• 1 in 3 online searches for domestic wines comes from the Capital
• Most searches are made during the winter holidays

A recent analysis conducted by Wines of Romania, a platform exclusively dedicated to promoting Romanian wine, shows that Romanians are increasingly interested in native varieties of wine grapes, a thing that has become apparent in the online environment. Thus, the most searched varieties in the virtual environment are Busuioaca de Bohotin and Feteasca Neagra, while at the opposite end of the ranking are lesser-known varieties, such as Mustoasa de Maderat and Zghihara de Husi.

More than half of the online searches in the past year, in the category of Romanian varieties, are represented by three main varieties: Busuioaca de Bohotin (22%), Feteasca Neagra (18%), and Feteasca Regala (14%). The most searched wine grape varieties online also coincide with the preferences of Romanian producers regarding cultivated areas. Thus, according to ONVPV data analyzed by Wines of Romania, in 2023, Busuioaca de Bohotin recorded the highest increase in cultivation area, approximately 16%, reaching over 900 hectares. Feteasca Neagra also saw a slight increase in cultivated areas, while Feteasca Regala consolidated its status as the most cultivated Romanian variety.

"Both Busuioaca de Bohotin and Feteasca Neagra are wine varieties that easily captivate consumers. The increase in popularity is due to both intense promotion, investments made by producers in recent years, and the fact that wines from these varieties are more readily available, with a greater variety, from dry to semi-sweet. For example, previously, Busuioaca was mostly found in sweet or semi-sweet versions, but today we have very good quality dry wines as well. Increased accessibility, improved quality, and promotion through education are the key elements of this success. An informed consumer also means an educated customer," said Marinela Ardelean, founder of Wines of Romania.

The top online searches also include Tamaioasa romaneasca and Grasa de Cotnari, while lesser-known varieties such as Cadarca, Zghihara de Husi, and Mustoasa de Maderat have the fewest searches on the Internet.

The same analysis also shows that Bucharest residents are the most interested in domestic wines, with over 30% of searches in a year being recorded from the Capital. The next counties with the most online searches for local wines are Cluj, Timis, Prahova, and Iasi.