Romanian red wine makes an impression internationally

Romania’s new generation of young, well-educated and forward-thinking drinkers are turning more and more to older traditional favourites.

Tohani Romania, producers of Fetească Neagră, the most popular red wine in the country, is now producing more than a million bottles to meet demand.

The company, which has some 100 hectares under cultivation, has invested €6 million in the business.

Its Apogeum Fetească Neagră is a multiple award-winner and considered to be among the one per cent best wines in the world.

Company owner Virgil Mândru began the business a quarter-of-a-century ago with the intention to make the local variety into an elite wine.

Last year Fetească Neagră made up 75 per cent of the vineyard’s sales.

The wine is also making an impression in the export markets, with bottles found on shop shelves across a range of countries, including the USA, China, Italy, Spain, Brazil and Thailand, as well as the United Kingdom.

Mr Mândru said: “It took 15 years of work to consider that we have reached a result worthy of our expectations.

“We started from the vineyard, we worked the land, we replanted entire areas with Fetească Neagră, we invested a lot in specialists and technology.

“In 2011 we obtained the first gold medal, at international level, for a Fetească Neagră wine produced at Tohani. It was the year of launching an already emblematic wine for us – Apogeum FeteascăNeagră.

“Our mission is to make Fetească Neagră Tohani a wine of reference for Romania internationally.”