RoWine 2025 – 10 years of excellence

The international wine festival comes back to Cluj-Napoca on the 22nd-23rd of March 2025

This weekend, on March 22-23, 2025, Cluj-Napoca will host the 10th anniversary edition of RO-Wine | The International Wine Festival of Romania. The event will take place at Chios Social Lounge in Central Park, from 12:00 PM to 8:00 PM each day.

An anniversary edition for wine enthusiasts

Over the past decade, RO-Wine has established itself as a premier festival for premium and super-premium wines, attracting both local and international wine enthusiasts.

We were curious about this special anniversary and had a small interview with Marinela Ardelean, co-founder of this event.

RO-Wine Festival has become a landmark event for Romania’s wine industry. From your perspective as a recognized expert in the field, how has the presence of Romanian wineries evolved in the European market?

Marinela Ardelean

As simple and relevant as the question may seem, the answer is quite complex, and even the tone of my response is difficult to choose. There are a few commendable efforts from a small number of producers, and there is the success of Recaș, which has invested many years of hard work to achieve its position in the UK market. However, the presence of Romanian wine in European retail and restaurants is, at best, at a homeopathic level.

No single producer has the strength to promote or create a brand and a market for all Romanian wines. Given the current economic context and social dynamics, I am certain that soon—perhaps not in the next 3-4 years, but definitely within 6-7 years—exports will become essential for this industry. I don’t believe we’ll reach a point of survival crisis, but we will certainly face a stagnation or even regression in the current growth trends. New producers, new vineyards, and new wines are still emerging, but this will no longer be sustainable without finding external markets for production that is becoming increasingly difficult for the Romanian public to absorb.

Cluj-Napoca is increasingly establishing itself as a hub for wine enthusiasts and refined gastronomic experiences. Do you think this festival has contributed to the development of wine tourism in Romania?

Marinela Ardelean: I sincerely hope that we have played even a small role in inspiring people from Cluj and all RO-Wine attendees to visit wineries. The truth is, we all help each other grow. There is a certain synergy among all players in this industry, which is evident in Cluj’s entire food and wine scene, driving interest in new experiences.

When you hear passionate people talk about their favorite destinations, when you meet them and realize you’d love to have them as hosts, it’s a completely different experience than just seeing a travel brochure in an agency. Moreover, the festival is a place where people with shared interests connect, meaning you receive trustworthy recommendations from those who have already visited these wineries.

RO-Wine brings together top wineries, experts, and wine lovers every year. What are the key wine trends that visitors should discover at this edition?

Marinela Ardelean: The Romanian market is a bit unusual—sometimes it embraces international trends quickly, other times it lags behind. For example, the adoption of rosé wines and sparkling wines, especially Prosecco, happened quite rapidly, almost in sync with the rest of the world. On the other hand, I see less enthusiasm for low-alcohol or non-alcoholic wines.

I believe the festival offers an accurate and up-to-date reflection of the market, and overall, the wines featured here will capture this particular moment in the industry. Sparkling wines are certainly trending, there is a shift toward wines with less oak aging, but at the same time, we are seeing a slight return to classic European wines with their subtle complexity—moving away from the “fruit bomb” style of modern winemaking.

The best way to explore these trends? Come to the festival and taste them with us!

As an advocate for Romanian wines on the international stage, what impact do you think the RO-Wine Festival has on Romania’s positioning in the global wine industry? Are there any international collaborations or special guests at this edition?

Marinela Ardelean: There always have been, and always will be, but let’s be realistic—we are still talking about a wine festival in Romania. I am incredibly honored and proud to have hosted numerous members of the international diplomatic community, as well as a significant number of experts and trendsetters. We also welcome international wine producers, their representatives, and merchants interested in these wines.

However, RO-Wine alone cannot shape a strong public perception of Romanian wine on a global scale. Our key contribution is placing Romanian wines alongside some of the world’s most renowned labels. This allows visitors—especially international guests unfamiliar with our wines—to see that Romanian wines stand on the same level of quality. Slowly but surely, from these interactions, something bigger can emerge—a community of informed consumers, for example. But this is a long-term process, one that takes many years.

Beyond exceptional wine tastings, RO-Wine is also about education and networking. What unique experiences will make this edition memorable?

Marinela Ardelean: Every RO-Wine edition brings new flavors, new wines, new wineries, and new delicacies. But after ten years of the festival, I can tell you that what truly stays with people is the essence of the experience.

The personal stories, the explanations about wine pairings, the history of a place or a winery—hearing them directly from the people who created or continue these legacies is what makes our gatherings truly special. That is the unmatched charm of RO-Wine.

If you have not purchased a ticket for this edition hurry up and check the available tickets here.

See you at RoWine 2025!

Text & Pics: Yle Balaceanu, IBMagazine