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The cultivation of the grapevine has been known in Romania since ancient times, being favoured both by the geographical position of the country (to the Southeast of Europe, with opening to the Black Sea), and by the pedoclimatic 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Many archaeological testimonies, as well as some historical documents confirm that Romania, together with France, Italy, Spain, Germany, Bulgaria can be righteously called "a grapevine country" of Europe.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.)
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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
Grapevine Regions
of which with grapes for :
white wines
red wines
other varieties, including mixed ones
TOTAL
38,1
11,3
50,6
The Plate of Transylvania
81,4
-
18,6
The hills of Moldova
52,6
9,7
37,7
The hills of Muntenia and Oltenia
25,6
16,6
57,8
Banat
65,6
21,6
12,8
Crisana and Maramures
28,9
9,1
62,0
The hills of Dobrogea
53,0
24,3
22,7
The terrase of the Danube and other regions in the South of the country.
8,3
2,0
89,7
Source : The Minister of Agriculture, 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.
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THE GRAPES PRODUCTION

In 1996 the production of grapes was 1.458,1 thousand tons, unlike 1.667,4 tons in 1986.

Efficiency coefficients in Romania, 1993-1997
U/M
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
The average grapes production
to/ha
5,5
4,2
5,3
5,6
5,1
Vinified grapes
%
89
91
90
90
90
Vinification rate
liters of wine / 1kg of grapes
0,49
0,57
0,57
0,60
0,46

The structure of the wine production on the two categories of wine, shows that in the last years the white wine represents 70%, while the red wine represents only 30% of the total production.
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THE PLACE OF ROMANIA AS A WINE PRODUCER ON THE INTERNATIONAL WINE MARKET

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
Bulgary
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
Macedony
18
19
17
27
9
34
Grece
8
3
7
9
10
28
Belgium
-
-
-
-
11
6

 
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The average wine consumption in the Western European countries (liters/person)

Country
1990
1995
2001
Italy
70,7
59,5
55,1
France
73,1
62,5
53,1
Portugal
62,0
58,1
-
Switzerland
49,4
44,5
44,0
Spain
39,8
39,0
-
Danemark
21,3
26,4
30,8
Grece
32,4
30,9
-
Germany
26,1
22,6
24,0
Holland
14,7
15,7
15,7
Belgium-Luxembourg
24,9
24,0
26,5
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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 :

  1. Superior quality wines with denomination of origin (VOD).
  2. 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).
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