Romania’s wine consumption reached 22.5 liters per person in 2022, up from 18 liters in 2018, with 45% of people drinking wine weekly. White wine still leads at 2.8 million hectoliters, while rosé jumped 35% to 1.5 million hectoliters. At the same time, home bulk wine remains the largest outlet at 15 million liters a year.
Key Takeaways
- Per capita wine consumption in Romania was 22.5 liters in 2022, up from 18 liters in 2018
- In 2022, Romania exported 28 million liters of bottled wine worth €45 million, primarily to Germany
- Romania imported 12 million liters of wine in 2022, mainly from France and Italy for blending
- There are 450 wineries operating in Romania as of 2023, with 120 exporting
- In 2022, Romania produced 4.2 million hectoliters of wine, ranking it 13th globally according to the International Organisation of Vine and Wine (OIV)
- Romanian wines won 250 international awards in 2022, including 50 golds at Decanter
- Romania's total vineyard area spans 182,000 hectares as of 2023, making it the 6th largest in Europe
Romania’s wine industry is growing steadily, supported by rising production and increasing global demand.
Related reading
01 · Category
Consumption10 stats
01
Per capita wine consumption in Romania was 22.5 liters in 2022, up from 18 liters in 2018
02
45% of Romanians consume wine weekly, with urban areas at 60% in 2023 survey
03
White wine accounts for 55% of domestic consumption at 2.8 million hl in 2022
04
Home consumption of bulk wine is 70% of total, 15 million liters annually
05
Millennials (25-40) represent 40% of premium wine buyers in 2023
06
On-trade consumption (HoReCa) recovered to 25% of market in 2023 post-COVID
07
Rosé consumption surged 35% to 1.5 million hl in 2022
08
Bucharest market consumes 20% of national premium wines, 500,000 bottles/month
09
Low-alcohol wines (<11% ABV) consumption grew 28% among women in 2023
10
Total domestic market volume was 4.5 million hl in 2023
Interpretation
Consumption Interpretation
Romanians are clearly embracing their inner sommelier, with a notable thirst for premium, white, and now rosé wines, especially among the urban and younger crowds, though the heart of the tradition still beats strongly in the humble carafe of bulk wine poured at home.
02 · Category
Exports10 stats
01
In 2022, Romania exported 28 million liters of bottled wine worth €45 million, primarily to Germany
02
Germany imported 35% of Romania's wine exports in 2023, totaling €20 million
03
UK wine imports from Romania grew 22% to 5 million liters in 2022 post-Brexit
04
Bulk wine exports reached 15 million liters in 2021, valued at €12 million to Italy and Spain
05
Fetească Albă exports increased 30% to 3.2 million liters in 2023
06
USA imported €2.5 million worth of Romanian wines in 2022, mainly premium reds
07
China market saw Romanian wine exports rise 45% to 1.8 million liters in 2023
08
Sparkling wine exports totaled 4 million liters worth €6 million in 2022
09
Organic wine exports grew to €3 million in 2023, targeting EU markets
10
Total wine exports volume was 32 million liters in 2023, up 14% YoY
Interpretation
Exports Interpretation
Romania is quietly emerging as a savvy global vintner, with Germany acting as its steady bar tab, the UK and China thirstily ordering more rounds, and even the USA developing a taste for its finer bottles, proving that its wine story is increasingly being poured and appreciated far beyond its own cellars.
03 · Category
Imports9 stats
01
Romania imported 12 million liters of wine in 2022, mainly from France and Italy for blending
02
French wine imports to Romania valued €15 million in 2023, 40% of total imports
03
Italy supplied 25% of Romania's wine imports at 3 million liters in 2022
04
Premium import wines over €10/bottle grew 18% to 2.5 million liters in 2023
05
Sparkling wine imports from Prosecco region hit 1.2 million liters worth €8 million in 2022
06
Bulgaria provided 15% of bulk wine imports, 1.8 million liters in 2023
07
Total import value reached €45 million in 2023, up 10% from 2022
08
Organic wine imports doubled to 500,000 liters in 2022
09
Chile emerged as a top importer with 800,000 liters of Cabernet Sauvignon in 2023
Interpretation
Imports Interpretation
Romanian winemakers are increasingly blending their own rich heritage with a taste for imported elegance, from French prestige to Italian sparkle, all while keeping a frugal eye on Bulgarian bulk and developing a surprising new fondness for Chilean character.
04 · Category
Industry Structure10 stats
01
There are 450 wineries operating in Romania as of 2023, with 120 exporting
02
Wine industry employs 45,000 people directly in 2022, contributing 0.5% to GDP
03
65% of production is controlled by top 20 producers in 2023
04
Investments in enotourism reached €50 million in 2022 across 200 vineyards
05
Women represent 35% of winemakers and oenologists in Romania 2023
06
EU funding supported 300 ha of new vineyards planted in 2021-2023
07
Average yield per hectare is 8,500 kg in Dealu Mare, highest in country
08
150 wine tourism estates host 500,000 visitors annually pre-2023
09
Cooperative wineries number 50, managing 20% of vineyards
10
R&D spending in wine sector was €10 million in 2022, focusing on climate resilience
Interpretation
Industry Structure Interpretation
Romania's wine scene is a potent mix of concentrated corporate clout and grassroots growth, where a few giants hold the keys to most of the cellar but a vibrant, diverse, and surprisingly tourism-savvy crowd of smaller vintners are uncorking the future, bottle by bottle.
More related reading
05 · Category
Production10 stats
01
In 2022, Romania produced 4.2 million hectoliters of wine, ranking it 13th globally according to the International Organisation of Vine and Wine (OIV)
02
Romanian wine production reached 5.1 million hectoliters in 2021, a 15% increase from the previous year due to favorable weather
03
Dealu Mare region accounted for 25% of Romania's total wine production in 2023, producing over 1 million hectoliters
04
Sparkling wine production in Romania grew by 12% in 2022 to 250,000 hectoliters, driven by demand for Prosecco-style wines
05
Organic wine production in Romania increased to 150,000 hectoliters in 2023, representing 3.5% of total output
06
Cotnari winery produced 180,000 hectoliters of white wines in 2022, the highest among individual producers
07
Red wine production constituted 45% of Romania's total in 2021 at 2.3 million hectoliters
08
In 2020, drought reduced production by 20% to 3.8 million hectoliters nationwide
09
Murfatlar region output was 850,000 hectoliters in 2023, focusing on sweet whites
10
Premium wine production (over 12% ABV) rose 18% to 1.2 million hectoliters in 2022
Interpretation
Production Interpretation
Romanian wine is steadily climbing the global ranks, fueled by sunny vintages and a taste for the finer things, yet it remains an industry always one drought away from a sobering reminder of its rustic roots.
06 · Category
Quality Awards10 stats
01
Romanian wines won 250 international awards in 2022, including 50 golds at Decanter
02
92/100 points average score for top Fetească Neagră at IWSC 2023
03
Cotnari Grasă de Cotnari received 5 stars from Mundus Vini 2022
04
Recaş Pinot Grigio named best white under €10 at IWC 2023
05
40% of premium wines score above 90 points on Vivino in 2023
06
Dealu Mare Cabernet Sauvignon won Grand Gold at Vinalies 2022
07
Organic certification held by 80 producers, with 15 golds at BioFach 2023
08
Tamaioasă Românească ranked top aromatic white at AWC Vienna 2022
09
Market trend shows 25% growth in natural wine sales 2020-2023
10
300 medals at Concours Mondial de Bruxelles for Romanian wines in 2023
Interpretation
Quality Awards Interpretation
Romanian wines are no longer sleeping giants but wide-awake virtuosos, collecting awards and high scores with such polite insistence that the world is finally taking out its wallet to listen.
07 · Category
Vineyards10 stats
01
Romania's total vineyard area spans 182,000 hectares as of 2023, making it the 6th largest in Europe
02
Fetească Neagră occupies 12,000 hectares, the most planted red grape variety in Romania
03
Over 70% of Romanian vineyards are in the southern and eastern regions, totaling 130,000 ha
04
Certified organic vineyards cover 5,200 hectares in 2023, up 25% from 2020
05
Dealu Mare has 5,000 hectares of high-altitude vineyards at 200-400m elevation
06
There are 1,200 independent wine growers managing 45,000 hectares collectively in 2022
07
Pinot Noir covers 8,500 hectares, introduced widely post-1990s
08
Cotnari region's 4,000 ha specialize in Grasă de Cotnari and Tamaioasă Românească
09
Recaş domain manages 1,800 hectares of modern vineyards planted since 1990s
10
Merlot represents 15% of red varieties with 18,000 ha planted nationwide
Interpretation
Vineyards Interpretation
Romania may be Europe’s sixth-largest vineyard landlord, but with a rebellious 70% of its vines sunning themselves in the south and east, an army of 1,200 independent growers running the show, and a noble dedication to both ancient varieties like Fetească Neagrā and modern organic trends, this is a wine industry firmly rooted in tradition yet deliciously restless for the future.
Reference
Cite This Report
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APA
Timothy Grant. (2026, February 13). Romania Wine Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/romania-wine-industry-statistics
MLA
Timothy Grant. "Romania Wine Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/romania-wine-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Timothy Grant. 2026. "Romania Wine Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/romania-wine-industry-statistics.
Sources & references
50 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level