Romanian Vineyards

Vineyards in Transylvania

The Alba Iulia vineyard, also named the County of Wine, has been known ever since the 1st century B.C. The old wine cellars at Alba Lulia have catacombs designed for grape processing and wine depositing; they are among the largest and best known in Transylvania and a tourist highlight too. Among the sorts of wine produced by the Alba Iulia vineyard can be mentioned Feteasca Alba, Furmint, Grasa, Muscat Ottonel, Pinot Gris, Riesling and Sauvignon. These golden yellow wines have a pleasant taste, are light and slightly soft. This is why they enjoy a wide and well-deserved appreciation.

The Sebes-Apold vineyard resembles the one at Alba Iulia in the sense that it also produces wines like Feteasca Alba, Feteasca Regala, Furmint, Muscat Ottonel, Pinot Gris and Sauvignon Blanc. At the Sebes-Apold vineyard the bulk of production is made by sparkling wines. The widest vine plantations which make up the Sebes-Apold vineyard belong to the Sibiu County, one of the Romania's richest cultural tourist regions.

The wines of the Tarnave vineyard provide a perfect blend. Most vine plantations are to be found on the slopes of Tarnava Mica and Tarnava Mare rivers. The quality of the Tarnave vineyard is highly appreciated both at home and abroad. In this respect, the vineyard can boast over 100 golden medals. The local conditions allow the production of high quality sorts of wine like Feteasca Alba, Pinot Gris, Traminer Rose, Sauvignon (dry or medium). It also produces flavoured wines of the Muscat Ottonel type and sparkling wines like Feteasca Alba, Feteasca Regala and Italian Riesling.

Vineyards in Moldavia

The province is renowned for its local wines whose names actually derive from the regions they belong to. They hold pride of place in the world vintage. The Cotnari vineyard is relating to the great Romanian prince Stephen the Great (15th century). Besides a beautiful church that can be visited today, Stephen the Great commissioned bridges and paved roads for wine transport as well as deep cellars to keep it nice. The leading wine of the vineyard is Grasa de Cotnari. It was described as having the bitterest taste of a nutshell and a strong flavor; it is an excellent wine, whose aging enhances its noble qualities and draws it near perfection. In 1900, at the World Exhibition in Paris, Grasa de Cotnari was awarded a golden medal and has since acquired the name of "Romania's Bloom".

The Husi vineyard is acknowledged for its flavored high quality wines, among which Busuioaca de Bohotin, of a traditional Romanian stock, holds pride of place.

The Odobesti vineyard is one of the largest and oldest in Romania. It is renowned for its table wines, resulted from Romanian traditional varieties, like Galbena de Odobesti, Plavaie and Feteasca regala. Other vines have been acclimatized of late. Vine-growers in the area have drawn old distillates of varieties like Feteasca regala, Galbena de Odobesti and Mustoasa de Maderat.

The International Festival of Vineyard and Wine

Vrancea region is the first wine reservoir of Romania and that was the reason for establish in 1992 a representative manifestation, designed to help exhibitors take advantage of the opportunities created by changes in market conditions. In the framework of this festival there are several sections such as "The Show Room of Vineyard and Wine", "Specialized information session for wine producing and viticulture activities" and "Cultural events with vineyard theme" - painting exhibitions, folk concerts, launching of books, poetry and limericks contest.

Do not forget the advice of the wise: "Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has strife? Who has complaints? Who has needless bruises? Who has bloodshot eyes?

Those who linger over wine, who go to sample bowls of mixed wine.

Do not gaze at wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup, when it goes down smoothly!

In the end it bites like a snake and poisons like a viper.

Your eyes will see strange sights and your mind imagine confusing things.

You will be like one sleeping on the high seas, lying on top of the rigging.

"They hit me," you will say, "but I'm not hurt! They beat me, but I don't feel it! When will I wake up so I can find another drink?" Solomon’s proverbs 23:29-35