History
The history of wine-making in Moldavian Hill goes back to the Romans, but it was only after the Second World War that viticulture really took off. Romanian vineyards were damaged and depleted during the war and a period of nationalization followed. With many farms being merged into larger entities, production focused on quantity over quality. This continued until the fall of Communism in 1989 and the subsequent privatization of land.
With new owners, small vineyards began to grow again; those that had been neglected for decades were revived and those which produced little or no grapes were replaced with more suitable varieties. The number of wineries grew from just 200 when communism fell to around 1,500 today. Many new people entered the industry—young ones brimming with enthusiasm as well as experienced producers from other regions who saw potential in Moldavian Hill’s wines
Geography
Romania is a charming country in Europe with many ancient sites and interesting people. It has 80,000 square miles of land and borders several countries, including Moldova, Bulgaria, Ukraine and Hungary. The country also has 60 million citizens who are Romanians. Romania is called “the crossroads of European culture” for its mix of Eastern Orthodoxy, Romanian Orthodoxy and Catholicism. Each region of Romania is known by different names; the most common one is Moldavia (a very old name used since pagan times). The capital city is Bucharest. Other important cities are Iasi, Constanta or Cluj Napoca (known as Köblényi). Its main rivers are the Danube in the east or Black Sea to the west on the other side of Romania. Other important rivers include Mures River or Arges River that flows through Bucharest area directly south towards Transylvania Mountains.[3]
The main wines produced in Romania are white wine (Cabernet Sauvignon and red wine made from Cabernet Franc), some red wines made from Merlot grapes grown in Western Romania’s Șurăuți Region near Piatra Neamț County (#2), Bordeaux-style red wine from Transylvania’s Crișana sub-region (#4) and sweet white wine from Moldavia’s Țara Haţegului sub-region (#5). There are some more traditional wines produced locally such as Gheorghe Ciobanu Winery at Târgu Mureş which produces its own grape varieties for both local consumption and export; some such as Vişina Winery at Timişoara produce sweet wines like Sfeštak & Sumava slivovitz.[4][5]
Climate
If you love hot summers and cold winters, you’ll feel right at home in Moldavian Hill. With a continental climate, the rain is moderate and the hours of sunshine are long!
Vineyards and grape varieties
As you drive along the hills surrounding the city of Iasi, you will see the vineyards dotted in between clusters of trees. The most common grape varieties grown in this region are White Feteasca, Red Feteasca, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc. The combination of these varieties produces white wines which tend to be balanced and with a pleasant acidity level. Famous still wines from this region are:
- Fetească Albă (White Feteasca)
- Traminer
- Tămâioasă Românească (Romanian Muscat)
There are also a few sparkling wines produced by traditional method. Famous sparkling wines from this region are:
Moldavian Hill is an area full of great wines.
The wines of Moldavian Hill are the result of a large-scale project that began in 1958. Despite the fact that there are no major wineries here, demand for these wines is high.
Wine lovers will appreciate the wide range of grape varieties grown in Moldavian Hill, from well-known varieties like Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon to more obscure grapes like Feteasca Alba and Busuioaca de Bohotin.
If you’re looking for a unique culinary experience, Moldavian Hill is an exciting place to visit.