Marking a decade since its editorial debut, “50 Romanian Wines Meet 50 Italian Culinary Dishes”, Marinela Ardelean has selected 50 local gastronomic creations to pair with 50 top wines from 50 producers. The book was officially launched in Romania yesterday in a gala hosted by the CEC Palace, and the series of events dedicated to the launch continues today at Carrefour AFI Mall Brașov. The book is available starting today in all Cărturești bookstores and selected Carrefour stores.
Below is the official press release for the launch:
Marinela Ardelean Presents "50 Wines and Dishes from Romania", The First Trilingual Book Dedicated to Promoting Romanian Wine
A decade after the release of "50 Romanian Wines Meet 50 Italian Culinary Dishes", wine expert Marinela Ardelean, founder of the Wines of Romania platform and co-organizer of the RO-Wine Festival, has prepared a new volume: "50 Wines and Dishes from Romania". The anniversary edition, available in Romanian, Italian, and English, celebrates ten years of the author’s dedication to promoting Romanian wine internationally.
The book brings together 50 top Romanian wineries, showcasing some of their most representative wines, paired with gourmet dishes crafted by renowned chefs, including Ana Consulea, Alexandru Dumitru, Radu Dumitrescu, Marco Favino, Radu Ionescu, Nico Lontras, Emilia Maxim, Nicolai Tand, and the enthusiastic content creator Mihaela Sava, known as "Prăjiturela" (Cookie).
“This is a book I’ve wanted to write since my first volume ten years ago, where I paired Romanian wines with Italian dishes – a bridge between the two countries I call ‘home.’ Over the past few years, I’ve witnessed a remarkable renaissance and reinvention of Romanian gastronomy. Chefs who have traveled the world are now returning home, applying what they’ve learned to elevate Romanian cuisine to new heights. This transformation has sparked widespread enthusiasm.
I wanted to showcase that Romania has claimed its place on the global stage, including in gastronomy, which is why I chose to make this a trilingual edition. We already had excellent wines – and I’m thrilled to have selected 50 wines from 50 wineries, many of them made from indigenous grape varieties – but ten years ago, our gourmet market was still catching up. That gap has since narrowed, and this book is a testament to that progress,” says Marinela Ardelean.
More Than a Book About Food and Wine
"50 Wines and Dishes from Romania" is more than a book about pairing wine and food. For enthusiasts and those seeking a deeper understanding of the relationship between Romanians and wine, a special chapter is dedicated to the history of wine in Romania, exploring legends and myths about the ancient roots of its winemaking tradition. Another chapter highlights wine tourism, featuring 12 top destinations in Romania, including winery-owned estates and locations in the heart of wine regions.
According to the author, the book also captures aspects of the wine world’s complexity. While it’s clear that wine tourism in Romania is still in its early stages, there are already key destinations capable of satisfying the most discerning tastes. These offer both locals and international tourists the opportunity to discover Romania’s beauty and its people.
“I was born in Maramureș, where hospitality is the law of the land, and I hope people can discover at least a fraction of what we have to offer as a nation. Wine tourism will play a crucial role in making this dream a reality. Nowhere else do friendships form, and hearts open, as they do around a table with a glass of wine. The economic importance of wine has already been widely discussed, but I will add that it represents a great opportunity for all wineries, particularly smaller ones, which could sustain their entire business through wine tourism alone.
In the long term, this is vital for entire regions, for all related economic sectors, for communities, and for Romania’s image in the world,” adds Marinela Ardelean.
The Book, Already Launched in Two Countries
The volume "50 Wines and Dishes from Romania" was officially launched on November 28 during a press conference in Venice. The book was produced by Antiga Publishing, maintaining the same high standards as Marinela Ardelean’s first volume, "50 Romanian Wines Meet 50 Italian Culinary Dishes", the only Romanian book in the "Drinks" category to be nominated for the prestigious Gourmet Cookbook Excellence Awards.
The Romanian launch took place on December 4 in Bucharest at the iconic CEC Palace, in the presence of over 150 guests, including Romanian wine producers, business leaders, celebrities, and cultural figures. During the event, Ramona Chiriac, Head of the European Commission Representation in Romania, and Jean Valvis, founder of the Aqua Carpatica and Domeniile Sâmburești brands, highlighted the importance of this volume as a true calling card for Romania.
“This is an extraordinary moment for me. I am in a position to tell wine lovers around the world that Romania has enormous potential, that it already has the tools to realize this potential, and that we are here with so much to offer. I am delighted to witness the recent buzz surrounding national and regional gastronomy, to see increasingly important specialty books being published, and to contribute a context that integrates wine, tourism, tradition, and history,” said the author.
A series of promotional events will take place in various cities across Romania and abroad in the coming months. The book will soon be available for purchase in select Carrefour stores, Cărturești bookstores, and directly from participating wineries that have expressed interest in retailing the volume. More details can be found on www.winesofromania.com.
About Wines of Romania
Wines of Romania is a fully private initiative, deeply committed to the sustainable development of Romanian wine’s success both locally and internationally. Founded by wine expert and RO-WINE co-organizer Marinela Ardelean, the Wines of Romania platform serves as a digital hub dedicated to local wines, wine enthusiasts, buyers, producers, and investors.
