Muntenia Hills, like other regions in Romania, has a wine-making tradition that goes back thousands of years.
Like other regions in Romania, Muntenia Hills has a wine-making tradition that goes back thousands of years, perhaps as early as 4,000 years ago. There is evidence of wine-making in the region in ancient times. The area is also known for its beautiful scenery, with forests and hills.
The Danube river lies between the Muntenia Hills and the Bulgarian border.
The Danube river stretches from the Black Forest in Germany to the Black Sea, making it the second longest river in Europe. As it passes through 10 countries and 4 capital cities, the Danube River is considered a vital part of European culture. It’s worth taking some time to get acquainted with this important waterway as you plan your visit to Romania’s wine country.
The Danube river flows through the Muntenia Hills and out towards Bulgaria. The hills are geographically close to both Serbia and Ukraine, but they’re firmly within Romania’s border and have been since 1914.
Muntenia Hills sits on the Cross-Border Natural Park between Romania and Bulgaria.
At the end of the nineteenth century, this area was a magnet for smugglers and horse thieves, who would take their loot across the Danube on rafts. In 2000, to celebrate a decade of partnership between Romania and Bulgaria, the Muntenia Hills Cross-Border Natural Park was established. It’s now home to the largest protected area of oak forest in Europe.
In springtime, as you might expect from such an unspoilt environment, it’s one giant wildflower meadow. You can also find rich biodiversity here; bear, deer and wild boar roam free, while vultures circle above—this is their last stronghold in Europe.
Romanian vineyards currently spread over approximately 270,000 acres and produce approximately 1.3 million tons of grapes per year.
Romania is the fourth largest producer of wine in Europe, with approximately 270,000 acres of vineyards and producing 1.3 million tons of grapes a year. This makes it the largest producer in Central and Eastern Europe as well as one of the oldest wine regions in the world. Unfortunately, Romania is not well known for its wines, but this is quickly changing thanks to an increase in winemaking tourism.
Romanians are proud of their own indigenous grape varieties and these are beginning to capture more attention abroad.
Romanians are proud of their own indigenous grape varieties and these are beginning to capture more attention abroad. I would say that the previous generation of winemakers was rather conservative in blending international grapes with Romanian ones, with a few exceptions. Perhaps they felt it necessary to produce something more familiar for international markets. The new generation is much bolder and experimenting with more creative blends, whilst also improving their quality by investing money in technology and barrel aging, etc. Their wines are winning awards internationally, even here in the Pacific Northwest where there is a healthy culture of wine tasting.
According to legend, Constantin Brancoveanu, the Prince of Wallachia from 1688 to 1714, was behind the planting of much of the region’s vines.
According to legend, Constantin Brancoveanu, the Prince of Wallachia from 1688 to 1714, was behind the planting of much of the region’s vines. It is said he would have a tree planted every time his wife gave birth to a child.
The name Muntenia Hills probably derives from the fact that it is located in Muntenia, which means ‘region among mountains’ in Romanian.
While there are over 20 grape varieties grown here, we will only talk about three main ones: Feteasca neagra (the predominant variety), Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon.
Prince Brâncoveanu was also responsible for building a wine-pressing facility in his palace at Mogoșoaia.
Prince Brâncoveanu, who was also responsible for building a wine-pressing facility in his palace at Mogoșoaia. It was built in 1688 and still exists today, located in the city of Bucharest and functioning as a tourist attraction.
Some of the local wine varieties grown in this region include Feteasca Neagră (Black Maiden) and Feteasca Alba (White Maiden).
- Feteasca Neagră (Black Maiden)
- Feteasca Alba (White Maiden)
- Feteasca Regală (Royal Maiden)
- Babeasca Negră (Grandmother’s Black Grapes)
- Tamaioasă Românească (Romanian Tamayo)
- Grasă de Cotnari (Cotnari Fat Grape, a sweet wine grape variety)
Mention that some of these varieties are less common than others.
There are several specific vineyard appellations in this region including Dealu Mare, Panciu, Buzau and Cotnari.
- Dealu Mare is the largest of these sub-regions, with a total vineyard area of roughly 8,800 acres.
- Panciu has a long history of wine making and is considered one of the best Romanian wine regions. However, it was only recognized as an appellation in 2004.
- Buzau is a small appellation with only 2,000 total acres under vine. In fact, it doesn’t even have its own wineries—instead its grapes are used by producers within other nearby regions. It was only established as an appellation in 2012.
Dealu has been producing high quality red wines for hundreds of years and is one of Romania’s most famous wine regions.
Dealu is a sub-region of Muntenia Hills that has been producing high quality red wines for hundreds of years and is one of Romania’s most famous wine regions. The region’s climate is continental, with moderate winters, warm summers, and sandy soil. Dealu boasts many vineyards, but the most popular ones are Viilor and Iordache.