Bulgaria & Romania

Question 1

What is the most planted grape varietal in Romania?

Answer 1

Merlot

Question 2

What are Romania’s two leading indigenous white grapes?

Answer 2

Feteasca Alba and Feteasca Regala

Question 3

Where would one find Burgund Mare and Babeasca Neagra?

Answer 3

Romania

Question 4

How is Romania’s wine law structured?

Answer 4

Wines for Current Consumption (table wine)
- VM Vin de Masa
- VMS Vin de Masa Superior
Quality Wines
- Vin cu Indicatie Geografica (PGI)
- DOC Denimire de Origine Controlata (PDO)

Question 5

Are hybrid varieties permitted at the DOC level in Romania?
At the PGI level?

Answer 5

Not permitted at the DOC level
Permitted at the PGI level

Question 6

What do the following indications stand for in Romania:
1.DOC-CMD
2. DOC-CT
3. DOC-CIB

Answer 6

All categorisations for DOC wines
1. Grapes harvested at full maturity
2. Late-Harvest grapes
3. Botrytis-affected grapes

Question 7

What does Reserva indicate in Romania?

Answer 7

6 months in oak
6 months in bottle

Question 8

What does Vin de Vinoteca indicate in Romania?

Answer 8

1yr in oak
4yrs in bottle

Question 9

What mountain range dominates Romania?

Answer 9

The Carpathian Mountains

Question 10

Which two bodies of water define Romania’s borders?

Answer 10

The Black Sea to the East and the Danube River to the South

Question 11

What is the Podisului Transilvaniei? Why is it important?

Answer 11

The Transylvanian Platteau
It contains Romania’s highest vineyards

Question 12

I’m what part of the county is the Moldovan Hills (Dealurilor Moldovei) region of Romania?

Answer 12

Eastern sector at the base of the Carpathian Mountains

Question 13

What is Cotnari DOC famous for?
Where is it?

Answer 13

Sweet wines from Grasa de Cotnari
Moldova, Romania

Question 14

Which DOC within Tarnave is known for quality cool climate white wines?

Answer 14

Jidvei DOC

Question 15

What kind of wine is the Dealu Mare DOC gaining reputation for? Where is it?

Answer 15

Dry red from Feteasca Neagra, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Pinot Noir
The southern Carpathian Hills in Romania

Question 16

What is the relationship between Pepsi Co and Bulgaria?

Answer 16

In the 1970s PepsiCo was eager to reach communist countries with its product, but because of the extremely low value of the local currency in Bulgaria PepsiCo was paid in Bulgarian wine. Finding the quality lacking PepsiCo hired consultants to improve the product. This led to plantings of CS and Chard

Question 17

What stymied growth in Bulgaria’s wine industry in the late 1980s?

Answer 17

Gorbachev’s anti-alcohol reforms which raised and fixed grape prices

Question 18

Which French company invested in the Bulgarian wine industry in 2002?

Answer 18

Belvedere Group

Question 19

What system was Bulgarian wine law under prior to its entry into the EU?

Answer 19

Controliran system

Question 20

Bulgaria was the 4th largest producer of wine in the world in the 70s, where did all of this wine go?

Answer 20

To Russia!! Most of it bulk and poor quality

Question 21

What are the four larger regions for wine production in Bulgaria?

Answer 21

The Danubian Plain
The Thracian Plain
Valley of the Roses
Struma River Valley

Question 22

What do Reserve and Special selection indicate on a bottle of wine in Bulgaria?

Answer 22

Reserve - 1yr of aging
Special Selection - 2yrs of aging

Question 23

What grape in Bulgaria is a crossing of Nebbiolo and Syrah?

Answer 23

Rubin

Question 24

What are the most planted grapes in Bulgaria?

Answer 24

Red: Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pamid
White: Red Misket, Dimiat, Rkatsitelli

Question 25

Where would you find Mavrud? What is it like?

Answer 25

Indigenous red grape to Bulgaria.
Similar to Malbec with a slightly more tart flavour profile

Question 26

What red varietal is the Struma River Valley known for?

Answer 26

Melnik 55 (a cross between broad leafed Melnik and Valdigué)

Question 27

What indigenous red varietal is most planted in the cooler NW Bulgaria?

Answer 27

Kadarka (Gamza)