Romanian grapes - Episode 4 - Tamaioasa Romaneasca (Romanian Muscatel)

Tamaioasa Romaneasca – The fragrant soul of Romania

Romania is home to some beautifully unique grape varieties and few are as instantly recognisable as Tamaioasa Romaneasca which is one of Romania’s oldest and most beloved white grape varieties.

Highly aromatic, expressive and deeply rooted in Romanian winemaking history, this grape is often considered one of the country’s most distinctive white varieties.

If you enjoy floral, fragrant wines, this is one you need to know.

Tamaioasa Romaneasca (Tămâioasă Românească) (pronounced tuh-muh-YO-sah roh-muh-NEAS-kuh) roughly translates to “Romanian Frankincense” or “Romanian Fragrant One”, a reference to its intensely perfumed aroma.

It belongs to the Muscat family and is closely related to Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains, one of the oldest grape varieties in the world, which was cultivated in the region by the Greeks and Romans as early as the 6th century BC.

However, Romanian versions have evolved their own identity over centuries of local cultivation.

A truly ancient grape

Unlike Feteasca Regala, which is relatively modern, Tamaioasa Romaneasca has deep historical roots.

It has been grown in Romania for hundreds of years and is often associated with:

• Monastic vineyards

• Traditional sweet wines

• Historical Moldavian winemaking

Many historians believe it arrived via ancient trade routes and was gradually adapted into a uniquely Romanian expression.

Tamaioasa Romaneasca is less widely planted than Feteasca varieties but still significant.

Estimates suggest around 1,500–2,000 hectares in Romania with additional plantings in Moldova. While not massive in scale, its importance comes from distinctiveness rather than volume.

What does Tamaioasa Romaneasca taste like?

This is where the grape truly shines. Tamaioasa Romaneasca is known for its intense aromatics and rich flavour profile.

Typical aromas:

• Rose petals

• Orange blossom

• Honey

• Basil or sweet herbs

• Incense-like spice

Flavours often include:

• Peach and apricot

• Lychee

• Citrus peel

• Honeyed notes

Depending on style, it can range from fresh and floral to rich and luscious.

Sweet vs dry styles

Traditionally, Tamaioasa Romaneasca is associated with sweet wines, but modern producers are exploring a wider range of styles.

Most common styles:

Sweet / dessert wines

• Honeyed and aromatic

• Often made from late-harvest grapes

• Sometimes botrytised

Off-dry wines or medium-sweet

• Balanced sweetness and acidity

• Very approachable

Dry versions (increasingly popular)

• Highly aromatic but crisp

• Great for Muscat lovers who prefer less sugar

This versatility has helped the grape gain renewed attention.

Tamaioasa Romaneasca thrives in warmer regions where it can fully develop its aromatics.

Why it smells so intense

Like other Muscat-family grapes, Tamaioasa Romaneasca is rich in terpenes, natural aromatic compounds also found in:

• Roses

• Citrus peel

• Herbs

This is why the wine often smells as expressive as it tastes. It’s one of those grapes that jumps out of the glass immediately.

If you’re exploring Romanian wines and want something fragrant, expressive, and steeped in tradition, Tamaioasa Romaneasca is an unforgettable stop on the journey.

Fun & quirky facts

• During the Middle Ages, it was favoured by monasteries, who produced sweet, golden wines for religious ceremonies, earning it the nickname “wine of the monks.”;

• In old Romanian chronicles, Tamaioasa Romaneasca was considered a “wine of celebration and wisdom”, often reserved for royal feasts, weddings and Easter;

• The scent of Tamaioasa ( Frankincense) — floral, honeyed and spiritual — made it symbolic of purity and divinity. In some rural areas, it was even used in small rituals or blessings during harvest time;

• The grape demands warmth and patience. It ripens late and accumulates high sugar, making it ideal for late harvest and botrytised dessert wines;

• Aging potential: Sweet styles can age beautifully for decades, developing notes of caramel, dried apricot and spice;

• Many wine lovers describe it as Romania’s answer to Gewürztraminer or Muscat, but with a distinct local twist; richer, deeper and more soulful.

• The grape’s perfume is so strong that locals joke: “You can smell a glass of Tamaioasa before you even see it.”

• Traditionally served on holidays, weddings and baptisms, it’s a symbol of joy and abundance, a kind of liquid celebration.

• In folklore, it’s said that angels taught monks how to make Tamaioasa wine — which is why it “tastes like heaven and smells like prayer.”