The losses of the winegrowing sector constitute 25-30% of the anticipated harvest, said Minister of Agriculture, Regional Development and Environment Ion Perju, noting that this sector has been affected by two crisis this year – the pandemic crisis and the drought, IPN reports. 

“The major objective at present is to gather the harvest and to fully purchase the grape crop in optimal timeframes. We are taking measures to alleviate the consequences of the drought,” Ion Perju stated in the sixth national winemaking and winegrowing conference.

The minister noted that in the created situation, it is important that all the players of the value chain realize that they are all in the same boat - primary grape producers, winemakers and decision-making bodies should take all the measures and find instruments for facilitating this process.

Elizaveta Breahnă, consultant in winemaking, spoke about the quality of grapes. She said the content of sugar in the white sorts of grapes is lower than in 2018, but is comparable to that of 2019. The weight of grapes is by 40% lower than the norm. The content of sugar in the red sorts is lower than last year and the weight of grapes is by 60% lower than the norm.

Specialists recommend that the estimated purchase price of grapes for fine in 2020 should be at least 4.5 lei per kilogram for European sorts and 2.5 lei per kilogram for the sorts of Isabella type.

The national conference titled “Harvest of 2020: Particularities and Utilization” was organized by the National Office of Vine and Wine.