Romania has along winemaking history: the Greeks brought the vines to the Black Sea 3,000 years ago and later the medieval Saxon colonists introduced Germanic grape varities to the region of Transylvania However, phylloxera struck in the 1880s, destroying many grape varieties. Replacement vines, such as Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Sauvignon Blanc, were introduced from France, while some indigenous varieties have remained, including Tamaiioasa Romaneasca, Feteasca Alba and Feteasca Regala (white) and Feteasca Neagra (red).

Roman is high in the table of the world's wine-producing countries -well ahead of its Balkan neighbours and grapes are an important the rural economy. Most of the wine is consumed locally, with the result that only a tiny amount travels outside the country.