Asked which is my favorite wine region, without thinking too much, the answer is Dealurile Sătmarului (Satmar Hills), in northern Romania. It is a place full of tradition where exceptional wines are made thanks to passionate people. Here, the art of wine making is passed down from generation to generation, combining harmoniously traditional methods with modern ones.
What few of us know is that vine has always been cultivated in this area. Unfortunately, the wines produced here are not sufficiently highlighted at national level, but despite this, the export is practiced and often the wines end up in places like Vienna, Stockholm, Montreal or California.
The first documents mentioning vines in this area were written in the 13th century. During this period, church fees were being paid in wine.
Since then, a lot happened. The vines continue to develop until by the end of the 19th century the vines were destroyed by phylloxera, were replanted, and in 1975 the largest cultivated area in this county was reached: over 4000 hectares. Regrettably, nowadays the number is much smaller.
Both white and red wines are obtained here, in the northern vine-growing region of Romania. The local grapes cultivated by swabians and the noble varieties, influenced by the microclimate conditions, give rise to wines of indisputable quality. Due to the hills with gentle slopes that have a southern exposure and the reddish, slightly sandy soil, the area has always been appreciated for viticulture.
For example, in Beltiug, a commune in the county of Satu Mare, the locals age the wines in almost 400-hundred-year-old cellars that are carved into the hills. Some of them do not even consider the sale of wines, but others have created their brands, gaining the trust of consumers. Also, in this area, a large part of the wineries has adopted organic farming along with simple technologies for obtaining wines, the wine tasters being always touched by the devotion the oenologists show to winemaking. Riesling, Traminer, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot or Pinot Noir are among the most widely used varieties for the production of both still wines and a small quantity of sparkling ones.
Moreover, most producers choose to ferment the must with wild yeasts, without controlled temperature and the wines are not filtered in the end. In this way, all the flavor, color and, of course, the typicality of the grapes that characterize the terroir of the finished product.
If you consider traveling to Romania, in the region of Dealurile Sătmarului you will find old vines, manual labor, preserved traditions, and unique wines.
