The unique flavor of Romanian grape varieties
The first themed contest organized under the auspices of the Romanian Consulate of OEVE
Through hardship to the stars! Seneca’s classic saying—which has even been adopted by NASA’s space programs—shows that, while keeping things in perspective but adding a specific “flavor,” the journey from an idea to its realization in barrels, bottles, and glasses —as well as in the experts’ evaluation forms!—has never been easy.
This is also the case with an older idea that has long been discussed in the Consular Forums of OEVE Romania: how can we use—beyond simple yet delightful tasting—the most precious asset that both Nature and the culture of Noble Wine have bestowed upon us? Our terroir is characterized by astonishing diversity, coupled with a remarkable aroma—a fact attested to, by no means coincidentally, millennia ago by Ovid, who was exiled to the shores of the Pontus Euxinus. Despite the devastation once wrought by phylloxera, which robbed us of an entire paradigm of rare grapevines, the heritage of Romania’s native grape varieties is truly remarkable and deserves to be showcased through every means at our disposal. We acknowledge the prestige of the varieties from Bordeaux, Tuscany, or Rioja, but that does not mean we can ignore Feteasca Neagră, Tămâioasa, Crâmpoșia, or Negrul de Drăgășani. And how better can we highlight the qualities of these varieties from our rich ampelography than by subjecting the wines produced from them—with such passion, no less—to constant evaluation?
Of course, it’s a rhetorical question. And yet, we’ve asked it many times without reaching a concrete conclusion. That is, until—by systematically revisiting it at our recent meetings—Vice-Consul Marius Farmazon’s true obsession began to take shape. And here we must acknowledge the contribution of our colleague Ion Bălan, a prestigious winemaker and the authorized representative of the Romanian Consulate in a vast region—the land bordered by the Danube, the Delta, and the Black Sea, who has effectively taken on the organization of the first competition dedicated to “Romanian wines made from Romanian grape varieties” in a specific region (in this case, obviously Dobrogea).
Following a rigorous evaluation conducted via blind tasting by the expert jury led by Iudex Robert Băicoianu, the following awards were presented:
White Wines Category
First Prize
- Hamangia Winery – Ataman Fetească Regală 2025
- Viișoara Winery – Nostalgia (Romanian Tămâioasă, Traminer, Muscat Ottonel) 2025
Second Prize
- Viișoara Winery – Romanian Tămâioasă Nostalgia 2025
- Mitroi Estates – Romanian Tămâioasă 2025
Third Prize
- The Vlădoi Family – Anca Maria Tămâioasă Românească 2025
- Liuta Winery – Romanian Tămâioasă 2025
Rosé Wines Category
First Prize
- Liuta Winery – Băbească Neagră 2025
Second Prize
- The Vlădoi Family – Ion Vlădoi (Băbească Neagră, Fetească Neagră) 2025
Third Prize
- Sarica Winery – Pământuri Rosé (Fetească Neagră, Băbească Neagră, Busuioacă de Bohotin) 2025
Red Wines Category
First Prize
- The Vlădoi Family – Anca Maria Negru of Drăgășani 2023
Second Prize
- Danube Delta Winery – Fetească Neagră 2023
- The Vlădoi Family – Primer Anca Maria (Băbească Neagră, Fetească Neagră, Negru de Drăgășani) 2025
Third Prize
- The Vlădoi Family – Anca Maria Negru of Drăgășani 2024
- Hamangia Winery – (Fetească Neagră, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon) 2025
The organizers’ conclusion—which we wholeheartedly endorse!—is that the competition’s results highlight the diversity and quality of wines made from native Romanian grape varieties, as well as the high caliber of producers in the Dobrogea region.
The Consular Council congratulates the organizers of this first event (especially the contest coordinator, Consiliarius Ion Bălan, and the jury president, Iudex Robert Băicoianu) for the success of this pilot project.
Native Romanian grape varieties deserve sustained promotion from all regional organizations of the Romanian Consulate of the OEVE, so the Legates in other wine-growing regions are also expected to organize their own regional rounds of the competition, with the goal of—in 2027, our anniversary year—we will conclude this initiative by holding the national round of the first such wine competition.
Amicitia per Vinum!
In Honorem Dei et In Honorem Vini!
Dan Silviu-Boerescu, Eques
Image, Communications, and PR Advisor
