Moldovan winemakers diversify production for US market

The American market has great opportunities for Moldovan wines. At least, this is what the winemakers say after a visit in the USA in May, Info-Prim Neo reports. The group included 10 managers who met with representatives of US wine producing and distributing companies. They attended wine tasting events and a specialized exhibition, organized by the Chicago Restaurants Association. “The main thing we learned in the USA is the need to have a long-term strategy to promote wines, to create a brand that will be recognized by consumers and to improve the quality of exported production”, said Viorel Gutu, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Food Industry. He was impressed with the US government’s role in promoting wines and original products and its collaboration with the private sector. Viorel Gutu also spoke about the need for winemakers to associate and have a representative organization that would provide the production requested on foreign markets. Vladimir Davidescu, general director of “Vinaria din Vale”, said that he had established business links with local winemakers and distributors from the US. “There is an idea of creating a joint enterprise of Moldovan and American companies that would import wines from Moldova. The basic advantage is that our American colleagues already know how to promote a product, after permanent communication with consumers, they know how to advertise. I’m thinking about a pause for several months, to work with my company’s specialists to improve the quality of our wines, to diversify them”, he explained. Vladimir Davidescu mentioned that the Americans preferred dry wines, red and white. The Minister of Agriculture and Food Industry, Vasile Bumacov, announced that the Moldovan Wine brand was under development. This would make Moldovan wines easier to recognize on the export market. “We have examples from other countries, like Portugal, whose wines are exported under the same brand”, he said. The winemakers’ visit in the USA was organized with the support of the US Embassy in Moldova. Ambassador Asif Chaudry mentioned that a lot of work and common efforts were needed so that the acquired knowledge was applied and Moldovan wines were known and appreciated on the American market and not only. Although 12 Moldovan winemakers exported in the US about 590.000 bottles, valued at $1 million, over the last three years, Moldova failed to impose itself as a major wine producer.