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1.
DOBROGEA
The
Tristia of Ovid (the Roman poet who was banished 2000 years ago in Tomis,
today, Constanta), the reports of ancient writers and chroniclers as well
as numerous archaeological discoveries-amphorae, coffins, bas-reliefs
and coins featuring the Dionyiac cult all this testify to the thousand-year
old traditional grapevine growing in this area. Due to proximity of the
sea, the Dobrudja enjoys fine viticulture conditions.
The
sunny coasts of this rich province attracted the Greek colonists who built
steady settlements along the Black Sea coast in the 7th –6th
centuries B.C.
Soon
after their arrival, the Greeks started trading with the ancient inhabitants,
Getae-Dacians who had been growing grapes for ages.
Therefore
viticulture flourished, according to the Greek legends, on the land where
the Elysian Fields lay.
After
a longer elapse of unfavorable circumstances the Dobrudja has become nowadays
a genuine modern garden of the Hesperides, where 20,000 hectares are being
cultivated with vines.
Eighteen
km west of Constanta, an important Black Sea port, on the 50-100 m high
sunny slopes of the Carasu Valley, there is the famous wine area Murfatlar,
producing wines, that have won lots of the gold medals in international
competitions.
The
warmth, the favorable light and the lime soil create the best conditions
for the viticulture to develop.
Besides,
the favorable proximity of the Black Sea is must not be neglected.
The
long autumn enables the full ripe of wine grapes. This association of
these concurrent factors determines the true oenological potential of
wine area Murfatlar where natural, half dry or sweet, elegant and lovely
wines are produced; among them an excellent Chardonnay.
In
the northern Dobrudja, on the Herzynic Macinului Mountains there extend
the vineyards of Sarica Niculitel, known mainly for its high-quality red
wines come and Babadag, famous for its red wines. Nearby there is the
Danube port of Tulcea, a starting point for unforgettable trips into the
Danube delta, the realm of reeds, water lilies and the migratory birds,
with the pelican colonies as a main attraction.
2.
MOLDOVA
In
the south of the province the vineyards extend over more than 30,000 hectares
from Odobesti and Panciu to Cotesti, on the eastern side of the Carpathian
bent, along 65 km.
The
200 to 600 m high hills have lime or brown forests soils and enjoy heavy
precipitations-excellent conditions for viticulture to develop.
A
foreign visitor in the 18th century Moldova believed that “the
most valuable vineyard in Moldova is that of Odobesti, producing Champagne
like wines that are sent to Russia”. He might have thought of the native
sort “Galbena de Odobesti”
The
white wine of Odobesti is rather dry, sparkling table wine, neither too
strong, nor too flavored. It is mainly valued by the connoisseurs because
of its freshness and perfect balance.
Red
wines are also produced here: “Feteasca Neagra” and “Merlot”.
Among
the table grapes, the sort Chasselas Dore from the Odobesti and Panciu
vineyards is preferred because of the fresh taste of its amber-yellow
pearl-like grapes. Sugar and acid are balanced.
Focsani
has became a genuine” wine city” in the cellars of which the wines in
the area are made and stored.
The
vineyard of Husi, in the proximity of the town with the same name, lies
over a natural amphitheater where such light and sparkling white wines
as the native sorts Zghiara, Plavaie and Feteasca Alba have found the
best conditions.
In
the northern Moldova, in the vineyards of Dealurile Moldovei the old wine
centers Iasi, Copou, Bucium, Sorogari, Tomesti and Uricani produce good
quality wines.
The
germ of the Romanian vineyards, very well known abroad, is Cotnari, the
first mentioned in a 1448 document. Cotnari is one of the most northern
vineyards in Romania.
Its
steep slopes are comparable with those in other famous wine areas of the
world.
3.
TRANSYLVANIA
In
the Transylvanian Plateau with its many watercourses, winding at the foot
of the viticulture has developed on very different soils and positions
in sharply defined areas. Moderate sun and temperatures favor the production
of strongly flavored.
In
the Middle Ages the wine farmers from Transylvania used to ship their
commodity even to the doges in the far Venice. Their wines were there
so highly appreciated that the top price in force for other import wines
was not applied to them.
The
traditional expertise of the wine growers and cellar masters has resulted
in the production of several white wines enriched extremely favorable
natural conditions and a high sugar content of the grapes. Highly estimated
are here the sorts: Feteasca Regala, Feteasca Alba, Italian Riesling,
Pinot Gris, Sauvignon Blanc, Traminer, Muscat Ottonel. A mixture of the
native sorts Iordana, Royal Branch and Italian Riesling is used Sparkling
wines are also produced in Cetatea de Balta on the small Tarnava River
in the cellars of a medieval Hungarian castle.
Here
lies the 1,000 hectares wine area of Jidvei with modern vineyards and
a well known large wine cellar and also the Balciu section, where you
can enjoy the unique experience of tasting the wine in the cellar of the
Evangelical priest’s building.
The
vineyards in Seuca are also important because of their wine growing tradition;
the viticulture research station in Blaj, offers some very good sorts
of vine.
The
wine growing tradition in the Transylvanian villages is also manifest
in the motif decorating many buildings. Almost each farmer here makes
his own vine.
4.
BANAT
An important cultivation area is Minis in the surrounding countryside
of Arad, covering the terraces at the foot of the Zarand Mountains. The
volcanic rock soil, rich in ferric oxides, as well as the almost Mediterranean
climate favor the production of famous red wines such as Kadarka and Cabernet
Sauvignon.
The
growers at Teremia Mare practice, on a sandy soil, a classical viticulture
with small distances between vines. Here neutral white wines are produced:
Steinschiller, Majarca, Grasa and Banat Riesling suitable for the blend
of the native which were highly appreciated by the court suppliers of
the former Austrian-Hungarian monarchy.
On
the gentle and sunny hills around Timisoara lies the vineyard Recas, famous
for the extractive and noble dark red wines Cabernet Sauvignon, “Black
Kadarka” and Burgund Mare. From the Iron gates, where the Danube leaves
the mountains, to flow calmly into the Romanian plain, the vine area Drobeta
Turnu Severin with the centers Oravita, Golul Drancii and Vanju Mare extends.
5.
OLTENIA
In
the superb landscape offered by the hills between the South Carpathians
and the Danube low plain in the south of Romania, embedded into the “Getae
Piemont”, the vineyards of Oltenia lie down to Drobeta Turnu Severin at
the Danube.
The
first Romanian documents about the vineyards in this area date from the
14th century and refer to the vineyards owned by monasteries.
200
to 400 m high terraces on the left bank of the Olt river, where 2000 years
ago the old Dacian fortress Buridava was placed, form today the vineyard
area of Dragasani. The white and red wines produced here have long been
famous abroad. The wines of Dragasani are easy, dry, with an average alcohol
content, spicy, balanced and translucent. They have usually the flavor
of the fresh fruit and a yellowish-green color. The native sorts Gordanul,
Cramposie and Braghina are mixed even today according to the saying: “Cramposia
gives the strenght, Braghina the foam and Gordanul fills the barrel”
Some
of international sorts of grapevines are also grown there: Italian Riesling
and Sauvignon Blanc. The spicy sorts of Tamaioasa Romaneasca and Muscat
Ottonel as well as the famous Cabernet Sauvignon of Samburesti made the
wines of this area famous. They received many gold medals in international
competitions.
The
wine area Segarcea, south of the Craiova city, is a landmark too for the
quality of its wines, not least due to of its famous Cabernet Sauvignon.
In
the south of Oltenia, in Dabuleni, Sadova and Bechet, the sandy soils
areas were fixed by growing grape vines. The native sorts Rosioara and
Berbecel, giving ordinary white table wines, are cultivated satisfactorily.
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