un vin rose unic prin aromele sale de flori si mure coapte.
(dupa Mehdi Chebana - Petit Tour des Cepages, Regard – Magazine Francophone de Roumanie)