Most Renowned Romanian Vineyards

 The wine is the healthiest and most hygienic drink, used to say Louis Pasteur, the world renowned French scientist. It is probably one of the rare says never changed by history and medicine.

Most renowned Romanian Vineyards

Many historians and botanists agree that the birthplace of vineyards and wine making must be searched in the old Tracia, partially covered by the today Romania; they also agree that vineyards are older than other branches of agriculture, dating back to impressive 8000 years ago. We have a good tradition here in Romania in producing good quality wines, as in developing a certain culture of wine drinking.

Drinking wine is not so simple. We have here in Romania a certain civilization and culture of wine

I do not wish to promote drinking, any misuse or abuse is really a danger for anybody's health. But everywhere in the world, with small differences due to the local culture, drinking one or more glasses of wine daily is socially accepted. As wine and beer are the only drinks accepted as food, we should further limit to these things only. Let's compare the event of drinking a glass of wine vs. drinking a glass of beer. The wine is no doubt stronger and has more to do with celebration and enjoying life. We really enjoy life here in Romania, and love to share it. Drinking a glass of wine is not so simple. Don't drink it if you are thirsty, never pair it with fast food. Evaluate it with all your  senses, trying to imagine all the work necessary from the grape to the drink in your glass. Watch it carefully, hear it, smell it and taste it. Listen to its secret story, it is a gift of God and of the people who cared about it.

Tasting wine in Romania can find place in some exotic places, e.g. in a former salt mine

A fabulous Romanian scientist and a great spirit, namely Grigore Moisil, used to say that any people is entitled to a glass of wine. After having drunk it, he turns to be another people. Really an endless circle, don't take it really!

This tradition and culture of wine is very useful in the today Romania, which is among the first ten producers worldwide. Older and newer vineyards are dotted all around is this fantastic country of us. No matter corner of city of Romania would you like to visit, you will find within at least 50 km a renowned vineyards, waiting for your visit. Take it, grab it, don't hesitate. No matter the season, take a walk inside the vineyard and feel the secret energy of the land. It is useful to follow it while tasting. This short visit is of course most interesting and spectacular in autumn, during vintage. And then start the tour of the bigger or smaller vineyards with their more or less secret cellars, and don't try to dry them out through finishing all the reserves. The locals are able to talk, and talk, and talk about their wines for hours and days, it is a show of it own.

Carul cu Bere/The Beer Car is one of the best restaurants offering wine tasting

Romania's biggest vineyard stretches on the spectacular hills from Panciu-Odobesti-Cotesti. Neverending surfaces, when the grape simply turns to monoculture with all the risks. Great landscapes, great views, great wines. Taste Galbena de Odobesti, Sarba, Cabernet Sauvignon and Muscat Otonel to get the spirit of the place.

Probably the oldest Romanian vineyard is Cotnari, producing the same wine since centuries. Already renowned in Middle Age, the sorts of Tamaioasa, Francusa or Grasa are still in use and production today, allowing a noble experience.

Much younger, but also huge and by no means worse is the vineyard from Murfatlar, enjoying an excellent soil and more sun than anywhere else in Romania. Best results are made here with Chardonay.

Other reputated names to remember: Valea Calugareasca, Samburesti, Niculitel, Teremia, Jidvei/Tarnave, Lechinta etc. Will come back with details soon, stay in touch and book a wine tour, or a Romanian Tour!

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Wine tours in Romania

If you are a wine addicted, as I am, or even only if you are only an occasional wine drinker, you are going to find Romania exceptionally. It might be turning to be your second adoptive country, as we have very good wines at competitive prices. 

The most significant Romanian vineyards

Wine culture has in Romania a convincing old tradition. Our forefathers, the Dacians , knew to wine and the complicate way to get it from grapes. They even became addicted, thus slow, lazy and not so good soldiers anymore. Our old rulers Burebista and Deceneu  decided than very brutally simply, yet unbelievable, to destroy the vineyards.

Nowadays Romania proudly sits among the first 10 producers worldwide, with a wine culture and civilization comparable with those from France, Italy or Spain. In a few regions of Romania (e.g. Vrancea, Murfatlar, Valea Calugareasca) the vineyards are simply turning to monoculture. Despite the huge problems of this sector, you can find excellent wines in Romania, and if by chance you meet a wine farmer, be sure that he is going to invite you to lunch or dinner, with the obligatory wine tasting.

Wine tasting in Romania in a special location, the former salt mine from Praid

If you are taking part at a Romania tour and have by chance the extra possibility to attend a wine tasting, don't miss it by any means. It is not very expensive, but really spectacular and rewarding, and usually doubled by a folklore show. There are more places where you can find these unique events, read above.

Much better if you come to Romania on a wine tour, but even under these circumstances I can make some differences. First of all, if you are a pair of lovers, keep in mind and always remember that you must drink totally different sorts of wine comparing with the situation of an old gentlemen traveling along. There are also interesting differences between the best wines for a man vs the best wines for a female!

A professional wine tasting in Romania

A few leading vineyards will make you enjoy the life so much more with their delicious wines. I already mentioned a few of them, but I am going to count them all again. Uniting them on more or less conventional travels you got a wine tour of course. More concrete details when I am going to propose you a Romanian wine tour. 

In the region of Vrancea (with the towns of Focsani, Panciu, Odobesti) you will meat a fabulous wine civilization. Ask about the delicious sorts and varieties Galbena de Odobesti, or Tamaioasa, aside the internationally better renowned Muscat Ottonel or Merlot. Go on the local fantastic Wine Road with many events taking place on every step. I will organize soon a biking trip along this Wine Road. Not far from Vrancea, find the vineyards from Pietroasa and Valea Calugareasca.

You must feel a sort of wine with all your senses, this is the secret of a conaisseur

Murfatlar by Constanta is also a very compact vineyard with good possibilities for tasting. Search the Chardonnay, this is the local hit.

Not far from the nice city of Iasi, find the traditional vineyards from Cotnari and Bucium, or even Husi a little further. Enjoy these wines in the vineyards or in the leading restaurants from Iasi.

In the west of the country, by Timisoara find Recas, a fabulous vineyard offering mainly red wines (Merlot, Cadarca etc)

In the very heart of Transilvania between Sibiu, Cluj, Brasov and Bazna find the Tarnava (Kokel) vineyard. As the climate is here cooler, the wines are consequently dried. Search for the restaurant Butoiul Sasului from Ganesti where you can find a few of interesting varieties of wine.

This is only the start of an outstanding discussion about the Romanian wines and Wine Tours, and I will present much more of them in the predictable future!

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Medium Romanian Wines

Despite my deep love for my country, Romania, I must accept that not everything is perfect here! We have corrupted politicians, o.k. (who hasn't?), but we also have fantastic, charming, helping, normal people (and this matter really counts, I hope).

Romania is before all a wine country

Thinking to Romania as a wine country, but trying to be unbiased, I must say that could be a problem if you want to buy a good wine from the supermarket, it  might be a tricky moment! Better search for a reliable producer, but what you do when you are in the mood at night for a glass of wine? You go to the supermarket, I did myself yesterday. I avoided the cheap import wines, and I also avoided the cheapest Romanian wines.

I was not very happy with these specific wines

I made first a good choice, I was hoping: a bottle of  half dried Merlot Rose from Murfatlar/Conu Alecu. It was to be a special occasion, I payed for a bottle of 750 ml 15 RON (almost 4 Euros) and I was not happy at all with that wine.Maybe I have too high expectation for this producer, and is entirely my fault then! But the liquid I found in the bottle was not at all a good wine, as I can recognize one! 

Don't miss anymore opportunities to visit caves and vineyards in Romania!

I made another try, hoping to a much better experience. I checked and double checked a bottle of dried Merlot from Rovinex/Romanian Classic/Dealurile Vrancei with the same results. It is not a premium wine I could recommend or drinking the second time. But it was cheaper, 12 RON/3 Euros for a bottle.

First conclusion: don't expect to find a very good wine under 20 RON/ 5 Euros and don't miss opportunities to visit caves, wineries and vineyards! You can find excellent unbottled  wines for 2-3 Euros/100 cl, which means a significant difference!

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The Russians of Romania

The Romanians, as a tolerant welcoming people, have a huge force to adopt and integer representatives of other nations. There are not very many foreigners in Romania (under 10 % totally) , it is really a compact country. We really love and esteem our minorities ( The Hungarians are the most important at this moment).

But let us speak further about the Russians of Romania. Russia with its huge plains, hot teas and beautiful women exert a strange fascination onto the Romanians. We remember them in the harsh winters when it is very cold and they let the Northern winds coming to Romania ( please don't let them again, spasiva!). We remember them thinking to the men and women from Siberia, surviving at -70 degrees Celsius (any Romanian is half dead at -20 degrees Celsius). These methods of survival must be secret, and we really want to learn from the Russians. We forget probably the Russians in the hot seasons, having other fantasies.

The Bucovina Hutzuls are keeping their spectacular suits and traditions

We have had a long history together, and sometimes the Tzarist Empire, or the Moscow's Communist regime have been not very friendly against politicians. There is no matter, the politicians did that. We really love the normal ordinary people of Russia!

Not very many Romanians speak Russian nowadays, after this language have been imposed at school during the 50's, but some Romanians loving vodka have learned. We love the strong Russian culture.

The beauty of Bucovina is due also to the Hutzuls, the descendants of the  Russian refugees

In the Russian history have been some moments when certain oppressed people searched a shelter in Romania. And they really found a   second happy home in Romania ( even if they can't understand the art of tasting wine, ha ha!). During the XIXth century The Orthodoxe Russians following the old calendar have been subject of oppression and persecutions, due to the reforms of the Russian Orthodoxe Church. Romania was naturally their first option, it is the only one Orthodoxe country in the area.

The Russians from Danube Delta build other compact group keeping their traditions, and are known as  Lippovans.

They found shelter in some remote places of Romania, still fearing the strong arm of the Russian justice. Some of them settled in Bucovina, and in a few villages of this Romanian region you still can find their followers, when the community was big enough to preserve their traditions. They are called Hutzuls there, and breed wonderful horses.

Other important group of Russian fugees found shelter in the Danube Delta. No one could find them there, the idea was brilliant. Today, after almost 200 years, most of the fishermen from the Danube Delta still speak an old Russian language,  keeps amazing traditions and drink heavily vodka or other strong spirits. Their Sunday church service is really spectacular, observing their traditional suits.

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Best Romanian Champagne and champagne based cocktails

If you are in Romania, a wine land after all, you are supposed to drink the Romanian wines, and I have been trying to convince you about their qualities since one year online and offline. There are for sure between the many Romanian wines something special for the ladies, younger or older. Nevertheless, the ladies don't give happy so easily, they need sparkling wines, they need Champagne.

You can find in Romania exquisite local sparkling wines, also known as Champagne. There are many legends  about champagne, one of them is simply fantastic: the french king Louis XIVth and his favorite glassware designer set the wonderful form of the Champagne cup based on the perfect breast of the fascinating Marie Antoinette.

The small town of panciu, also known as the town among the  vineyards

A good Romanian Champagne is Zarea, but a much better one is Panciu. Panciu lies 25 km away fro, Focsani, not far from Odobesti, on the Wine road as described before. The company Veritas lead by Mr Adrian Toma is a big wine producer, but also an important Champagne producer. Despite the huge marketing difficulties, which forced them to reduce production, they are still on the market. You can take part there to a wine tasting, while your beloved half can take part to a Champagne tasting (three sorts available). Believe me, it is better not to interfere during these very pleasant moments. Besides, it is the best possible foreplay! You can prove by yourself, and your wife will also be able to confirm, the Champagne from Panciu is better than Zarea, but very difficult to get in Romania. It is practically not to find in any supermarket, as the production is not big enough to cover the growing demand. Once there in Panciu, please use the opportunity to take more bottles with you, making your wife very happy!

general manager of veritas Panciu, Mr Adrian Toma, working in the caves of Stephen the Great

The General Manager Adrian Toma allows the bottles of Champagne to maturate one year long in the historic caves of Stefan cel Mare/ Stephen the Great. They do a good job there, let youself convince, don't need to believe me! The same Adrian Toma gave me a pic, remembering a legendary Champagne based cocktail, called Air Mail. When this cocktail was created at 1949 the Air mail was the fastest and safest way to send your letters; in the same way this excellent combination will tranfer you in another Universe. Nowadays we could name it rather email!

But, in order to be shortly and get the to the point, in the same way this cocktail does, take please 150 ml Brut Champagne; 60 ml golden rum; 1 spoon honey and 15 ml lime juice. Mix first in the shaker a few ice cubes, the lime juice, the rum and the honey. Pour this mix in a Collins glass, and don't dare to filtrate. Complete with the Champagne, and enjoy.

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The wine road from Focsani

It is an unbelievable wonderful weather at this moment in Focsani, and I must prepare the new spring season. It is very easy at 10 degrees Celsius and I am very optimist about it. For the wine addicted, I will renew the offer from former year, starting with the convincing Big Romania Wine Tour, a success program.

The trip along the Wine Road starts in Focsani

The Vrancea district, whose residence is in Focsani, is very well renowned for its huge neverending vineyards, one of the most important regional landmarks. It is actually the biggest surface of vineyards among other Romanian districts, as one of the biggest wine production. Unfortunately, other regional vineyards like Murfatlar or Cotnari, enjoy a better marketing and selling policy, but Vrancea never gives up! The vineyards are shared between more or medium sized farms, and thus everybody wins!The many and spectacular wine tastings on the way will delight you for sure, if you understand all about this fascinating branch and area.

Spectacular barracks in Odobesti

In the Wine land there are many wine roads, I personally selected one variant. We start from Focsani and travel up to Andreiasu, through Odobesti-Vartescoiu-Brosteni-Mera-Reghiu. From the many vineyards from the area we can select a few for tastings, but we could select much more. The trip is not very long, lasting a day, even if you ride the bike instead driving. Leave the town of Focsani through its Cotesti neighborhood, and discover first the village of Campineanca. Its existence is tighten with the Romanian Unification from 1859, when Wallachia united with Moldavia. The border was in this area and after is disappearance, the guardians from the both sides took the decision of setting this village. There are three churches in Campineanca, and in the center you can discover a small monuments for the people who falled during WWI.

Please observe the barrels/bariques, every household has many of them in Odobesti and on the Wine road.

Almost without notice you got the village of Unirea(Patesti), outskirt of Odobesti. please notice the vineyards stretching all over the horizon, and proof again manner and patience, before the wine tasting from Odobesti, in the Dyonyssos caves. Unirea was for the first time mentioned in a written document at 1684. Everything in the area is tighten to wine, which is the main occupations of the locals. They simply love the wine, enjoy life, and can speak uninterrupted about their fantastic product. Two important local sorts are Sarba and Galbena (Yellow), they are unique here and you can't find them anywhere else. Don't forget to ask about them, even by the tasting. Or rather don't, the host will be able to speak for hours about.

Magura Hill is the highest in Romania

Very close to Odobesti (10 km away) is the highest hill in Romania. Magura Odobestilor is rather a mountain through its altitude of 100 meters, but a hill through its structure and neighborhood. Climbing it is not very difficult, but requires skills and training, and last a few hours. Once on the top, the perfect reward: excellent panoramic viewto 10-20 kilometers. You can imagine the strategic importance of this point for military observation during the heavy fights from the WWI given in the neighborhood! On another hill, next to the town of Odobesti, namely Sarba, have been found pottery fragments from the La Tene culture (200 b.C). Already during Middle Age Odobesti has been known as a leading vineyard in Moldavia. An interesting place is the Cross Church, founded by the traders' guild.

Very close to Odobesti is the village Vartescoiu, another one dedicated to the wine, with many farms and caves. Nowadays it became an outskirt of Odobesti and simply lives in its shadow. On the same way, discover a similar village, Faraoanele, whose name has a wonderful legend. When the Turks were ruling Moldavia, and the collectors came gathering the debts, in Faraoanele no one could give much due a dramatic water shortage. Very disappointed, yet upset, they found two wonderful young girls, having the saving idea to send the girls to the sultan's khareem. But all the locals protested, and the two girls escaped somehow. The both girls' name was Oana, and in Romanian the village name means "No Oana".

A few kilometers further discover the village Mera with its old fortified monastery. From now on the roads are not easy accessible and not practicable after heavy rains. But the landscapes are more spectacular and genuine. Notice in Andreiasu the "Living Fire", caused by a gas emanation, which permanently burns. There are possible many itineraries in these area, but only possible as walking tours.

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Best destinations for singles in Romania on Valentine's day

As the Valentine's day is approaching fast, very fast, I am sure that all of you being in a relationship, marriage etc made all the preparations needed to spend it in the most romantic way with your favorite one. Romania is of course a good option, as I recommended it more times.

For the others,which are not so happy this time, the Valentine's day could come with some unpleasant feelings like frustration, loneliness, unhappiness, depression. In fact, you must not make it so dramatic, maybe it is better so for you this time. There are some cures against this depression, which could be worse and worse. One of it is working like a crazy, more and more, like a real workaholic, but it shows the results only on short time. You must make peace with yourself and stop blaming for any real or imagined bad things. A sort of yoga, if you understand what I mean. And you can do that even while traveling, makes all easier and smoother!

As a conclusion, you need a non Valentine's Day destination! And I have a selection of such destinations in Romania, where else!

1. Skiing and practicing other winter sports is a good idea, one of the best possible. Try it in Romania in Poiana Brasov, which is huge, overcrowded and charming. Drink from time to time a glass of boiled wine on the slope, but you may not exaggerate. Getting drunk doesn't help at all, but on the contrary, causes even deeper depressions! You might hate such overcrowded places like Poiana Brasov , I agree, and allow me to remember about other ski destinations in Romania. Anyway, you may not hate people and run away from them, on the contrary. Romanians are good and lovely, anytime prepared for helping someone.

Wine tasting somewhere in Romania will help you leaving behind all the  bad feelings

2. Go on wine tasting in Romania. Is a wonderful opportunity to share the joy of life. Be careful not to get drunk, spit the wine, is a basic rule of wine tasting. I think in winter the best destinations for wine tastings are Cotnari and Focsani. Be careful and inform yourself prior of your take off, due to massive snow falls not all the destinations in Romania are easy reachable. Maybe Murfatlar is then your pocket ace, as it lies south and there does not fall so much snow. Anyway, will be probably impossible to book a full Romania Wine Tour, unfortunately.

A  Romanian city break might be thing you need, if you organize it right, as a Non Valentine destination

3.As you need to kill your spleen only a few days, consider a city break in Romania, but avoid clubbing, I think to be the worst thing for you (or maybe on the contrary, you can find your night stand putting on your feet again). I can recommend Bucharest, Constanta, Sibiu and Cluj Napoca, as they have own airports and a lot of things to do and to see. And least, but not lasts, Timisoara and Oradea. If the weather will be better and the streets accessible, you can reach other Romanian cities and towns, anyone could say  something to you, you must only be prepared to hear it.

Going to the countryside is an excellent brillant idea, but not in this season

4.Going to the countryside might be an excellent idea, but the above mentioned observation applies again. There is the danger not to reach your destination, or being forced to remain there a few days longer than you have been planning. Bucovina is a good idea for that.

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Myths, legends and true facts from the wine history

The history of the mankind is also a history of wine, at least in the last 6000 thousands of years. Can't figure a party in the good old times without wines, good wines, and food. Can't imagine neither today a party without wines, or a sophisticated dinner without wines. Besides, if the sophisticated dinner is a romantic one, the wine makes the perfect excuse for him, but also for her.

I am sure that wines played  an important role in the history of mankind, much more important than a serious scholastic historian could imagine. E.g., Cleopatra made history not only with her nose, but also with the glass of wine for Marc Anthony. The Romanian medieval ruler Stephen the Great enjoyed a glass of wine at the right time, and there must be much more examples for the way of mixing wine and history. Think a little about Churchill, Stalin and Roosevelt, and the abstinent Hitler, who could destroy the world and its good habits!

Drinking wine is much older than you think

An important fact: the oldest evidence of drinking wine date back in 5400 b.C and has been found in Zagros, Iran. Most probably, the wine has been produced in that area. For 5000 years the wine consumption was reserved to the upper class. The kings of Egypt and Mesopotamia served wines to the high ranking guests, showing their wealth. The rich people of antique Athens were labeled according the belonging vineyards! The Greeks, inventors of the civilization, started to do what we call today wine tastings. This good habit has been taken and refined by the Romans.

The Greeks found first wine tastings, but the Romans took over and developed further

Around year 500 a.C takes place the segregation of the Europeans in wine drinkers and beer drinkers, which continues up today. The wine became the favorit drink for the southern part of Europe, where the Roman occupation was tighter and the influences stronger. The Northern part of Europe, with the British Islands, are populated with Barbarians drinking beer. (Actually, the segregation is not so obvious anymore!).

Very close to the places where have been found the first traces of wine, emerged the Islamic belief, forbidding the wine!. There is a legend: two pupils of Mahomed had a strong argument after taking too much on bord. The Prophete, asking advice and guiding from the allmighty Allah, became the simpliest answer: "The wine is a Devil invention". Even the Christians took champagne (actually sparkling wine, to be more precisely) for a Devil invention! It happened when the people did not know what is Carbon Dioxide, a gas which can be found in any wine.

And this is a modern wine tasting, a contest!

Champagne has been created first around 1700, surely not by the Monk Dom Perignon. Some people say, it was simply an accident. Dom Perignon only had major contributions to the development of champagne, which became shortly the favorite drink of the women! Madame de Pompadour used to declare " Champagne is the only wine making a woman more beautiful after drinking a glass!" ( I would add: the woman becomes much more beautiful if her partner drinks the Champagne!)

And a last legend for today: a renowned French porcelain producer created the first champagne cup based on an extraordinary model: the breast of Marie Antoinette.

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