Transylvania's vineyards spread across the Someşan Plateau, Transylvanian Plain and Târnave Plateau. Vines usually occupy sunny lower and middle slopes. The region has cool summers, cold winters, 1,900 to 2,000 annual sunshine hours and 500 to 700 mm of rainfall. Late frosts and hail remain hazards. Still and sparkling whites are important here. Long, sunny autumns can also allow noble rot to concentrate grapes for sweet wines, traditionally carrying the C.I.B. mention. Of the region's five sub-regions, Târnave tends to make wines with higher acidity than warmer sites. Lechinţa has frequent autumn fog, lower temperatures and slow ripening, with wines noted for aroma and acidity.
5 named areas
Inside the region
Explore the wine-growing areas of Transylvania.
- 01AiudNo producers listed yetAiud is a wine area within Transylvania, Romania, with a protected Romanian DOC name.
- 02Alba IuliaNo producers listed yetDOC Alba Iulia covers still wines from the Transylvanian Plateau, made in the delimited Alba vineyard.
- 03LechinţaNo producers listed yetLechinţa is a protected DOC area in Bistriţa-Năsăud and Mureş. Frequent autumn fog slows ripening and helps retain aroma and high acidity. Its white wines range from dry to semi-sweet and sweet.
- 04Sebeş-ApoldNo producers listed yetDOC Sebeș-Apold is a still-wine designation in the Transylvanian Plateau, covering named localities in Alba and Sibiu counties.
- 05TârnaveNo producers listed yetWithin Transylvania, Târnave generally gives fresher, more acid-driven wines than warmer sites in the region.