The story of the wine regions in Romania has ancient origins and is sprinkled with legends, and at present many localities are known due to their vineyards, becoming brands for appreciated wines.
The story of the Romanian wine has extremely old origins. Photo: freepik.com
Romania has an ancient tradition in viticulture. The vine was cultivated since ancient times in the hilly regions of the south of the country, on large areas, as some historians claim.
The legend of King Dromichaetes, who reigned over the ghettos in the third century BC, mentions the use of wine at the guests given by the people of the people.
“Dromichaetes set to pour the Macedonians to come in silver and gold cups, while he and his Thracians drink wine in horn and wooden glasses, as the ghettos are used to.”reports the ancient historian Diodor from Sicily.
Another ancient scholar, Strabo, reminded that during Burebista's reign, the Dacians were forced to give up cultivation of vines.
“” Reaching the forefront of his nation, who was tired of frequent wars, the Burebista ghetto as long as he has been in exercises, abstention from wine and obedience to the commandments, so that, in a few years, he made a strong state and subjected to the most part of the neighboring populations. Desunted to cut the vines and live without wine ”wrote the Greek author two millennia ago.
The ancient legends about wine
Latin historian Xenopol stated that “The old homeland of the Geto-Dacians, Thrace, was a wine region, a cause for which it was considered as the birthplace of the god of wine, Dionysos.”
The Latin poet Vergilius (70 BC – 19 BC) described, in turn, the way of living during the heavy winters.
“The wine, not long more liquid, is cut there with the security and the lakes are prefaced to the bottom in compact blocks of ice, the drops of water repulsive from the unpaved beard freezes and preface in the turtles. And during this time it snow. with the wine ”add Vergilius.
Academician Vasile Pârvan stated that the Dacians were attracted by import wines from the Mediterranean regions.
“Just like the Celts, who in the pre -Roman times still did not know how to cultivate the vines in their frigid regions and that is why they drink exclusively Italian wine or at most Massaliot, namely clean with water, so on the Danube there is no gothic settlement from the La Tène era where we do not find many scraps, Greek at our ancestors ”, wrote the historian in the volume “Getica – a protoistory of Dacia”.
He stated that in some areas of the northern Dacia the wine was still unknown more than two millennia ago, and the cold climate did not allow the cultivation of vines.
“As the whole of Europe seems to have had in the last millennium before our era a harsher climate than today, it is probably that in Dacia the grapes were fully cooked only in certain well -exposed regions, and the vineyards sacrificed by Deceneu will have not been so numerous, nor too chosen as nations of wines.”, The Pârvan note in the same work.
The most famous cities of wine in Romania
The cultivation of vines has been resumed in the Middle Ages, and from the fifteenth century there are more and more vineyards, some preserving its wine tradition so far.
The vineyards occupy large regions of Moldova, Oltenia, Banat, Transilvania and Dobrogea, and localities such as Murfatlar, Recaș, Cotnari or Jidvei gave the names of recognized brands both in the country and abroad.
The wines of Moldova, from the time of Stephen the Great
The truth presents some of the most famous cities of wine in Romania, which gave names to wine brands:
The city Cotnarifrom Iași county, has about 5,800 inhabitants and a wine tradition attested since the fifteenth century. It is the place of some of the most popular sweet white wines in Romania, such as the Grosa de Cotnari, the Romanian Tămâioasa and Feteasca Alba. Cotnari houses one of the oldest vineyards in the country, with roots that stretch to antiquity.
Odobeşticity in Vrancea county with over 9,400 inhabitants, has a wine tradition mentioned since the fifteenth century. Here are renowned white wines such as white feteas, lungs and yellow by Odobești. Odobești is a pillar of Moldovan viticulture and one of the oldest vineyards in Romania.
Panciu, City in Vrancea County with almost 7,000 inhabitants, is known for its sparkling wines. The local wine-growing tradition dates from the eighteenth century.
Oltenia, famous for his wines
Drăgășani, Municipality from Vâlcea county, with about 15,600 inhabitants, prides itself on a wine tradition that goes to the Geto-Dacian era. It is known for authentic wines such as Crâmpoșie and Black by Drăgășani. Drăgășani Podgoria is considered one of the oldest in the south of the country.
Segarceaa city in Dolj County with over 7,300 inhabitants, has a wine tradition dating from the 19th century. It is known for its red and white wines with a geographical indication, such as Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Segarcea vineyard is a landmark of viticulture in Oltenia.
Samburești, Village from Olt County with almost 2,000 inhabitants, has a wine-preposed tradition from the 19th century. It is famous for Cabernet Sauvignon and other quality red wines. Podgoria Sâmburești is a landmark for red wines in Muntenia.
Old wines from Banat, Transylvania and Dobrogea
Recaşcity in Timiș County with about 8,500 inhabitants, has a wine tradition attested from the eighteenth century. Among the most exported wines here are Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot and Pinot Noir. Recaș is today one of the most modern and productive wine regions of Romania.
Minisa village in the commune of Ghioroc, Arad county, has almost 700 inhabitants and has a wine-preposed tradition of the eleventh century. Wines like a mini cada and the mustache are symbols of the place. Miniș is considered the oldest vineyard in western Romania.
Jidveia commune in Alba County with almost 5,000 inhabitants, has a solid wine-growing tradition of the twentieth century. It is the place where white wines are produced such as Feteasca Royal, Sauvignon Blanc and Riesling. Jidvei is the largest vineyard in Transylvania and the emblem of a wine region stretched over the valleys of Mureș and Târnavelor.
The locality Murfatlarfrom the commune of the White Gate, Constanța county, has about 9,100 inhabitants. The local wine -growing tradition dates from the Roman period, and the sweet wines of Murfatlar are internationally recognized. Here is one of the historical vineyards of Dobrogea.
Valea Călugăreascăa commune in Prahova County with over 10,000 inhabitants, has a wine tradition attested from the fifteenth century. The region is famous for Red Wines by Dealu Mare, such as Feteasca Neagră and Pinot Noir. Here are vineyards with deep roots in the history of Romanian viticulture.
