In the decade since Romania became part of the European Union, there’s been quite a significant momentum in wine production, small-scale producers that would never have stood a chance during the days of Communism. It’s not every day that I get to meet members of the aristocracy, let alone a couple so passionate about their landscape, their wines and so involved in its production. ![]() Good acidity, refreshing, with a finish of reminiscent of red currant.Ī great deal of passion and integrity went into these sparkling wines, reminiscent of the efforts of Paul and his team at Cramele (Winery) Recas, to establish themselves as an authority on Romanian wine, producing quality and superior sparkling wines that are elegant and easy drinking, which can be easily paired with international dishes. The Domeniile Recas rosé sparkling on the nose had red fruit tones coming through, strawberry, raspberry, red currant, with slight vegetal notes. Acidity supports the entire body, keeping the aromatic intensity, refreshing notes of light citrus presenting a balanced and long finish. On the nose were notes of acacia, green apple, with light aspects of toast. The bubble was fine and persistent topped with a lovely mousse. The Domeniile Recas white sparkling was straw yellow with greenish highlights. The must then undergoes slow fermentation in pressurised, stainless steel tanks. Here, carbonation occurs biologically from the decomposition of sugar from added yeasts. ![]() To celebrate the 25th anniversary of Cramele Recas, Philip released Domeniile Recas, an homage to the town, the terroir and history, with a sparkling white made from 100% Chardonnay, and a rosé made with predominantly Cardaca, blended with Cabarnet Sauvignon and Cabarnet Franc.īoth sparklings are produced using the Charmat Method, in which the secondary fermentation takes place in stainless steel tanks. Fresh, floral and elegant, a deliciously refreshing, yet rich palate and a clean, satisfying finish. ![]() 2014 was its first production, the wine had a honeyed nose with lime blossom and white peach. Using the Traditional Method, utilising a second, in bottle fermentation, to produce the bubble, each bottle is then aged on yeast lees for a minimum of 24 months before being disgorged and aged further under cork. He led me to a cellar on the property, where I saw quite literally hundreds of bottles, all with differing labels, across 68 distinct wines, made from 23 different grape varieties, destined for different countries.įocusing on sparkling wines, Philip introduced me to Muse 2014, a sparkling wine made from 100% Chardonnay, a Romanian ‘Blanc de Blancs’. Philip has seen his winery grow substantially due to his wine being fruit driven, easy drinking, clever marketing on labels, beguiling the fact that the wines are Romanian. He now finds himself leading the way with one of the largest wineries in Eastern Europe, no small feat! He was impressed by the buoyant optimism that existed at the time, despite the terrible conditions he found, but more so due to Romania’s geographical location (on the same latitude as France). ![]() Headed up by Commercial Director and co-owner, Philip Cox, originally from Bristol, Philip entered the business some 30 years ago as a beer salesman in Germany, but saw great potential in Romanian wine. Documents suggest the winery was already in existence with a receipt for the purchase of land dated to 1447! Located at the foot of the Carpathians in Western Romania, you’ll find one of those making huge inroads in wine production, Cramele (Winery) Recas. Romania now has a great potential to produce fabulous, quality and premium wines and with no exception, sparkling wines, as I found out on my recent trip to Romania. However, in the last 10 years, with Romania becoming part of the European Union in 2007, this has given the wine industry a massive boost, stimulating local and foreign investment. Romania’s wine industry was severely impacted by the country’s politics and is, to some degree, still felt today, due largely to the reputation of Communist-era mass-produced, low-quality wine and the lack of investment in wine education for homegrown oenologists. Few people think of Romania when it comes to wine, but according to OIV (International Organisation of Vine and Wine), as of 2016, Romania was the 13th largest wine producing country in the world!
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