Romanian Wines

I’m not a oenologist, I’m not even a “connoisseur” and I drink next to never. But when I buy wine and especially when I’m in Romania, I’ll buy some Romanian wines and I’ll tell you about it.

Varianta în limba română pe FaṭăCarte Meta Zamolxis.

• I like red wine and bought a native Romanian red dry and a semisweet rose.
• Some interesting historical Dacian facts from AI blend in with their prizes

It’s ok if you don’t know about Romanian wines. I don’t typically drink so don’t know much either. But I do know that there are some specifically Romanian grape varieties and I have friends, particularly of the female persuasion, who like to drink wines, so I should be able to help them figure out what’s what.

bought

I remembered about this recently in a supermarket, so I visited their wine section. I was able to find the pictured Rose Verite from Beciul Domnesc (Busuioaca de Bohotin, 2L box at 37.9 RON, semisweet) and Domeniile Tohani’s Feteasca Neagra, (0.75L at 18.9 + 2.02 bottle SGR, dry). Both were 2023.

So far, I only tried the box and it’s pretty good. It does indeed spell S U M M E R on my palate.

My preference is generally for dry red wines and I like them with a nice, rare steak (30 s on each side). So I’ll open the Feteasca soon, when I’ll share a steak with a friend. I’ll be looking for a “Babeasca” in a box; as for the whiteys (Tamaioasa – known as Busuioaca in Moldova, Grasa de Cotnari, Galbena de Odobesti) – we’ll see, maybe never.

history

If you’re like me, you might wonder if all those “rumors” connecting Dacians to wine were true, so I asked AI if there’s any such connection, getting the following quick answer:

🍇 Yes—there’s compelling evidence that the Dacians not only made wine but had a deep cultural connection to it.

🏺 Archaeological & Historical Evidence

• Ancient authors and archaeological finds suggest that the Geto-Dacians (a broader term often used for Dacians) practiced viticulture as early as the 1st millennium BCE.
• Terraced vineyards were used to cultivate grapes on steep slopes, maximizing sun exposure—an advanced technique for the time.
• They fermented wine in clay containers, and grape stomping was part of their winemaking process.
• Wine wasn’t just for drinking—it played a role in religious rituals and social ceremonies, believed to be a gift from the gods.

🛠 Tools of the Trade

• Archaeological studies have uncovered tools and pottery associated with winemaking, supporting the idea that this wasn’t a casual hobby but a developed craft.

🌍 Cultural Influence

• The Dacians traded wine with neighboring civilizations, showing it had economic and diplomatic value.
• Later, the Romans expanded viticulture in the region after conquering Dacia in 106 CE, but the foundations were already laid by the Dacians themselves.

So yes, the Dacians weren’t just warriors—they were vintners with a taste for the divine.

prizes

Of the red wines, the only native one to get prizes was Feteasca Neagra, with 2023 and 2024 being all-around awesome.

Now let me tell you about cheap mineral water.

Sources / More info: tohani, beciuld, cco-steak, rowinehist (PDF), prizes

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