September 23, 2026, 1:20 pm | Read time: 3 minutes
Once again, on September 22, 2026, the TRAVELBOOK Award was presented, identifying the trend travel destinations for the following year. This year’s categories included the most beautiful wine region in Europe, with five contenders in the running. One of them is the Dealu Mare wine region in Romania, which we introduce to you in this text.
Dealu Mare in Romania
The Dealu Mare wine region stretches for about 60 kilometers south of the Carpathians in south-central Romania. It is located in the historical region of Muntenia, also known as Greater Wallachia. Dealu Mare is one of the country’s most renowned wine regions, particularly popular for its mature red wines. The vines grow protected on the green-yellow slopes, with the surrounding landscape dotted with modern boutique wineries and small cellars.
The Wine Culture of Dealu Mare
Viticulture in Dealu Mare dates back centuries, leaving traces that have been modernized over time. Interrupted by the communist dictatorship period (1947 to 1989) in Romania, when wine production was nationalized, Dealu Mare, like other wine regions in the country, underwent a long period of rebuilding. This era is sometimes referred to as a renaissance. Today, wine production in the region is considered modern and innovative, with a touch of tradition. The information site “Grapeminds” describes the current wine-growing practices in Dealu Mare as modern and characterized by the selection of international grape varieties. The region’s classic main wines are described as “full-bodied, mature red wines, finely structured Pinot Noir interpretations, and robust blends of Cabernet and Merlot.”
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What Can You Experience in Dealu Mare?
Those traveling to Dealu Mare for the wine can participate in numerous wine tastings at local wineries. Guided tours through the vineyards are also offered on-site.
In addition to exploring the wine landscapes, there are several villages and historic towns nearby to discover, as well as monasteries, castles, and churches to visit. There are also cultural heritage sites of the central Romanian region to explore. The information site “romanianwines.net” mentions worthwhile attractions in the area, including Iulia Hasdeu Castle in Câmpina, Ghighiu Monastery, and the slightly more distant mud volcanoes of Berca.
For all the information on the other contenders for the title of the most beautiful wine region in Europe, visit TRAVELBOOK.
Methodology for the TRAVELBOOK Award
Once again this year, we say: All nominated regions, countries, and others in the TRAVELBOOK Awards are already winners, even if they didn’t achieve overall victory. This also applies to the Dealu Mare wine region in Romania. Every travel destination had already made it to the shortlist in advance, selected from a large number of contenders in a category.
The TRAVELBOOK editorial team sought help from the community on Facebook and Instagram and consulted experts from the travel industry to create the shortlist. For the first time this year, not only TRAVELBOOK readers but also BILD readers voted. In total, more than 150,000 votes were cast to determine the trend travel destinations for 2027.