History of wine in the region
Winemaking in the Transylvania Highlands is a long tradition, going back centuries to Roman times. Romania is now the 13th largest wine producer in the world, and wineries throughout the region are proudly producing new wines from old vineyards. In fact, some of these vineyards were banned under Romania’s communist regime and are just being rediscovered and replanted after being ignored for decades.
With its mountainous terrain and unique soil condition, Transylvania produces excellent wines year after year that are distinctive from those produced in other regions. The topography gives it a rich diversity in plant life, making it an ideal place for growing grapes that produce award-winning wines.
Since 1990, the region has seen a renaissance of winemaking as local producers rediscover their traditions and combine them with modern techniques to create bold new flavor profiles such as Pinot Noir (Pinot Noir), Riesling (Riesling), Sauvignon Blanc (Sauvignon Blanc) and Merlot (Merlot).
Grape varieties
- Feteasca Alba
- Feteasca Regala
- Tamaioasa Romaneasca
- Cramposie
- Sauvignon Blanc
- Chardonnay
- Pinot Gris, Muscat Ottonel, Muscat Hamburg, Pinot Blanc
Sparkling wines
You should know that the sparkling wines produced in this region are of excellent quality. They use the traditional method, more specifically the Charmat method, which is used to create up to 90% of traditional sparkling wines. The grapes they use are mostly Feteasca Alba and Feteasca Neagra.
The best known wineries creating high quality sparkling wines in this region are: Cramele Recas, Davino and WishWine.
Food
While you’re exploring the Transylvania Highlands region of Romania, make sure to try some of these local dishes:
- Fagure. This is a cake that’s made in the shape of a honeycomb, which is where it got its name. It’s often topped off with nuts and dried fruits. It would go great with any sweet wine.
- Papanasi. These are cheesecake-like desserts that come topped with jam or fruit before being sprinkled with sugar.
- Zacuscă (pronounced zah-KOOSH-ka). This is a spread made from roasted vegetables. It goes well on bread or crackers and makes for a nice treat while you’re sipping on some local wine at lunchtime.
Romania’s best wine region to date
Arguably Romania’s most promising wine region to date, the Transylvania Highlands are still in their infancy. The terroir shows great potential for producing high-quality sparkling wines. It is a remote and relatively undeveloped area of the country, making it ideal for a wine tourism experience that will appeal to adventurous souls who appreciate gorgeous landscapes and love discovering new places.