The amounts of Moldovan wine exported in 2022 were the smallest the last ten years. As it was expected, amidst the current regional crisis, Moldova’s wine exports to Belarus and Russia decreased the most on 2021, by 55% and 44% respectively. Besides, the winemakers are affected by climate change as the spring and autumn frosts occur in different periods now and precipitation is insufficient. The data were presented in a national conference in which the National Office of Vine and Wine, together with the authorities, producers, and development partners, summed up the results of the wine year 2022, IPN reports.
The Office’s acting director Elizaveta Breahnă said the climate change is felt in Moldova as well and has a major impact on vineyards following the modification of the temperature regime in different geographical regions. The normal order of spring and autumn frosts changed. Climate change also favored the appearance of diseases and pests, including their impact on vines.
“Annual precipitation decreased to under 400 mm and this is a severe hydric stress for vines, which has negative effects on the quality of grapes, wines and on the wine industry in general,” noted Elizaveta Breahnă.
According to her, the grapes had a good phytosanitary state and high quality, but the drought, primarily in southern Moldova, led to a lower amount of juice in grapes. Producers from southern destructs said that justice yield in 2022 was even lower than in 2020.
In 2022, the national wineries processed about 280,000 tonnes of grapes and produced approximately 19 million decaliters of wine, including raw material intended for distillation. In vineyards with wine grapes, the average grape harvest in 2022 was 5.5 tonnes per ha, varying between 4-14.5 tonnes per ha.
The export figures last year were disappointing. “Wine and spirits exports in 2022 totaled 10.4 million decaliters, a decrease of 14% on 2021. This is the lowest figure the past ten years. The value of exports declined by 9% compared with 2021,” stated the acting director of the National Office of Vine and Wine.
