TERROIR PROFILE
Dealu Mare
Dealu Mare – Temperate continental
Romania's 'Tuscany' on the 45th parallel between Ploiești and Buzău: around 15,000 hectares of south-facing slopes, the country's red-wine centre with the centres Urlați-Ceptura, Tohani, Valea Călugărească, Pietroasa (nobly sweet Tămâioasă) and Boldești.
Climate, site & wine
Red clays, marls and red sands dominate in the west, Sarmatian limestones in the east, alongside loamy soils. South-facing slopes deliver full ripeness, while the mountains provide cool nights; the result is red wines with dark fruit, firm tannin and structure.
Fetească Neagră, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Pinot Noir are the focus. The reds are medium to full-bodied, spicy and age-worthy. Dealu Mare is regarded as one of Romania's best-known red wine areas; whites play a smaller role.
TERROIR PROFILE · Muntenia & Oltenia Hills
Dealu Mare Dealu Mare – Temperate continental
Romania's 'Tuscany' on the 45th parallel between Ploiești and Buzău: around 15,000 hectares of south-facing slopes, the country's red-wine centre with the centres Urlați-Ceptura, Tohani, Valea Călugărească, Pietroasa (nobly sweet Tămâioasă) and Boldești.
SOILS
Loambody-rich, velvety
Loamy soils give wines volume and a soft, velvety mouthfeel.
Marlbalanced, structured
Marl is a mix of limestone and clay — yields structured, balanced wines with acidity backbone.
Limestoneprecise, mineral
Limestone delivers tension, structure and a cooler, more mineral character.
Sandaromatic, approachable
Loose sand and wind-blown sand warm up quickly and hold little water — they give aromatic, early-drinking wines with soft tannins; phylloxera-resistant.
CLIMATE · Cool continental
Warm, temperate continental climate on the 45th parallel. The south-facing Carpathian foothills capture plenty of sun and are shielded from cold northerly air by the mountains; ripening is early and even.
TOPOGRAPHY · moderate
A long chain of hills on the southern rim of the Subcarpathians between the Teleajen river in the west and the Buzău in the east, mostly with south-facing slopes. Vineyards run along villages such as Valea Călugărească, Urlați and Pietroasele.
WHAT IT MEANS IN THE GLASS
Similar terroirs worldwide
Computed from fingerprint similarity
Hochheim
Rheingau
96% similar
- Freshness (slightly): Dealu Mare has less freshness → gentler acidity, earlier drinking (5 vs. 6).
Bordeaux (Stadt & Négoce)
Bordeaux
96% similar
- Sun (slightly): Dealu Mare gets more sun → deeper colour, riper tannin (7 vs. 6).
Wineries on this terroir
See all 37 →This terroir's soils in the glossary