🗺️ Romanian wine

Romanian wine is the wine and winemaking of Romania. According to OIV estimates, in 2025 the country's vineyards covered 187 thousand ha, and production came to 3.3 million hectolitres. That is 17.6% below the usual level of the last five years: late spring frosts, hail and drought in the west cut the harvest.

By vineyard area Romania is the world's 11th country, and according to the OIV more than half of that area is planted with local varieties. Among them are Feteăscă Albă, Feteăscă Neagră, Feteăscă Regală and Tămâioasă Românească.

The EU's eAmbrosia register lists 34 different Romanian designations of origin — among them Cotnari, Dealu Mare, Murfatlar, Drăgășani, Recaș and Târnave — and 12 geographical indications, such as «Terasele Dunării». The national wine office ONVPV calls them DOC and IG.

Cotnari is an example of an old tradition. According to the appellation's specification, four local varieties have long been grown here: Grasă de Cotnari, Feteăscă Albă, Tămâioasă Românească and Frâncușă. After phylloxera in 1884 the vineyards were replanted mainly with them. Cotnari wines are divided by the state of the grapes: picked at full ripeness (CMD), late harvest (CT) and from berries affected by noble rot (CIB).

At home Romanians are drinking more and more wine: 3.5 million hl in 2025, 11% more than a year earlier.

Why it matters to you. DOC on a Romanian bottle means a protected designation of origin with its own rules, while IG is a broader geographical indication. The letters CMD, CT or CIB on the label tell you how late and in what state the grapes were picked.