This year, we haven’t had much freezing weather, but there’s still a bit of chill – just enough to make us look forward to spring. And with all the celebrations coming up – Valentine’s Day, Dragobete, Mărțișor, March 8th – there are plenty of occasions to enjoy a glass of wine. Without even counting name days, anniversaries, or birthdays, let’s focus on the days that celebrate women and relationships with them. Here’s a (not-so-short) list of wines perfect for celebrating properly. Today, we’re talking about Valentine’s Day.
What Pairs Well?
On Valentine’s Day, the most meaningful gift is a complete experience, as much as possible. The wine matters, as does the dinner, but just as important are the setting, flowers, chocolates, and all the little details that show care and attention in creating a special moment. Sometimes, the effort is more appreciated than the result.
Don’t be afraid of clichés – red roses, red wine, a red box of chocolates. Or pink, or gold, or any other consistent theme, as long as you go beyond just grabbing something from the corner store.
Beyond the packaging – and especially when it comes to food and wine – the other person is always the priority. Do you love dry red wines, but your partner prefers semi-sweet or sweet ones? Forget your preferences for a day – you have the rest of the year for that. Are you vegetarian, but your partner loves meat? A night at a steakhouse or sushi restaurant won’t kill you. If you don’t know what they like, find out. If you do, make sure to please them.
Bring on the Bubbles!
Celebrations often mean bubbles – cheerful, fleeting, fresh, and always appropriate, no matter the occasion. Last year, two sparkling wines from Caii de la Letea caught our attention: one made from Aligoté, floral with mineral accents, and another from Băbească Neagră, fruitier and slightly spiced. They can be a bit hard to find, but they’re worth the effort.
If you want to include wine in your everyday shopping, Carrefour’s Deschidem Vinul Românesc program offers an exclusive, delicious ZAZ from Cotnari, made from Frâncușă – a joyful and elegant sparkling wine.
For those who love refined wines, Mysterium Brut and Mysterium Roze Brut Vintage 2017
are clear proof that Transylvania can compete with any wine region in the world in terms of quality and expressiveness. If you’re looking for excellent value for money, classic Jidvei sparkling wines (Brut Rosé, Extra Brut, and Extra Dry) offer much more than they cost.
Sweet, Please!
Tradition often calls for Valentine’s Day wine to be sweet – or at least to have a noticeable residual sugar content. And it makes sense: sugar means dopamine, which means pleasure.
A wine with significant residual sugar – semi-sweet or sweet – is usually made from late-harvest grapes or, in extreme cases, those harvested in freezing temperatures. At Jidvei, every December or January, 500 workers hand-pick grapes from 11 hectares of Traminer Roz, early in the morning, after at least three consecutive days of temperatures between -7°C and -10°C. It takes 7–10 kilograms of grapes to produce just one liter of wine. This is Eiswein – the German name honours the Saxon settlers who dubbed Transylvania “Weinland” (Land of Wine) – and it’s a must-try at least once.
Just a bit earlier, when the first frost hits the vineyard, Tohani harvests Tămâioasă Românească for their Flori de Gheață (Ice Flowers) wine. So, if you’re looking for something special, you have some options.
Also from Dealu Mare, and also made from Tămâioasă Românească, but only semi-sweet and harvested in late September, is Cuvée Lysandre from SERVE – an elegant, complex wine with balanced acidity, basil and rose aromas wrapped in honeycomb and juicy ripe fruit notes.
Sweet wines seem to be the destiny of Tămâioasă Românească – from Drăgășani, you’ll find a similar offer: Cuvée Amelie from Avincis, a dessert wine with floral notes and a stronger focus on tropical fruits, apricots, and peaches.
No discussion of semi-sweet and semi-dry wines is complete without mentioning the seductive Busuioacă de Bohotin, which you can find in multiple versions at Domeniile Averești: Diamond Junior (semi-sweet) and Spectrum (semi-dry), the latter produced exclusively for Carrefour’s Deschidem Vinul Românesc program – perfect for celebrating at home.
Finally, because not all sweet wines have to be white or rosé, let’s not forget Gramofon Wine’s friendly and accessible Virtuoz Fetească Neagră – a bold red wine, perfect for spicy meats or chocolate desserts.
Let It Be White and Pure!
Sweet wines have their charm, but we know there are many who prefer a dry wine. So, we’ve prepared a few recommendations from the wines that impressed us the most over the past year, starting with whites – purity, snowdrops, the last snowfall… all in tune with the season!
We begin with Cuvée Pacs from SERVE, dedicated especially to young people (after all, the older ones celebrate a bit less, don’t they?). This modern, lively wine is an intriguing blend of Pinot Noir, Fetească Albă, and Chardonnay, crafted by the new generation of the SERVE family. You can find more details in the Wines of Romania articles and podcasts dedicated to them. If the blend’s recipe intrigues you, there’s only one solution – taste it!
The next recommendation is already a classic that should never be missing from the table of fish and seafood lovers: Aligote Caii de la Letea. Among the winery’s different versions, we’ve chosen a special one – the Princeps edition. This is an elegant, complex wine, an aristocrat that is both friendly and subtly refined. And since we’re talking about Vintruvian wines, let’s not forget about Crama DeMatei and their Patima după Matei, Fetească albă Single Vineyard. This is a terroir-driven wine, complex and revealing itself slowly – savory and full of stories.
We can’t talk about Dealu Mare without mentioning another classic from this region – Chardonnay Gramofon Wine. This wine is born from an alchemic play with multiple Chardonnay clones, each expressing its own unique character. The best blends (though technically a single-varietal wine) make it into this exclusive GW collection. A true delight for those who enjoy denser white wines.
If, however, you prefer playful, lively, and cheerful wines – less about meditation and more about celebrating life – then you’ll love Zghihară de Averești from the Diamond Junior, by Domeniile Averești.
And if you have a special day worth remembering, set aside a bottle to open years later – no joke, this fresh and jovial wine has impressive aging potential!
For those who enjoy fresh wines but from warmer regions, don’t forget about Crâmpoșia Selecționată from Avincis – whether it’s the winery’s classic version or Olt de Vie from Carrefour Deschidem Vinul Românesc program, depending on where you do your shopping. This wine embodies the identity of a place, an era, and the transformation that Romanian wine has undergone in recent decades. It’s a story of tradition, family, and relationships – perfect ingredients for a Valentine’s Day wine.
And if you’re among those passionate about health, ecology, sustainability, and similar values, the recommendation is simple – Cuvée Experience from Domeniul Bogdan.
This organic wine comes from the limestone-rich soils of Murfatlar, crafted from Sauvignon Blanc and Italian Riesling. It strikes a perfect balance between citrus, floral, and orchard fruit notes – silky, smooth, elegant, and enjoyable both with food and on its own.
Life is Pink, So the Wine Must Be Rosé!
If we’re celebrating love, one thing is clear about those in love: everything looks pink to them. Life, the sky, the fir trees, the future – so why shouldn’t the wine be, too? Rosé, to be exact. Here are our top rosé wine recommendations:
First, a classic – one that hasn’t just impressed us in the past year but rather every year since it was first made: Cuvee Sissi from SERVE. Any rosé lover should taste this at least once because once you do, you’ll keep coming back to it. Made from 100% Pinot Noir, it’s delicate yet intense, complex yet refined. At first glance, it seems understated – but that’s just its subtle charm.
A bit bolder, slightly more intense and powerful, but also from Dealu Mare, Sonorum Rosé from Gramofon Wine is a Merlot and Fetească Neagră blend. It bursts with red fruit flavors, leading with wild strawberries and cherries, rounded off by a robust 14.4% alcohol content – ideal for spicy dishes or fruit salads.
We can’t leave Dealu Mare without stopping at Crama DeMatei, where Migală rosé offers a more mature take on rosé, stepping slightly away from the playful spirit its color might suggest. As its name – meaning "meticulousness" – implies, it’s carefully crafted and slowly reveals its depth to those who appreciate discovering the stories in a glass.
For those who love new discoveries, Primordial rosé from Domeniul Bogdan is one of the first wines created under the guidance of Stéphane Derenoncourt, once a winemaking apprentice, now a guru of biodynamic and organic viticulture. Fresh, refined, and bursting with fruit, this wine comes in a limited edition of just 12,500 bottles, so don’t hesitate – it might be gone soon!
Further west, from Drăgășani, another special rosé awaits discovery: Cuvée Alexis from Avincis. This wine has garnered numerous international awards over the years. A classic Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon blend, it is structured, well-balanced, fresh, and full of fruit, with wild strawberry, ripe cherry, and rose petal aromas.
And finally, for those celebrating at home, there’s always room in your shopping cart for another wine made exclusively for Carrefour’s Deschidem Vinul Românesc program: Geneza from Caii de la Letea. This complex, slightly exotic blend of Syrah, Merlot, and Pinot Noir results in a coherent and structured wine—Merlot brings richness, Syrah adds spiciness, and Pinot Noir contributes elegant earthy notes.
Let It Be Red, Like Passion!
Yes, red is the color of passion. We’ve already mentioned red roses, chocolates (at least the boxes!), decorations, and all the other elements that make Valentine’s Day a prelude to Mărțișor. So, for red wine lovers, we have just two words: Fetească Neagră?
Why? Well, the name says it all – “Fetească” (maiden’s). This native Romanian grape has been extensively studied by winemakers over the past 20–30 years, with more outstanding versions emerging every year. It’s the variety that carries the biggest hopes for gaining international recognition – so why not start here?
First, a winery famous for Fetească Neagră (and Chardonnay, to be fair): Gramofon.
There’s a lot to say about their wines, but to play it safe, let’s go with their classic Fetească Neagră – the flagship wine of the winery. Round, warm, with notes of sour cherries, dried plums, ripe berries, and elegant touches of dried wood, smoke, and vanilla.
A fresh take on tradition is Apogeum, a Fetească Neagră aged in clay amphorae. This wine retains the pure taste of its terroir, the essence of old vineyards and sun-soaked grapes from its vintage year. It’s truly a collector’s wine, produced in limited editions, with a premium price to match – but it delivers a remarkable experience.
Still from Dealu Mare, another Fetească Neagră has won major international medals and is frequently listed among must-try wines for enthusiasts: Patima după Matei from Crama DeMatei. Though it may seem reserved for connoisseurs, this wine is actually an excellent introduction to the power of this grape variety and the terroir of Dealu Mare, even for beginners.
Moving to a sunnier region – Dobrogea, but still crafted by Vintruvian Estates, we find Epiphanie. Its name is not an exaggeration for those who have had the chance to taste it. This Fetească Neagră is bolder, richer, and more modern than its Dealu Mare counterpart – yet, over time, it mellows and reveals its complexity to those willing to explore.
Traditionally, Fetească Neagră is said to have originated in Moldova, so we couldn’t overlook a version from a cooler climate. Fetească Neagră Barrique Diamond Junior from Domeniile Averești is rich with dried fruit, plum jam, smoked prunes, and hints of chocolate and vanilla. Over time, it opens up to brighter fruit and spice notes – a quiet, reliable companion that doesn’t demand center stage but could easily take it.
And for the grand finale, a truly special wine – Fetească Neagră Magnaluna, the only biodynamic Fetească Neagră in Romania (and, by default, the world). Crafted by Domeniul Bogdan, this wine is available exclusively through Carrefour’s Deschidem Vinul Românesc program. It’s a solid, complex wine with balanced structure, fruit, acidity, and tannins – velvety, well-rounded, and extremely drinkable.
Have you made your choice? Cheers!
Our list:
Bubbles:
- Caii de la Letea – Aligote sparkling / Băbească neagră sparkling;
- Cotnari – ZAZ Frâncușă ( Carrefour exclusive)
- Jidvei Mysterium Brut / Mysterium Roze Brut Vintage 2017
- Jidvei sparkling (brut rosé, extra brut or extra dry)
Sweet wines:
- Jidvei – Eiswein
- Tohani – Flori de Gheață
- SERVE – Cuvée Lysandre
- Avincis – Cuvée Amelie
- Averești Estates – Busuioacă de Bohotin Diamond Junior (demi-sweet) / Spectrum (semidry – Carrefour exclusive)
- Gramofon Wine – Virtuoz Fetească neagră
White wines:
- SERVE – Cuvée Pacs
- Caii de la Letea – Aligote Princeps
- Crama DeMatei – Patima după Matei, Fetească albă Single Vineyard,
- Gramofon Wine – Chardonnay GW
- Domeniile Averești – Zghihară de Averești Diamond Junior.
- Avincis – Crâmpoșie selecționată
- Bogdan Estate – Cuvée Experience alb
Rose Wines:
- SERVE – Cuvee Sissi
- Gramofon Wine – Sonorum rosé
- Crama DeMatei – Migală rosé
- Bogdan Estate – Primordial rosé
- Avincis – Cuvée Alexis
- Geneza Caii de la Letea rose (Carrefour exclusive)
Red wines:
- Gramofon Wine – Fetească neagră GW
- Apogeum – Fetească neagră
- Crama DeMatei – Patima după Matei Fetească neagră
- Via Viticola Sarica Niculițel – Epiphanie
- Domeniile Averești – Fetească neagră Barrique Diamond Junior
- Domeniul Bogdan – Fetească neagră Magnaluna (Carrefour exclusive)
