Romanian and Moldovan wineries offer a treasure trove of viticultural delights that often fly under the radar of the average wine enthusiast.
With a rich history steeped in over 6,000 years of wine-making, Romania boasts an impressive position as the fifth-largest producer in Europe, crafting both renowned and obscure varieties, some of which are very high quality.
From the sun-kissed hills of Bohotin, where the Busuioaca de Bohotin grape produces a seductively sweet red wine, to the historic allure of the Cotnari Winery with its lusciously golden Grasa de Cotnari, in this article I’ll list the best Romanian wineries and my personal experience when visiting them. My adventure will unveil the crème de la crème of Romanian wineries, and I’m eager to share the inside scoop on which top Romania wineries are not just must-visits, but also why one might claim the crown for best Romanian winery in my view.
Why You Should Consider Visiting the Top Romania Wineries as a Tourist
Cost-Effectiveness of Visiting Romania
You’ll find traveling through Romania is a deal-sweetener. Compared to its European cousins, your money stretches further here. This means you can swirl and sip top-tier wine without breaking the bank. Lodging, eats, and transportation won’t hurt your budget either.
Exclusive Romanian Wine Experiences
Besides being budget-friendly, Romania offers exclusive wine experiences that are hard to replicate elsewhere. Imagine sipping a Busuioaca de Bohotin while overlooking the very vines it came from – wine tours are simply a unique experience that is hard to describe unless you try it for yourself.
Exploring Fertile Vineyard Regions
Stretching across the land, Romania’s fertile vineyard regions are varied and vast. The Romanian soil is a viticulture paradise, and the top winemakers in Romania make use of every inch.
Cramele Recas – The Best Winery in Romania?
Elvira and Philip Cox have clearly poured their heart and souls into this place over the past three decades, creating one of the best Romanian wineries from humble origins.
During my tour, the passion and experimentation jumping off the walls was downright infectious. These folk aren’t afraid to get their hands dirty diving into wild ferments or heritage varieties long abandoned. But quality clearly remains the top priority as I saw in discussions with some of their top winemakers. Come tasting time, the breadth of styles on display from the Cramele Recas soils left my taste buds spinning.
Walking through Cramele Recas’ high-tech winery was eye-opening. Sleek stainless steel tanks lined the walls, each equipped with automated controls maintaining a state of precise balance. Our guide explained how the winery maximized quality at every stage – from gentle destemming to cool fermentations. Sensitive processing shines through in their nuanced wines. Most striking was the integration of sustainability despite their scale. Energy efficiency and waste reduction permeate operations. It’s clear this cutting-edge facility delivers exceptional wine – all with a minimal footprint.
By the time I said goodbye to Recas, I knew I’d found much more than just another commercial winery. This family has given new life to an ancient landscape and established themselves as leaders of Romania’s modern renaissance. Their open and innovative spirit is an inspiration for vintners the world over. Consider me a dedicated fan – I’ll be back for plenty more explorations in that magical cellar. You must visit Recas on your tour of the best Romanian wineries, and when you do, make sure to taste their organic orange wine. It’s different but amazing.
The Cotnari Winery – The Best Romanian Winery for Whites?
Oh the sweet pleasures of Cotnari! As an admirer of aromatic whites, these floral and unctuously honeyed varietals sung to my soul. The Cotnari winery in the Iasi region of Romania has been producing Quality Wines Since 1948 and my wine tour of their 1700 hectar estate was expertly showcased to me by one of their top winemakers.
Unique features of Grasa de Cotnari Wine
Grasa de Cotnari, with its golden hues and sweet, ripe profile, is the winery’s crown jewel. The wine is a historical delicacy that has withstood the test of time, much like the winery itself.
Unlike some other vineyards in Romania, it focuses on quality rather than quantity. The expert winemakers at the Cotnari Winery limit average grape production to only around 70-80% compared of what’s possible. This gives their vines more nutrition from the soil, which is part of what gives the Cotnari wines such depth.
Wandering around their budding vineyards revealed the diligent work that goes into producing such nuanced and refined whites, and . The memories from my tour of the Cotnari Winery remain etched into my mind, and their signature-style white wines will forever remain close to my heart. When you visit, make sure to spend some time in Iasi, one of Romania’s best cities in my humble opinion.
Vinarte Winery – One of the Top Modern Romanian Wineries
The combination of tradition and innovation was on full display at the Vinarte Winery. I greatly enjoyed chatting viticulture with their vineyard manager – you can taste the tangible differences in their terroir-driven bottlings from their two plantations in southeastern Romania – one which is 160 hectares, located near the Danube river, one in Stârmina (in the Mehedinți region), and the other of around 50 hectares, in Sâmburești (Olt county). Vinarte is one of the top modern Romanian wineries and a must-visit on your Romanian wine tour.
Stirbey Palace – A Top Contender
The Prince Stirbey family has been cultivating wines for more than three centuries, adhering to a set of deeply-rooted principles that have been upheld by each successive generation.
Embracing Indigenous Grape Varieties they promote the local grape varieties that have evolved over centuries, perfectly acclimatizing to the specific soil and climatic conditions of this wine region. By vinifying these grapes separately, Stribey Palce focuses on creating single-varietal wines, aiming to showcase the distinct personality of each type.
Wandering the impressive cellars whilst sipping their mature Feteasca Neagra is a truly unique experience.
The sense of their 300-year heritage really shone through in well-crafted wines expressive of the local terroir. Bravo for preserving Romanian wine tradition so beautifully!
Murfatlar Winery – Wonderful History
Now this was a true treat for all the senses! From the expansive vineyards to the diverse portfolio lining the shelves, it was clear this is a leader in Romanian wine. I greatly enjoyed discussing viticulture techniques with the vineyard manager – marvelous what they coax from the grapes here. Both the reds and whites were nuanced and balanced. An educational visit through and through. Here are my personal notes on the red wines I tried from Murfatlar the day of my visit.
Murfatlar Pinot Noir
“This sweet-leaning pinot bursts with cherry and strawberry, rounded out with warming spices and vanilla charms from oak aging. Smooth and elegant at 12.2% ABV.”
Murfatlar Cabernet Sauvignon
“Showing nice structure with fresh herbs and black currant, balancing semi-dry tannins. Quite the food-friendly red at 12.7% ABV.”
Murfatlar Merlot
“Ample plum and cherries mingle on the palate of this mid-weight, moderately tannic merlot. Approachable flavors even at 12.4% ABV.”
Murfatlar Muscat Ottonel
“Floral aromas lead to flavors both fruity and sweet thanks to higher residual sugar in this off-dry white. Fresh and fragrant, perfect for a summer sip.”
Dracula Wine Cellar
Not a winery, but this was still devilishly good fun, and something you don’t want to miss on your wine tour! As an avid folklore buff, intertwining Dracula legends with winemaking was genius. Our guide spun chilling tales that kept us enthralled the whole visit. The medieval cellar setting is very atmospheric and rather spooky. I left feeling delightedly creeped out – truly a memorable visit.
Visitors can take guided tours of the cellar, taste the wines, and learn about the legend of Dracula, which is intricately woven into the winery’s history. To me this visit was more about the atmosphere and fun than the quality of the wines.
What Makes Each Romanian Winery Unique
Comparing Romanian Wineries
Each of the top Romanian wineries has its own signature story, with wines reflecting individual histories and terroirs. The symphony of flavors across these wineries is like a wine lover’s grand tour, each note playing its part in the beautiful ensemble.
Choosing the Best Winery Based on Personal Preferences
When picking the best winery, it all boils down to personal prefernce. Are you into historic vintages or modern twists? Sweet or dry? Red or white? It’s a personal journey, one you get to curate with every corkscrew twist.
Planning Your Romanian Wine Tour
Planning a Romanian wine tour is all about indulging in the vignettes each vineyard offers. Map out a route that takes you from the Carpathians to Transylvania, from timeless to contemporary. Line up your itinerary, and let Romania’s wines tell you their stories, glass by glass. Your Romanian wine tour will be a trip you’ll always remember.
