In the realm of wine, Romania is probably not the first (or even the fiftieth!) country that comes to mind, especially for Americans. Yet, Romania’s tradition of good-quality winemaking has deep, historic roots, dating back thousands of years.
Unfortunately, there was a significant blip in quality between 1948 and 1989, during the country’s communist period, from which the Romanian wine industry is still recovering. During that time, most vineyards were owned by the state, which valued quantity over quality. However, after 1989 cooperative vineyards returned to private ownership, and better-quality winemaking resumed.
The French Connection
For those who love exploring wineries from underrepresented countries, like Romania, here’s one for you: Domeniile Franco-Române. The winery was established in 2000 by visionary winemaker Denis Thomas, a wine grower and producer from Bourgogne. Thomas brought French grapes like Pinot Noir and Chardonnay to Romania’s Dealu Mare region, where the climate resembles Bourgogne’s, and established a Romanian winery with a French spirit.
From the beginning, Thomas practiced organic farming, and in 2006, his winery became the very first Ecocert organic-certified Romanian winery. This environmentally friendly approach not only enhances the quality of the wine but also reflects the winery’s commitment to responsible agriculture.
Thomas’s mission was clear: to create wines that embrace finesse and elegance while, at the same time, expressing the terroir of Romania. Thomas was an unusual character in Romania at that time. He was a visionary who went against the trends, both in terms of organic viticulture, considered a fad at
This Article was originally published on The Wine Chef
