Bucharest has over 50 wine bars and shops, Timisoara and Cluj fall in its footsteps

Bucharest has over 50 wine bars and shops, with between two and three popping up every year, a survey by Revino.ro shows. Up-and-coming cities such as Timisoara and Cluj are coming close in terms of growth, after many such venues opened in the past years.

The growing number of wine bars and shops shows that the local public is increasingly more educated and interested in wines, especially in Romanian wines, the survey’s authors say. In addition, these are the factors behind the increase in the number of local wineries, mostly active on the premium segment.

Wine stores offer the widest variety of wines from different countries of the world, and include in their portfolio wines from different varieties of grapes, vinified in different styles.

“The atmosphere inside a store and its philosophy make the difference between a sterile experience and a comfortable shopping experience. The wine selection, storage temperature, and the interaction with qualified staff are three important advantages that these sites offer compared to large supermarket chains or hypermarkets, “says Alina Iancu, founder of CrameRomania.ro and ReVino.ro.

Romanian wines selection tops 60 percent

According to the survey, Romanian wines represent more than 60 percent of the selection of local wine stores. The main criteria for choosing a wine, the survey argues, are the color (white, red or rosé), followed by the content of sugars (dry, semi-sweet, semi-sweet or sweet) or the grape variety.

A careful selection, even if it offers less options, may be less intimidating for a buyer in the process of choosing a wine. Some shops have a very selective approach, deliberately offering a small portfolio of wines, which does not include the well-known, mainstream labels.

The hospitality and experience of the retailer or vendor can make a difference for the buyer, the survey says.