The Founding Fathers of the Super-Premium Romanian Wine

The year was 1998, less than a decade after the fall of communism. Two special plots of land with vines in the southern region of Romania caught the attention of some brave and experienced investors from Italy, France, and Romania, who were rediscovering the wonders of Eastern Europe.

One of these plots was very close to the Iron Gates of the Danube, and the other was closer to the mountains and located near the Olt River. Both locations had ideal microclimates for the production of grapes because they were exposed to the Southern sun and were located near large bodies of water, as evidenced by their long histories.

It was not long before SOARE Cabernet Sauvignon and PRINCE MATEI Merlot were acknowledged as the first Romanian red wines to fall under the super-premium category. Soon after, the sweet white wines from the SIRENA DUNĂRII grapes followed, which had been affected by Botrytis Cinerea, a noble rot.

By effectively inventing their own categories, these wines paved the way for other Romanian-native grapes, such as Fetească Neagră, Negru de Drăgăşani, and Novac, to follow suit. The only factor holding back the international recognition of their wines is the relative unpopularity of their nation, Romania.

However, the increasing demand for premium wines worldwide is beginning to bear fruit. Prestigious publications like The Wine Advocate and Decanter, as well as international medals won at prestigious competitions, have all contributed to Vinarte’s growing popularity among professionals and collectors.