Ten years after the release of "50 Romanian Wines Meet 50 Italian Culinary Dishes," Marinela Ardelean has prepared a new volume: "50 Wines and Dishes from Romania." This book brings together 50 top Romanian wineries and some of the most representative wines from their collections, paired with gourmet dishes crafted by top chefs such as Ana Consulea, Alexandru Dumitru, Radu Dumitrescu, Marco Favino, Radu Ionescu, Nico Lontras, Emilia Maxim, Nicolai Tand, and passionate content creator Mihaela Sava, also known as "Prăjiturela."
"This is a book I’ve wanted to write since my first volume ten years ago, where I paired Romanian wines with Italian dishes as a bridge between the two countries I call ‘home.’ In recent years, I’ve witnessed a spectacular revival and reinvention of Romanian gastronomy, often inspired by traditional recipes. I’ve seen chefs who have traveled the world return home and elevate Romanian cuisine to a new level, creating a wave of general enthusiasm. And this year, the news that ’50 Romanian Wines Meet 50 Italian Culinary Dishes’ was the only Romanian book in the ‘Beverages’ section nominated at the Gourmet Cookbook Excellence Awards, where the best specialty books from the past 30 years are awarded, was the catalyst.
I wanted to show the world that Romania has established itself gastronomically, which is why I chose to make it a trilingual volume, in Romanian, Italian, and English. We already had wines – and I’m happy to have chosen 50 wines from 50 wineries, many made from indigenous varieties – but we were somewhat behind in the gourmet scene ten years ago. We’ve closed much of that gap, and this is the focal point of the book," says Marinela Ardelean.
More Than a Book on Enogastronomy
"50 Wines and Dishes from Romania" is more than a book about wine and food pairing. For enthusiasts and those who wish to understand the depth of the relationship between Romanians and wine, a special chapter is dedicated to the history of wine in Romania, discussing legends and myths regarding the ancient winemaking tradition. Another special chapter is devoted to wine tourism, featuring 12 top destinations in Romania, whether winery-owned or nestled in the heart of wine regions.
"The culture of wine goes far beyond taste and culinary pairings; wine means history, tradition, terroir, a sum of practices embraced over centuries, people, and land. I wanted this book to capture the complex universe of wine. Although wine tourism in Romania is still in its infancy, we already have significant, easily accessible destinations that can satisfy even the most discerning tastes. But it’s not just about luxury; not all destinations are luxurious. It’s primarily about giving visitors – and especially foreign tourists – the chance to discover Romania, its beauty, and its people.
I was born in Maramureș, where hospitality is the law of the land, and I want the world to discover at least a portion of what we have to offer as a people. Wine tourism will be extremely important in the future to make this dream a reality. Nowhere are friendships formed and hearts opened more warmly than around a table, with a glass of wine. Much has already been said about wine’s economic importance, and I have nothing to add except that it is a great opportunity for all wineries, especially smaller ones that can sustain their entire business through wine tourism. In the long term, it is essential for entire regions, for all related economic sectors, for communities, and generally for Romania’s image worldwide," adds Marinela Ardelean.
50 Wines from Romania – An Exceptional Celebration
The volume "50 Wines and Dishes from Romania" will be launched on November 28 at a press conference in Venice. Published by Antiga Publishing at the same high standards as the first volume, "50 Romanian Wines Meet 50 Italian Culinary Dishes," the book, as Marinela Ardelean says, is "the most beautiful gift I could wish for on the 10th anniversary of my first book and, given the launch date, a great gift for all wine lovers in Romania and worldwide."
Following the press conference, the official launch in Romania will take place on December 4 at the CEC Palace in Bucharest, followed by numerous presentation events in various cities across Romania and abroad.
"It’s an extraordinary moment for me. I am in a position where I can tell wine lovers worldwide that Romania has enormous potential, that it already has the tools needed to realize this potential, that we are here and have so much to offer. I am delighted to see the recent excitement around national and regional gastronomy, to see increasingly important specialty books being published, and I am happy to contribute with a context that includes wine and tourism, tradition, and history.
It has been a long journey from the first book to today, marked by three volumes of ‘The Wine Book of Romania,’ a synthesis of my doctoral work titled ‘The Country and the Wine,’ and the launch of the Wines of Romania platform. However, I believe this anniversary volume will have the most significant impact to date. And it wouldn’t have been possible without the support of partners who responded immediately -I must thank Carrefour Romania and Aqua Carpatica for their promptness, the wineries and resorts that responded in record time, and the effort of the Wines of Romania team of collaborators. I thank everyone, and I am confident that, alongside Total PR, we will organize the most beautiful launch tour yet, transforming this volume not only into a wonderful Christmas gift but into a true calling card for Romania," Marinela Ardelean concludes.
