A young family of wine entrepreneurs from Jelna, a village in the Northern Transylvanian county of Bistrita-Nasaud – fascinated by winemaking, terroir and the culture that comes with it – dreams to reawaken and protect the sustainable wine heritage and spirit that have laid dormant in the region’s rolling hills. Jelna brings an environmental and cultural brew to wine-making.

TRANSYLVANIA THE NEW TUSCANY Our pension is picturesquely located in the foothills of the Călimani mountains, bordered by our own forest, apple orchard and of course the 26 hectares of vines. Its architecture is in harmony with the surrounding landscape, with generous windows that offer you enchanting landscapes regardless of the weather. At almost 600 meters altitude the air is particularly fresh and clean. We are passionate about our local cuisine and we will always try to offer you seasonal products in the vicinity of our establishment.

This region of Northern Romania, said Italian count Giulio da Sacco, was the new Tuscany, and the Financial Times recently picked on this comparison, with the reporter noting that "I could imagine myself in 'Chiantishire'." For in both Tuscany and Transylvania, wine has been made for centuries amongst rolling hills with vernacular villages, churches and chateaus where the vineyard's colours and wildfl ower meadows blend organically into historic ochre-tiled houses. Yes, Transylvania could be Tuscany in all but the name, but in Transylvania you will fi nd winemakers who combine the use of high tech, weeds and animals to minimise the need for fossil fuels and chemicals. This is where Jelna wines come in: grown with timeless techniques with respect for the land and passion for long-lost ways of tilling the land and making wine.