The cultivation of the grapevine has been known in Romania since ancient times, being favored both by the geographical position of the country (to the Southeast of Europe, with opening to the Black Sea), and by the pedo-climatic conditions.
Many archaeological testimonies, as well as some historical documents confirm that Romania, together with France, Italy, Spain, Germany, Bulgaria can be righteously called "a grapevine country" of Europe.
The beginnings of the Romanian viticulture go back into the past as long as 4.000 years already. The trade with wines has been practiced on the present territory of Romania since the ancient times. To the local varieties of grapevines (Cramposia de Dragasani, Galbena de Odobesti, Feteasca alba, Feteasca neagra, Babeasca, Tamaioasa romaneasca), other varieties were added in the 19th century, by acclimatization, imported especially from France, but also from Germany and Italy (Pinot gris, Pinot noir, Italian Riesling, Merlot, Sauvignon blanc, Cabernet sauvignon, Chardonnay, Muscat Ottonel etc.)
THE WINEGROWING POTENTIAL OF ROMANIA :
In time, the viticulture of Romania knew several distinct stages. One bears in mind the period between 1950 and 1989, characterized by the apparition of the big modern vinification complexes, that determined a significant increase of the wine export, and considering the wines presented to the international contests Romania has imposed itself as an important producer of quality wines; and the period after 1989 when one notes a decline both on the technical plan and on the economic one, the process of creation of new plantations or replantations decreasing significantly.
In 1995 the agricultural surface of Romania was 14.797,2 thousand ha, of which arable soil 9.337,1 thousand ha, of which vineyards 292,4 thousand ha. The surface with grapevines has increased after 1989-1990 from 277 thousand ha to 303,9 thousand ha in 1993, but decreasing afterwards to 292,4 thousand ha in 1995, which represents 2,0% of the total agricultural surface of Romania. In 1995 the surface of the harvest grapevines represented 85,1% of the whole surface with grapevines and viticole nurseries. In 1996 this surface was 251,8 thousand ha.
Between 1980 and 1989 there was an increase of the surface occupied by the transplanted and indigenous grapevines from 64,2% to 76,0% of the total surface of harvest grapevines. After 1989 there was a decrease of the surface occupied by the transplanted and indigenous grapevines from 72,0% in 1990 to 55,1% in 1997. An analysis of the form of property of the harvest grapevines shows the preponderance of the private sector (76,2%).
Compared to the other countries, Romania is in a less advantageous situation, with only 1,8% young grapevines of the total cultivated surface (23,8% Hungary, 14,3% Australia, 6,2% Greece, 4,1% South Africa, 3,4% Portugal, 3,3% France, 3,0% Italy).
Under the qualitative aspect, one notes a lower percentage for the red wines (11,3%) and the white ones (38,1%) in comparison with the surfaces designated to the various grapevines (including here the mixed ones). For the white wines the surfaces are concentrated in Transylvania (81,4% of the total surface).
The structure of the surfaces of the harvest grapevines for the wine grapes, by wine categories, in fall 1995.
The most important regions cultivated with grapevines are:
For the white wines 81,4% of the surface cultivated with grapevines in the Plate of Transylvania, 65,6% Banat, 52,6% The hills of Moldova, 53,0% the hills of Dobrogea.
For the red wines 24,3% the hills of Dobrogea, 21,6% Banat, 16,6% the hills of Muntenia and Oltenia.
The place of Romania on the international wine market in 1995: considering from the point of view of the surface with grapevines, Romania is the 5th in Europe after Spain, Italy, France and Portugal and the 6th in the world, after Spain, Italy, France, USA and Portugal.
From the point of view of the production of grapes, Romania is the 5th in Europe after Spain, Italy, France and Germany and the 8th in the world after Italy, France, USA, Spain, Argentina, Chile and Germany.
From the point of view of the production of wine, Romania is the 6th in Europe, after Italy, France, Spain, Germany and Portugal and the 9th in the world after Italy, France, Spain, Argentina, USA, Germany, Australia and Portugal.
According to the internal consumption of wine, Romania is the 7th in Europe after France, Italy, Germany, Spain, Russia and England.
The place of Romania in the hierarchy of the European Countries
|
Country Grapevine
|
Cultivated surface
|
The production of grapes
|
The production of wines
|
The internal consumption of wine
|
Wine export
|
Wine import
|
|
Romania
|
5
|
5
|
6
|
6
|
12
|
20
|
|
Italy
|
2
|
1
|
1
|
2
|
1
|
19
|
|
France
|
3
|
2
|
2
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
|
Spain
|
1
|
3
|
3
|
4
|
3
|
5
|
|
Germany
|
12
|
4
|
4
|
3
|
4
|
1
|
|
Bulgaria
|
8
|
8
|
12
|
22
|
5
|
23
|
|
Moldova
|
6
|
9
|
18
|
-
|
6
|
24
|
|
Portugal
|
4
|
7
|
5
|
8
|
7
|
11
|
|
Hungary
|
9
|
12
|
9
|
10
|
8
|
25
|
|
Macedonia
|
18
|
19
|
17
|
27
|
9
|
34
|
|
Greece
|
8
|
3
|
7
|
9
|
10
|
28
|
|
Belgium
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
11
|
6
|
WINES WITH DENOMINATION OF ORIGIN :
According to their qualitative features and their composition, also to that of the technology of production, Romania produces 402 types of wine, with a distribution by categories as follows: 11 types of wine for the current consumption, 42 types of superior quality wine, 118 types of superior quality wine with denomination of origin (VOD) and 231 types of superior quality wine with denomination of origin and degrees of quality (VDOC).
The first regimentations concerning the production of wines with denomination of origin have been established by "The law for the regimentation of the plantations of the grapevines" from 1932 and by "The law for the protection of the viticulture" from 1936. Currently they are regulated by "The law of the vineyard and the wine" from 1997.
In Romania there are the following categories of wines with denomination of origin :
Superior quality wines with denomination of origin (VOD).
Superior quality wines with denomination of origin and degrees of quality (VDOC), that can be :
a. superior quality wines with denomination of origin and degrees of quality - harvested in full maturity (VDOC-III or VDOC - CMD) ;
b. superior quality wines with denomination of origin and degrees of quality - harvested in maturity of ennoblement (VDOC-II or VDOC-CMI) ;
c. superior quality wines with denomination of origin and degrees of quality - harvested as the grapes are dried (VDOC - I or VDOC-CSB).
