Romanian wine history

Wine growing was introduced in present-day Romania by the ancient Greeks. In Roman times, the region was known for its vast vineyards. After the Middle Ages, the fame of Romanian wine reached its peak. Currently, wine growing is being modernized at a rapid pace. The most progressive wineries are succeeding in reviving the glory of the past.

From the 17th century, Romanian winemaking reached its peak. Its wines became well-known at the European courts – especially with the Viennese emperor. In the 19th century, Romania maintained close ties with France. French winemakers introduced French vines and shared their secrets with local winegrowers.

Hungarian influences on Romanian wine

A large part of present-day Romania, including Transylvania and, for example, the Banat and Maramures wine regions, belonged to Hungary until the First World War. There are still many ethnic Hungarians here, who speak Hungarian to this day. This influence can also be seen in the wine. Typical Hungarian grape varieties such as Furmint and Kadarka are planted on a fairly large scale in these areas.

After the phylloxera largely destroyed the European vineyards, the Romanian vineyards were largely replanted with Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc.

After the world wars in the 20th century, wine growing fell into disrepair. Quantity took precedence over quality. 1989 marked the beginning of major changes. The collective farms were dismantled. Vineyards were returned to their original owners. However, many had fled, emigrated or died in the meantime. Since then, quality has gradually improved.

Although there is still a long way to go, Romania offers enormous potential as a wine country. With investments and knowledge from abroad, various wineries are on the way back. The future looks promising.