The beginnings of viticulture go back at least 4,000 years in Romania. Dacia, as it was known in ancient times, had a well-established wine culture. The coins issued by the Romans in the new Roman Province Dacia, presented on their obverse a woman to whom two children were offering grapes, a symbol of the region’s wealth.
The climate and soil are appropriate for the production of different types of wines, white, rose or red. The main geographical features which temper the continental climate of the country are the Black Sea, the Danube and the height of the Carpathian Mountains. The mountain range occupies almost half of the country, rising to about 2,500 m. and enclosing the Transylvanian Plateau, situated at about 400 m. above sea-level. In the south, the Danube (Dunărea) flows through a sandy plain, turning north towards its delta and isolating the province of Dobrogea with its opening to the Black Sea. The continental climate, with hot summers and cold winters, moderated by such local factors as those mentioned above, the soils, basically stony and well-drained around the Carpathians, but more alluvial and sandy in the coastal area, the exposure to sun light and last but not least the warmth of the Romanian soul are key factors determining the quality of wines.
The main foreign varieties of Western European origin, which have been successfully adapted to Romanian vine-growing conditions, are:
- Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir as reds
- Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris, Italian Riesling, Traminer, Aligote and Muscat Ottonel, as whites.
There are also several extremely valuable native Romanian varieties like:
- Băbească and Fetească Neagră as reds;
- Fetească Regală, Francușa, Grasa, Galbena, Busuioacă and Tămâioasă as whites
The wine regions are spread all over the country, where wine cellars are waiting for their visitors. There are 9 wine regions in Romania, each with its own charm: Transylvania Plateau, Moldova Hills, Muntenia Hills, Oltenia Hills, Banat Hills, Crișana-Maramureș Hills, Dobrogea Hills, The Danube Terraces, the sands and other types of lands from the south.
The Wine Route from the Historical Regions of Romania
It includes the wine areas and wine cellars from the following cultural touristic routes:
The Route of the Prince and Saint Stephen the Great in Romania and the Republic of Moldova, created by the tourism related ministry in Romania and the Investment Agency from the Republic of Moldova.
From Romania it includes: The Wine and Vine Museum in Hârlău, Cotnari Wine Area, Panciu-Odobești Wine Area.
https://stephenthegreat.travel
Prahova Wine Land, created by the Association for the Promotion and Development of Tourism Prahova/Prahova County
It includes: Valea Călugărească Wine Making Research and Development Centre, Anastasia Wine Cellar, Timiș House Vineyard, Bucov, Stanca House Wine Cellar, Bucov, Rovit Wine Cellar, Villa Valleverde Wine Cellar, Aristiței Wine Cellar, Basilescu Wine Cellar, Dealu Mare Wine Cellar, Dagon Winery, Via Domnului agriculture cooperative, 1000 Faces Wine Cellar, Serve Wine Cellar, Rotenberg Wine Cellar, Vinalia Wine Cellar, Budureasca Wine Cellar, Tohani Vineyard, Licorna Wine House, Gura Vadului, Velvet Winery, Oenoterra Dealu Mare Vineyard – Vârful cu Dor Wine Cellar Apogeum Wine Cellar, Mierla Albă Wine Cellar, Gramofon Wine Wine Cellar, Diac Wine Cellar, Seciu House Wine Cellar, Ferdi Wine Cellar.
https://www.exploreprahova.ro/recomandari-2/1/%C8%9Ainutul-vinului
Photo source: www.budureascawines.com
The Route On the footsteps of Dionysos between the Danube and the Black Sea, created by Constanța County Council.
It includes: Murfatlar Wine Making Research and Development Centre, Histria Wine Cellar, Darie Wine Cellar, Rasova Wine Cellar, Trantu Wine Cellar, Alira Wine Cellar, Ostrov Wine Cellar, Frâncu Wine Cellar, Adamclisi Wine Cellar, Fruvimed Wine Cellar, Bogdan Wine Cellar, Viișoara Wine Cellar, Siminoc – Vlădoi Family Wine Cellar, Gabai Wine Cellar, Clos Des Colombes Wine Cellar.
https://www.cjc.ro/dyn_doc/turism/1.4-Ruta_vinului.pdf
Photo source: https://www.facebook.com/domeniileostrov.ro/photos
Route of the cultural and wine heritage on the land of ancient Dacians from South West Oltenia, created by Vâlcea County Council.
It includes: Drăgășani Wine Area, Drăgășani Wine and Vine Museum, Avincis-Vila Dobrușa Wine Cellar, Bauer Wine Cellar, Știrbey Wine Cellar, Spârleni Wine Cellar, Isărescu Wine House, Iordache Wine House, Negrini Wine House, Drăgași Vineyard, Măgureni Farm.
https://www.valcea-infoturism.ro/images/patrimoniul.pdf
Photo: National Center for Tourist Information and Promotion Vâlcea
The Road of Stones and Wine Cellars in Buzău County, created by Buzău County Council
It includes: Pietroasa Wine Making Research and Development Centre, Blaga Vineyard, Aurelia Vișinescu Wine Cellar/ Săhăteni Vineyard, French-Romanian Vineyard, Lacerta Wine Cellar, The Barrels Wine Cellar/Roșca Vineyard, Prince Matei Vineyard.
https://cjbuzau.ro/drumul-pietrei-si-al-cramelor/nggallery/page/1
Photo source: www.cjbuzau.ro
The Cultural Touristic Route of Honey and Wine of Tulcea, created by Tulcea County Council
It includes: Măcin Wine Cellar, Dobrogea Wine Cellar, Terente Wine Cellar, Black Swan Wine Cellar/ Sarica-Niculițel Wine Area, Via Viticola Wine Cellar, Danube Delta-Somova Wine Cellar, Zebil locality for the Wine Festival, Kazak Wine/Jurilovca Vineyard – the ancient Argamum Vineyard, Hamangia Wine Cellar/Istria-Babadag Vineyard, Liuta Wine Cellar.
Photo: Crama Hamangia
The Route of the Heritage in the Area Lipova-Ineu and of the history of Miniș-Măderat Wine Area, created by Arad County Council.
It includes: The Wine and Vine Museum, Daiconi Wine Cellar, Șeran Wine Cellar, Brici Wine House, Paven Wine Cellar, Elite Wine Wine Cellar, MaxiMarc Wine Cellar.
https://www.cniptarad.ro/ro/harta/obiective-turistice-de-pe-drumul-vinului
Photo: https://www.daiconi.ro/#galerie
The Wine Story from Lechința Vineyard, createdby the Intercommunity Development Association Tourism in Bistrița-Năsăud
It includes: Liliac Wine Cellar, Sântu Wine Cellar, Vine-Wine Wine Cellar, Leichburg Wine Cellar, Zaig Wine Cellar, Teaca Wine Cellar, Jelna Wine Cellar, The Hidden Valley Wine Cellar, Harsian Wine Cellar.
https://www.jelnatransilvania.ro
Other wine routes
The Road of Vrancea Vineyards, created by Vrancea County Council
It includes the following localities: Adjud, Panciu, Țifești, Bolotești, Jariștea, Odobești, Vîrteșcoiu, Cârligele, Cotești, Urechești, Dumbrăveni, Tâmboești
https://www.cramaguraursului.ro
The Wine Country, created by the Association The Wine Country
It includes the following localities: Gârbova, Câlnic, Sebeş, Alba Iulia, Şard, Ighiu, Ighiel, Ţelna, Tibru, Cricău, Teiuş, Aiud, Crăciunelu de Jos, Blaj, Ciumbrud, Jidvei, Cetatea de Baltă
https://www.turismighiu.ro/tara-vinului
Buziaș-Silagiu Wine Road, created by the Association for Tourism Promotion and Development Timiș
It includes the winecellars: Varvara, Aramic, Agape Art &Nature, Sera, Dealul Dorului, Thesaurus Wines
Photo https://www.thesauruswines.ro/turism-si-degustari/
Satmar Wine Road, created by Satu Mare County Council
It includes 3 routes: Carei – Pir, Halmeu — Oraşu Nou, Hodod — Viile Satu Mare
Photo: https://www.nachbil.ro/istoria/
