Moldovan winemakers could cover only 10-15% of the Russian market

The Moldovan winemakers could cover only 10-15% of the Russian market in the first year after the exports will be resumed, against 40% they were controlling previously. This is the opinion of the manager of the consultancy company “Stas Marketing Partners”, Andrei Stas, referring to the data from a survey conducted in April among the consumers in Moscow. Andrei Stas told a news conference that more than one half of the respondents said that the ban on the imports was a correct step, aimed at protecting the interests of the consumers. More than one quarter said they will for sure buy the Moldovan wines, and one third – will take into consideration this possibility. They affirmed that the wine embargo is of political nature. The Moldovan wines were given a rank of 6 out of 10 possible points for the design and quality of the wine, reputation and advertisement of the Moldovan winemakers. Of all the Moldovan producers, the Russian citizens remembered only “Dionisos Club”, the rest of the companies being already forgotten. According to Andrei Stas, the researches asserted that the resumption of the Moldovan wine imports on the Russian market will not be an easy task. In order to conquer again their reputation, the Moldovan winemakers will have to work hard on the quality of the production, reputation and brand. All these things are possible only if the sector will be strengthened, reform programmes will be carried out, and a strong field brand and individual brands will be worked out on modern marketing principles. The research aims at finding out how the attitude of the consumers changed in what concerns the Moldovan wines. A group of Russian specialists from “Rospotrebnadzor” inspected in March several wine companies in Moldova, but the veterinary watchdog did not announce any decision on resuming the imports of Moldovan wines so far. The experts say that the losses of the Moldovan wine exporters as a result of the embargo could amount to over USD 200 mln. According to the recent statements of the Head of “Rospotrebnadzor”, Ghenadi Onishcenko, Russia worked out special conditions for the supply of Moldovan wines to the Russian market. According to him, at the first stage, special “discriminatory” conditions will be worked out for the suppliers, including the control of each consignment of wine at the border. According to the Russian official, the Moldovan suppliers will be forces to conquer once again the Russian market, which during the ban, was cornered by wines from Latin America, Australia, Japan etc. Russia banned the import of wines and divins (cognac-like beverages) from Moldova in March 2006, saying the wines contain noxious substances.