Even ancient Greek chronicles mention these occupations as traditional for people living north of the river Danube, and their wines as the most famous ones. Even today Hugh Johnson in his World Encyclopedia reaffirms: "Among Balkan countries cultivating wine grapes, Romania is certainly offering the best quality elements."

Although climatically very different, Romania is positioned at the same latitude as France, with a coastal region at the Black Sea and the Carpathian Mountains dividing the country in the middle. The climate, soil and sun exposure are the factors that determine successful vine growing and the quality of the wine. The Romanian climate is highly favorable with a warm season that lasts from April to October.

Today's Romania, the ninth vine grower in the world, enjoys the recognition of some prestigious wineries that made it renown abroad. From this point of view, the Romanian wine maker is the descendent of some millenary traditions passed on from one generation to the other. Romania's geographical location and its remarkably varied relief (with numerous amphitheatres of light between sandy hills and dunes in some regions) allow the grapevine to express all its qualities into rich crops.

The specific climatic features proved to be ideal for vine growing: an average of 60-Fahrenheit degrees, the annual rainfall being an average of 3000 in3/ft2, while the main soil is forest like brown. The vineyards extend up to 1000 ft altitude, enjoying good sun exposure for growing and maturing the grapevine.

The main vineyard regions of Romania are Tarnave, Dealu Mare, Murfatlar and Cotnari.

The Tarnave region is situated in the cool plateau of Transylvania. The best vine growing area lies between the region’s two main rivers. Here the particular microclimate is influenced by the rivers coupled with the region’s overall high altitude. It is a cool climate, ideal for fruity white wines with good acidity, which accounts for almost all the region’s production. The vine growers’ skillfulness, based on a long tradition and encouraged by the climatic conditions, is shown in the production of excellent dry, sweet, and flavoured wines, such as Feteasca Regala, Gewurztraminer, Sauvignon Blanc, Dry Muscat, and Dry Riesling.

Dealu Mare (the name means the big hill) occupies an area of 360 sq miles, on the slopes of the sub-Carpathian mountains to the South of the main range. The South-facing slopes, coupled with the overall warm climate of the region, give ideal conditions for the production of rich, soft red wines without excessive tannins. Dealu Mare is considered to be the best area of Romania for the cultivation of red grapes, the most important wines being Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Pinot Noir. The only white wine of note is the sweet, aromatic Tamaioasa, from Pietroasele, in the east of the region.

Murfatlar is a region with 10.000 ha under vine, lying between 7 and 9 miles west of the Black Sea coast. It is a warm region with around 300 days of sunshine each year. However, the sun is tempered by cool winds from the Black Sea, which extends the growing period by ten to fifteen days. This, along with the area’s long warm autums, and the possibility that noble rot may develop in favorable years means that the area is ideally suited to the production of sweet desert wines, such as late harvest Chardonnay, Muscat Ottonel, and Pinot Gris. Soft, rich red wines are also produced, with Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, and Merlot being the most important.

Cotnari produces Romania’s finest wine: a sweet white from indigenous grapes which have been affected by noble rot. The grapes used to make Cotnari are Grasa, Tamaioasa, Francusa, and Feteasca Alba. Cotnari is a hilly area with a warm microclimate, which is suited to the development of noble rot and allows picking to continue as far into the year as November. The renown and unique Busuioaca de Bohotin comes from a small region of this area.