Wine Production in Romania

Wine Production in Romania

Wine production has been well-established for thousands of years across the globe. Romania’s national output of 5,088.2 thousand hectoliters in 2018 marked the beginning of the country’s efforts to increase its production capacity. Romania is the “land of hope” because it boasts more vineyards per capita than any other Eastern European country, and wine production in Romania constitutes a long-standing tradition.

Regions, Weather, and Climate

Romania’s wine-producing regions include Crisana and Maramures, the Banatului Hills, the Transilvanian Plateau, the Muntenia, Oltenia Hills, Sands, and other southern sites such as Dobrogea Hills, the Moldavian Hills, and the Danube Terraces. The climate in Romania is critical to its successful production of wine, with the annual temperature ranging from 0° to 25° Celsius.

However, a comfortable 16° Celsius is the norm across the nation. There is an average annual rainfall of around 700 millimeters. Although, the mountains can get up to 1,000 millimeters. Geographically, the region’s Carpathian Mountains and the Black Sea play a significant role in wine production in Romania. Its foothills have a unique soil composition that makes them an excellent place to grow grapes.

The climate can also remain dry and continental because of the Black Sea’s influence on the surrounding ecology. Frost damage, rain during blossoming and harvest, and harvest-related taste changes all affect the quality and taste of the grapes.

Romania’s Wine Production Area

The Romanian state established itself in 1877, but it was not until 2007 that Romania became a member of the European Union (EU). Due to European Union and Romanian government measures, many Romanian wine exporters have prospered.

In fact, winemaking is one of the country’s most significant sectors, as shown by the fact that wine exports brought in $30.4 million in 2018.

In terms of total land allocated to the production of wine and grapes, Romania currently ranks sixth in the EU, according to data from APEV Romania. Consequently, the nation competes with countries like Italy, Spain, France, and Germany.

According to estimates, 182.6 million hectares of land in Romania were devoted to grape production in 2018. In addition, the country’s production capacity is regularly increased due to the EU’s ongoing investment into the industry, which is expected to reach €47.5 million per year.

Manufacturing and Varieties

Wine production in Romania is rooted in a long history of winemaking and grape growing. According to a study, 25 enterprises dominate the sector, with combined annual sales exceeding one million euros. They distribute their commodities via their “own wine shops and small supermarkets and distributors,” including HORECA and online platforms. Small and medium-sized enterprises make up the great majority of wine producers, yet, the vast majority of these firms lack either accreditation or the capacity to produce larger volumes of wine.

The History of Argentinian Malbec

Grape varieties are classified as local, indigenous or international based on where they were grown. Fetească, Tămioasă Romnească, and Neagra are among the members of the first subgroup. The oldest grape variety is the Romanian, which produces dry red wines.

Wine Production in Romania: Volumes

It was projected winemakers would produce 3,266 thousand hectoliters of wine in 2016, and in 2018, they produced 5,088 thousand hectoliters. The following data helps shed light on Romania’s wine production volumes:

• Romania exported over 17,927,352 liters of wine in 2018.
• It is estimated that wine exports produced total revenue of €30,440,632 in 2018.
• The United Kingdom is the most important of the four major export destinations for wine exports, with 4,380,985 liters and €7,634,907 in 2018.

According to the country’s production figures, Romania’s wine producers heavily rely on exports. Apart from China, most of Romania’s wine export destinations are EU members; the country’s wine exports annually total roughly 744,297 liters, and sales total €2,528,794.

For the export of Romanian wine, there is an intra-EU category, which relates to sales inside the EU, and a separate category for sales beyond the EU. Exports inside the EU account for 88.9% of total liters, but exports measured in euros account for 82.1% of total revenue. Research shows that Romania’s exports are much lower than those of other wine-producing countries. The total amount of wine exported will rise in the future. The country’s producers are developing relationships with international trade enterprises to continue expanding their distribution channels.

This Day in Wine History

July 31, 2017: The European Union established a new rule (order no. 266) for varietal grape farms that outlined the management and verification procedures for all EU winemakers. The legislation included authorization from varietal winemakers, which means producers have to add quality labels and certification to each bottle. Lastly, it authorized a one-year charge for the use of grape vines in the harvesting and production of wine (including varietal wines).

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References

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