The COVID-19 pandemic and the severe drought of recent years will have lasting repercussions for the wine sector. Solid support actions are needed from the state, including restructuring and modernizing the wine sector, Viorel Gherciu, Minister of agriculture and food industry, said on Tuesday at the Wine Sector National Conference - "2021 grape harvest: peculiarities and valorization".
"The wine sector is continuously registering positive development trends. However, due to the severe drought in 2020, combined unfavorably with the pandemic situation, the 2020 wine year saw a decrease in overall production by 28% and a reduction in exports of wines in natural expression by 19%. At the same time, exports of quality wines increased by 9%, growth being recorded in most export destinations", Viorel Gherciu said.
According to the minister, the quality of last year's wines is exceptional, with high maturation potential, which will lay the foundations for exceptional local vintages. Last year, Moldova was awarded more than 950 medals at international competitions, Viorel Gherciu said.
"The wine sector has been and will remain a strategic branch of the national economy. Over the last few years, the wine industry has provided about 3% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and 8% of the total volume of exports. Moldova is included on the list of top 10 wine producing and exporting countries in the world, with considerable exports to more than 60 countries. Moldovan wine accounts for 2% of the world's wine exports, while the geography of exports has evened out, being spread across all market groups", said the minister.
Additionally, according to Viorel Gherciu, Moldova remains the country with the highest density of vineyards in the world. "The Moldovan wine sector is on an upward trend, continuing to conquer the world market through promotional activities. The sector put great effort to produce high quality products, with the support of the donor community and with the help of state policies promoted over time", the minister said.
Viorel Gherciu added that the current cabinet has made it a priority on the government's agenda to focus on consolidated policies that will contribute to the dynamic, balanced and sustainable development of all components of the wine sector. These measures will include the subsidy of the sector, which will focus on the establishment and modernization of wine plantations and on grape processing.
