At the beginning of the heat wave in the Alicante area, we managed to get together a few Romanian wines and several local top experts. Despite the temperature outside, the university’s Summer School was full of life, so we had the chance to meet enthusiastic people and enjoy together excellent wines offered by the gold partners of Wines of Romania, all participating in the Exclusive section of Carrefour’s Deschidem Vinul Romanesc / We Open the Romanian Wine program (DVR), platinum partner Wines of Romania..
At the end of the week, we managed to honour the invitation made long ago by a huge heart full of love for Romanian wine and for Romania itself, Leontina Lipan, ambassador of Wines of Romania and the one who lobbied so much for her country (wine being part of the historical heritage that praise her) that the Universidad Miguel Hernández de Elche, where she works as a researcher, decided to invite Marinela Ardelean, along with 14 selected wines, to find out the whole story.
Romanian wine among European PhD students
Two events took place – an "academic" tasting intended for teachers and academics from the Universidad Miguel Hernández de Elche and one dedicated to professional sommeliers from the Alicante region. That is the trainers in the world of aromas and taste, on the one hand, and those who represent the interface with the general public, on the other.
In the first tasting, we had the joy of discovering PhD students from Spain, Poland and Denmark, with Polish very eager to buy our wines – without knowing that they are already available in Carrefour Poland – and Danes impressed by the Romanian students and master’s students from Denmark, about whom they only had words of praise. "I know that Italy is my second home, but I can say that I have rarely seen a country where the Romanian community – second in size after the Moroccans – is as appreciated as it is in Spain. It seems that the work and dedication proven by all those who have come here after so many years have defeated the prejudice and stereotypes that other countries still apply when it comes to Romanians. And when I see Leontina Lipan, ambassador of Wines of Romania, it’s like I see myself a few years ago – eager and impatient to share all the best Romania has to offer. If I’m from Maramures, North Romania, then she is an essence of the region, born in the Rodna Mountains! And her name is also Lipan, like Vitoria! ", declared Marinela Ardelean after the academic tasting. (edit. note: Vitoria Lipan is the heroine of a 1930 novel, a symbol of a strong woman)
Romanian wine, appreciated by the Alicante sommeliers
The second tasting brought together approximately 30 wine professionals from the entire Alicante region, experienced sommeliers, currently owners of wine bars and restaurants. "Although each of them appreciated one or two of the wines more than the others, it is very interesting that each wine found its supporters, which led to beautiful and complex discussions. Rather impressively, one of the importers participating in the tasting immediately expressed their interest in Romanian wine producers and exporters. And, to my joy, I discovered that, for some of the participants, just as few, surely, but it was a good sign, Romanian wine was not really unknown. Surprisingly, one of them even knew the wines from SCDVV Pietroasa!", declared Marinela Ardelean, at the end of the second event.
A lesson about education
The first law of the wine world is the one that requires an educated, informed public with formed tastes and who know their preferences. But who are the educators?
The education problems in Romania are well known. Schools, professional guilds and the central press have invested almost nothing in the education of the domestic and/or international public. And the success of the DVR program is proof that the interest in information exists and that people want new experiences, especially if there is a credible guarantor. The certain thing is that DVR sparked the interest of Spanish experts, who appreciated it as a relevant support for Romanian wine with international development potential.
The most beautiful thing we learned at the Escuela de Catas (School of Tasting) and the Universidad Miguel Hernández de Elche was that a public school must, first of all, serve the society and community of which it is a part, as explained Ángel Carbonell, Deputy Rector for Research at the University. "There is a special synergy between the schools, the community and the companies in the area", says Marinela Ardelean, after visiting the Miguel Hernandez campus. "There is a solid partnership between all parties involved, and the research is extremely pragmatic, the companies in the area propose projects, and the researchers choose between them. From car perfumes to technical and technological solutions, there are many things created here, and those who work in the tasting area look for local ingredients and work on new food recipes, new products, and new combinations of tastes and aromas… And it is a win-win-win situation, especially for those who study here – a doctoral year costs only 500 euros! It’s no wonder that there are 15,000 students, especially since they will eventually obtain a double accreditation, Spanish and European", adds Marinela.
Education is made by people for people. More pragmatism, less ideology. A school in the service of the community and society. This is the lesson we learned in Spain, for which we once again thank vice-rector Prof. Dr. Ángel Antonio Carbonell Barrachina, Vice-Rector for Research and Transfer and and Prof. Dr. David Lopez, deputy in Les Corts Valencianes for Agriculture. And, of course, to Leontina, who graduated from USAMV Cluj with a Bachelors´and Masters` Project on the sensory analysis of wine, and since then dedicated herself to understanding the composition, taste and aromas of almonds, nuts, and all foods in general, but without forgetting her first love, Romanian wine…
Romanian wines we opened in Spain:
- Gramofon Wine: Muscat Ottonel, Chardonnay
- Averesti Estates: Busuioaca Diamond Collection, Zghihara Diamond Collection
- Bogdan Estate: Patrar Cabernet Sauvignon, Primordial Sauvignon Blanc
- Viticola Sarica Niculitel: Caii de la Letea Aligote Princeps Reserva, Caii de la Letea Princeps Rose
- Crama deMatei: Migala (rosu), Patima Feteasca alba
- Jidvei: Mysterium Spumant Vintage 2017, Owner’s Choice Ana Sauvignon Blanc
- SERVE: Cuvee Charlotte, Cuvee Sissi
