A few months ago, I was at Total Wine and More and was asking for some unusual international wines. The person helping me suggested a Romanian wine, which I will discuss in this article. Thank you to WSET for their help with this article.
Romanian Wine History
WSET tells us that “Romania has one of the oldest wine-producing cultures in Europe. It was shaped by the Romans, and then the monasteries and subsequently influenced by the French. Today, the Romanian wine industry has a clear focus on quality and integration with European standards. Wine production in the region that is now modern Romania dates back to ancient times when the Greeks brought grapevines to the country via the Black Sea between 600-500 BC. These vineyards were located in present-day Dobrogea and were used by the Romans during their occupation.”
In modern times, during Communist rule, wine production became highly industrialized to maximize productivity, with a lot of indigenous varieties being taken out. After Communism, foreign investment and EU funding has contributed to reconstructing the country’s wine heritage.
According to WSET, “Romania ranks 5th in Europe and 10th in the world for total hectares of vineyards planted, and its wine production volumes for the 2021 harvest ranked 6th in Europe (OIV, 2022).” Sadly, most of the wine is consumed locally. Only 5-6% is exported, with the bulk going to Germany, the UK and the Netherlands.
Feteasca Neagra
Wine Tours says that “Feteasca Neagra, meaning ‘Black Maiden’, is the flagship grape for Romania. It has been grown in the region for hundreds of years and, although low-yielding and prone to disease, the use of new oak helps produce a well-rounded and structured wine. If made well (which is not easy) the resulting wine will have lively acidity and be medium to full-bodied.”
My Cup of Wine says that “Feteasca Neagra is a grape that has the ability to produce really good wines with notes of plum, blackberries, vanilla, cinnamon and pepper that are well balanced and can age well. Feteasca Neagra can be produced both as a varietal wine or blended with Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot or Pinot Noir and besides red wines it can also produce really nice rosés.”
Recas La Pulere Feteasca Neagra
The bottle cost $10.99, which is a fantastic price. The wine was very good. We got a lot of plum, with hints of blackberry, tobacco and pepper. It said on the Total Wine and More site that it could pass for a Cabernet. We didn’t think so. We thought it tasted more like a Malbec. But who knows.
If you have a chance to try it, I would love to hear what you think.
Cheers!
