Domaine Danubiane Cuvee Traian Riesling Italico 2007

Wine might not be the first association you conjure up when you think of Romania but aside from being the setting for much of Bram Stoker's classic tale of horror, the country has been producing wine since the seventh century BC. It has almost as much land under vine as Portugal, and according to Jancis Robinson MW, has ''enormous unrealised potential''. Much of Romania belongs to a bygone age, but not the multi award winning cellar which crafted this wine. It lies in the town of Turnu Severin, formerly known as the ancient city of Drobeta. It takes its name from the tower built to commemorate the death of the Roman emperor, Septimus Sever, and there the ruins of a Roman city, including the baths and a bridge over the Danube, can still be seen. The cellar, however, is of the highest spec, having imported modern equipment from Italy. This is still quite a rarity in Romania and contrasts to the villages surrounding it, many of which still do not have running water, and donkey and cart, not car, is the usual mode of transport. Winemaker at this cellar is an Italian, Fiorenzo Rista, who after much experience winemaking in northern Italy, came to Romania, fell in love with a Romanian lady and never returned to his homeland. Fiorenzo made this crisp aromatic white from Riesling Italico not to be confused with true Riesling which gives light, nutty wines with fresh acidity.