Romania is one of the world's largest wine producers and sixth-largest among European wine-producing countries, after Italy, France, Spain, Germany and Portugal.
[4] Due to suitable climate, relief and soils, viticulture became a current activity of the local inhabitants mainly in the hilly areas.
[citation needed] In the 1880s phylloxera (a pale yellow sap-sucking insect that attacks the roots of vines) was introduced accidentally also in Romania (1872, Chitorani, Dealul Mare wine-growing region), and over a period of several years destroyed the local viticulture.
It produces ″dry, demi-dry or sweet wines, with an alcohol content of 12-14%, a deep red colour with ruby shades, and a black currant flavour, which becomes richer and smoother with ageing″.
[13] Among the Romanian aromatic wine grape varieties, the most appreciated and cultivated are Tămâioasă Românească and Busuioacă de Bohotin.