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MAY 20<strong>18</strong> | MAY ISSUE 20<strong>18</strong> #67 | ISSUE | FOOD #67 & DRINK<br />
The Wines<br />
of Romania and<br />
Bulgaria<br />
Both of these countries have been making wine for<br />
millennia. Classed as East European.<br />
BY ‘WINE BUFF’ FRED FISHER<br />
Imports to the UK have varied from high to low,<br />
brought about by the stiff competition from<br />
New World, such as countries like Australia, New<br />
Zealand and Chile, and have suffered as a result.<br />
They are now producing more wine with<br />
affordable prices especially compared with other<br />
European countries like France, Germany and<br />
Spain.<br />
Romania...<br />
One of the oldest wine producing regions with<br />
viticulture dating back more than 6000 years.<br />
Being close to the Black Sea the country has a<br />
suitable climate, geography and soils to produce<br />
good quality wine. Up to the phylloxera crisis in<br />
the <strong>18</strong>80’s each region had its own grapes that<br />
provided generic wine. Wine had become the<br />
traditional Romanian beverage. An improvement<br />
in its fortunes came about by introducing French<br />
grape varieties while retaining many of their<br />
indigenous varieties. Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon,<br />
Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Sauvignon Blanc<br />
being the main ones. Currently Romania has<br />
<strong>18</strong>7,000 hectares of vines which ranks it about<br />
sixth in Europe and thirteenth in the world.<br />
Main Regions..<br />
Can be seen as 8 distinct zones...<br />
Transylvania - A high central region producing<br />
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