Dragasani has a millennia old winemaking tradition that starts with the ancient inhabitants of the region The ancestors of the Romanian people made wine here as attested by archeological remains found in the area The winemaking tradition thrived in the area at one point summoned all subjects and told them to burn down the vineyards as it prevented them from focusing on their military activities https://www.instagram.com/p/BcHdna7BPY3/?tagged=casaisarescu After taking a nosedive during the communist regime, winemaking in Romania as revived by several private investments in old or new wineries in Romania’s historic winemaking regions. Among them, that of the governor of Romania, Mugur Isarescu, is a passion project started in 2003 that today produces 150,000 bottles a year and welcomes visitors in an idyllic setting. Property of the longest serving Governor worldwide and his family It goes without saying that the focus of your visit will be wine Casa Isarescu has 40 hectares of vineyards The grape types cultivated are native types Crampoşie Selectionată Expect to pay per bottle from RON 22 to RON 100 you can book tastings with the wineyard’s oenologist Cristian Nicolaescu https://www.instagram.com/p/BhZFQTTA7ww/?tagged=casaisarescu guests are welcomed in 6 rooms offering double beds You can choose between two rooms offered at the price of RON 200 two that come at RON 250 (a hallways separates the bathroom from the bedroom for these two) and two others that go for RON 300 and RON 350 The latter rooms offer the best views over the surrounding hills and forests Once inside, the furnishings, typical of Romanian manors called ‘conac,’ are displayed on the walls and alongside them. You will find wooden clocks, antiques, chandeliers and 19th century paintings as well as a more recent work, a chandelier decorated with bottles from the Casa Isarescu collection. https://www.instagram.com/p/BX3iba0hOzn/?tagged=casaisarescu the food offered highlights the rich culinary heritage of Oltenia Expect a menu that combines typical cheese and cured meat snacks soups and borscht with steaks and oven baked lamb The restaurant built on the property offers stunning views stretching from the wide valley below to the towering silhouettes of the Carpathian Mountains https://www.instagram.com/p/BXheTk2gEKC/?tagged=casaisarescu Activities range from the most relaxing ones such as long walks in the vineyard to hearing everything you’ve ever wanted to know about the process of winemaking are held on the spot and include a tour of the premises https://www.instagram.com/p/BBzSV4Itojp/?tagged=casaisarescu We use cookies for keeping our website reliable and secure providing social media features and to analyse how our website is used The Ministry of Energy has signed a further 21 financing contracts under the Modernisation Fund Key Programme 3 – Support for the extension and modernisation of the electricity distribution network The total value of the projects is RON 3,214,137,593.33 equivalent to EUR 646,018,851.79 and a total amount of state aid granted from the Modernisation Fund of RON 2,081,721,527.33 The 21 new contracts have been signed with all the concessionaire electricity distributors the Romanian Ministry of Energy has secured the financing of 38 projects contributing substantially to the extension and modernisation of the electricity distribution network for which the total amount of state aid amounts to RON 2,951,936,204.43 we have focused on two main directions: accelerating investments in energy infrastructure and ensuring a quality service for all citizens We have a motto in the Ministry of Energy team: speed up Today we have taken a new and most ambitious step yet signing contracts for investments worth more than RON 3.2 billion This money is essential for Romania’s progress The Modernisation Fund is one of the biggest development opportunities Romania has had in recent history and our commitment is to make the most of it in the shortest possible time,” Energy Minister Sebastian Burduja said These investments from non-reimbursable funds are aimed at modernising electricity distribution networks and increasing their resilience in the context of climate change by moving overhead power lines underground; increasing the capacity of networks to absorb new prosumers and renewable energy generation capacity a phenomenon supported by the Romanian Ministry of Energy; and digitising networks by introducing smart meters The most important benefit is that all these investments worth billions are made from the Modernisation Fund without putting pressure on the distribution tariff therefore without increasing the bills to end-consumers they ensure access to a high quality and reliable service for all consumers Romania is making the leap towards a new model of national energy system the backbone for the Romania of the future The 21 contracts are aimed at financing projects submitted under the dedicated call by concessionaire electricity distribution operators as follows: – project Increased Supply Security of L.20 KV Manasia Ialomita County – total project value RON 53,781,934.38 non-reimbursable financing RON 33,048,991.38 – project Modernisation of electricity distribution networks Sibiu County – total project value RON 43,407,784.38 non-reimbursable financing RON 27,578,633.69 – project Modernisation and SCADA integration of transformer stations managed by Delgaz Grid – Phase 1 – total project value RON 253,563,295.07 non-reimbursable financing RON 165,690,664.56 – project Modernisation and SCADA integration of transformer stations managed by Delgaz Grid – Phase 2 – total project value RON 263,441,093.24 non-reimbursable financing RON 172,787,772.60 – project Modernisation works of the 20 kV Avicola Berzovia OHL by partially switching the MV network from OHL to UPL transforming the overhead transformer substation into a concrete-encased substation and modernising the LV OHL network in Duleu Bocsa – Binisului street – total project value RON 87,942,576.91 non-reimbursable financing RON 57,739,311.13 rehabilitation and improvement of the voltage level in the low voltage networks managed by Delgaz Grid Phase 1 – total project value RON 331,256,663.32 non-reimbursable financing RON 211,856,760.22 – project Increased safety of the 110/20kV transformer station Sibiu Nord and 110kV loop closure between Sibiu Sud – Cisnadie – Dumbrava substations Sibiu County – total project value RON 237,053,759.69 non-reimbursable financing RON 150,525,658.08 – project Modernisation of electricity networks in Aradul Nou total project value RON 102,984,696.82 – non-reimbursable financing RON 67,401,987.34 – project Modernisation of 110kV electricity distribution network in Smardan-Barbosi-Filesti-Arcelor Mittal area and modernisation and SCADA integration of 110/20/6kV Filesti substation Galati County – total project value RON 124,941,087.60 non-reimbursable financing RON 76,836,020.79 – project Increased reliability of electricity supply to Balotesti Ilfov County – total project value RON 198,247,854.83 non-reimbursable financing RON 131,870,378.72 – project Implementation of the smart electricity metering system in the county capital cities of North Transylvania area: Cluj-Napoca Baia-Mare – total project value RON 283,048,714.58 non-reimbursable financing RON 184,153,238.98 – project Implementation of the smart electricity metering system in the county capital cities of South Transylvania area: Brasov Alba Iulia and Miercurea Ciuc – total project value RON 274,244,957.75 non-reimbursable financing RON 178,295,015.33 – project Implementation of the smart electricity metering system in the county capital cities of North Muntenia area: Galati Ploiesti and Targoviste – total project value RON 243,551,475.56 non-reimbursable financing RON 158,122,227.68 – project Modernisation of the electricity distribution network to increase the capacity and safety of electricity supply to consumers in the localities of Frumusani Calarasi County – total project value RON 162.176.967,42 non-reimbursable financing RON 106,736,107.68 – Project of Common Interest for the Modernisation of the electricity network – CARMEN (Carpathian Modernisation of Energy Network) Volume 1 – Modernisation of the 110 kV Siscani – Glavanesti – Barlad OHL – total project value RON 82,534,703.70 non-reimbursable financing RON 54,659,623.19 – project Modernisation of the 110/20/10 kV Dabuleni transformer station Dolj County in order to increase the safety in operation and electricity supply non-reimbursable financing RON 50,365,689.39 – project Modernisation and SCADA integration of the 110/20 kV Dragasani transformer station Valcea County in order to increase the safety in operation and electricity supply – total project value RON 71,006,850.45 non-reimbursable financing RON 46,247,992.21 – project Switching to 20kV in Moreni municipality and modernisation of 110/20/10kV Moreni transformer station non-reimbursable financing RON 74,134,508.74 – project Extension of the low voltage electricity distribution network in the communes of Simian and Obarsia Closani and increased energy efficiency and quality of energy distributed to customers by upgrading transformer substations low voltage network and connections related to the commune of Simian Mehedinti County – total project value RON 57,966,571.79 non-reimbursable financing RON 37,685,806.44 – Distributie Energie Oltenia S.A – project Modernisation and SCADA introduction of the 110/20kV Rogojelu transformer station Gorj County in order to increase the safety in operation and electricity supply – total project value RON 91,410,389.23 non-reimbursable financing RON 59,048,967.73 – project Modernisation of distribution networks in Geoagiu town Geoagiu Bai and the localities: Aurel Vlaicu Poienari and Valeni – total project value RON 57,790,907.70 non-reimbursable financing RON 36,936,171.45 Romania’s central bank governor Mugur Isarescu owns a vineyard in Dragasani and its family business expanded last year the governor’s family brand well known in Romania for its Cramposie Selectionata or Negru de Dragasani wines registered record high turnover and growing number of employees the company which runs Isarescu’s vineyard in Dragasani posted a turnover of RON 3.34 million (EUR 731,520) in 2017 Isarescu’s family business employed 21 persons on average in 2017, up from 18 in the previous year. The 2017 balance sheet of Măr SRL shows that total revenue rose by 22.1 percent last year to RON 3.73 million while total expense grew by 29.6 percent to RON 3.44 million Set between the rolling hills of Dragasani, one of the most well-known winemaking Romanian regions, Casa Isarescu welcomes visitors with six rooms and traditional homemade dishes from the famous cuisine of the region of Oltenia. as Casa Isarescu is the vineyard built by the governor of the BNR Mugur Isarescu After taking a nosedive during the communist regime, winemaking in Romania as revived by several private investments in old or new wineries in Romania’s historic winemaking regions. that of the governor of Romania’s central bank is a passion project started in 2003 that today produces 150,000 bottles a year and welcomes visitors in an idyllic setting after a meeting with owners of the Stirbey Winery Estate in Dragasani Oliver Bauer planned to stay for two months in Romania and help revive the historic winery he is still the oenologist of the Stirbey Winery Estate which has developed into one of the finest labels on the Romanian market one kilometre away from the historic winery Here, he creates wines that reflect his passion for the traditional Romanian traditional grape varieties growing in Dragasani by applying the skills he developed as a winemaker and maintaining a critical approach to the process of making a good wine that does justice to the terroir and becomes a cultural product. A visit to the Bauer Winery is unlike any other because here you will not be given a tour of the winery by a tour guide but will be welcomed by Oliver Bauer himself in his home “The wine world is a small, closed circle. We start by welcoming our guests in nature, then comes in the hospitality, the food, and then we introduce them to the process of making wine. You can buy the best and biggest wine collection but to understand wine you must talk to someone who makes wine,” he explains. We prefer to welcome groups of between 8 and 15 people he says.“We give them firsthand information about how the wine is made We do much more than serve a glass of wine We are seeing an increased interest from young people who want to know more about a good quality product.” “For us creating a personal connection comes naturally it is our lifestyle.Those who come over can join us for a part of the day,” he explains In Romania there is a closeness between people and vineyards because everyone grew up close to their grandparents’ vineyard he notes.“But those who truly love wine will go over and beyond because otherwise things stay at a superficial level It’s the same with making food: everybody can cook “we see a lot of people aged over 60 years” 40 and spend 10 days in the country and come to us by chance winemakers visit us after they find out there is a German who makes wines and come visit us,” he recalls a recent visit I would like to have a wider range of ages starting from 18 and beyond until the age you are active at,” he says “But the main characteristic should be interest,” he says of the profile of the ideal visitor We are not bothered when they come for the views But we want to receive people who love wine and come for it,” he says No age is too small for a visit to the winery Bauer’s wife and business partner Raluca adds (Saptamana altfel) we also had children visiting as parents did not know what to expect when sending them to pick grapes at a vineyard – and came back with baskets full of grapes.” not everyone makes a good fit with the vision Bauer practices when it comes to winemaking in his winery which essentially caters to a niche consumer “The majority of people doesn’t really match our reality all the time Because there are a lot of people who want to simply have a label that has become a brand just like they would with an aftershave,” he says says Bauer hinting that he adds his personal German rigour to the Romanian hospitality he wholeheartedly practices in the heart of Oltenia “What I do not like is when somebody is stealing my time” if not match his interest in the world of wine and will go to great lengths to entertain those who do “My week-ends are full and there are a lot of things to do Everybody’s darling is everybody’s idiot,” he warns those who might fail to miss the fact that there are dos and don’ts when visiting the Bauer Winery and home of Oliver and Raluca Bauer “But then… you have the geeks of wine,” he adds with a smile We offer an introduction into the culture of wine.” “Those who want to buy Pinot Noir should go to France those who want to buy Riesling should go Germany and those who want to buy Cramposie or Sauvignonasse should come over to Dragasani,” Bauer argues A vocal supporter of Romanian indigenous grape varieties he believes Romanian winemakers should channel their talent energy and effort towards making original wines that highlight the tremendous potential of Romania’s variety “There are very big differences between wines We can talk about the ‘coca-colisation’ of wines Today those who want to drink good wines need money All three of them are compulsory,” he argues “The special thing about Bauer wines is that they are niche wines What we do requires a lot of interest and money – our wines are not cheap and need the client’s wish to consume something different.” which he likens to an El Dorado of winemakers “In Romania we have around 175 wineries that bottle wine In the Dragasani area there are 20 wineries there are more than 8,500 wine producers in Bordeaux alone complex industry that has evolved over hundreds of years Here it is much easier to enter the market What me and Raluca did here would not have been possible in Germany.” from the point of view of the variety of wine producers They have good quality wines because they have been doing this for 100 years we haven’t been able to discover the full potential and to make the best of it.” we are putting our time and effort into making famous wines and trying to copy them and sell them cheaper My business plan is to navigate the rougher periods and to create and implement our original wines To create originals that have the potential “To live means to take risks continuously,” says Bauer with a strong hint that this is something he truly lives by “ It is important to take a risk for something you believe in there isn’t anybody who can tell you how to do things everyone said we are crazy,” he recalls of the decision to open the doors to the Stirbey Winery Estate winery back then we are in the horeca business and we sell it for you Those who entered the winery first were the brave ones But now there are only a few wineries that do not welcome visitors.” But the biggest risk he took on was to create the wines not the market wants but those that can best be made in Dragasani using his long honed skills Bauer says his wines are a niche within a niche and the impact on the market is insignificant “We are a small winery but an avant-garde one We are making the wine that our terroir tells us is the best wine to make In Burgundy there are two types of grapes: Chardonnay and Pinot Noir They know this is what works best for them and this is what they make.” “What we do at Bauer is different because we have a mature vineyard That is why our crop per hectare ranges between 3 and 7 tons The quality is more constant and you can see the maturity a more mature vineyard makes less grapes but better ones a more mature vineyard can withstand adversities better than a younger one it really has a lot in common with us humans making a litre of wine here is more expensive than one litre produced in a bigger winery.” This is the quantity we can make ourselves because every client who buys a bottle of wine knows that it is made by me culture and money go after the originals.” But what is not apparent at first glance perhaps is that for a winemaker or someone working in the field of agriculture “the part when you get to feel good comes later on the road “But what is important is to have the knowhow In Romania there is a lack of professionals and a lack of professionalism I worked nine years towards my diploma,” he says he holds training sessions regularly for those in horeca who want to know more about Bauer wines and truly believes in the importance of knowing thoroughly the product you are selling and ultimately “Our voice is too quiet still,” he ponders “We have been doing this for 14 years and nothing has changed We have been holding trainings for people in the horeca business They can come here for one day and we can walk through the vineyard winery and provide them with an overview of the type of grapes Wine is a cultural product that makes our lives richer If you know what to eat and what to drink you have a healthier lifestyle.” It is much easier to make one euro from IT than from agriculture because we cannot motivate youth to put more effort in education to work without receiving gains immediately but to gain experience instead incompetence and the lack of experience can harm a winery.” Photos courtesy of Revino.ro Whether you’re a seasoned oenophile or simply seeking a memorable getaway Romania’s wine accommodations promise an unforgettable journey through the country’s esteemed wine culture   The Bethlen-Haller Castle in Cetatea de Balta built between 1615 and 1624 by Miklos Bethlen Chancellor of Transylvania is a building of Renaissance architecture with a rectangular shape and four circular corner towers the castle has undergone numerous transformations including a Baroque renovation between 1769 and 1773 through an extensive restoration process aimed at removing previous interventions and highlighting the original architecture and simplicity of the spaces the castle was returned back to its former glory becoming a prized symbol of the Jidvei Winery The location offers several options for testing menus Casa Timis features beautifully designed rooms and suites each offering a blend of traditional and contemporary styles Guests can indulge in exquisite culinary delights at the on-site restaurant which emphasises farm-to-table dining using fresh The serene environment is perfect for relaxation with spa services and scenic walking trails Nestled in the heart of the Dragasani wine region Vila Dobrusa seamlessly blends modern amenities with traditional elegance designed with a blend of contemporary style and classic comfort Guests can enjoy stunning views of the surrounding vineyards and the Olt River The highlight of Vila Dobrusa is undoubtedly its outdoor swimming pool where guests can relax and unwind while sipping on a glass of the estate’s finest wine   Located in the picturesque Panciu Hills of Vrancea County Domeniile Panciu is another top destination for wine lovers seeking exceptional accommodations ranging from cozy guest rooms to luxurious suites Each room is designed with comfort in mind featuring modern amenities and elegant decor The restaurant at Domeniile Panciu serves a delightful menu of traditional Romanian cuisine with a modern twist using ingredients sourced from local farms Guests can enjoy their meals paired with the estate’s award-winning wines creating a complete gastronomic experience providing stunning panoramic views of the vineyard and a single accommodation room suitable for two guests guests can enjoy wine tastings paired with lunch or dinner and the venue is ideal for hosting small outdoor events or gatherings in the provided tent while other meals can be arranged through local restaurants located in Gura Vadului within the Valahorum estate offers an exquisite retreat for wine enthusiasts The accommodation features the elegant Apogeum Mansion which includes five rooms and the luxurious Royal Apartment as well as the Small Mansion with 14 rooms Guests enjoy modern amenities such as free WiFi The on-site restaurant serves delectable European cuisine Crama Apogeum produces a precious and noble wine using ancient 2,000-year-old methods providing social media features and to analyse how our website is used.