Grapes harvesting starts next week in central and southern Moldova

According to the web-site of the Agro-industrial Agency “Moldova-Wine”, cited by Info-Prim Neo, stating 11 September, both table and technical varieties of grapes will be gathered in the central and southern regions of the Republic of Moldova. The representative of “Moldova-Wine”, Valeriu Cebotari, stated that the “Isabelle” variety of grapes planted in Codru region will provide a harvest of maximum 7 tonnes per hectare. Unlike the previous years, “Isabelle” grapes will be bought mainly for the preparation of grape juice, jam and other products. This season is different - the grapes, when sold, must have a certificate regarding the use of pesticides and mineral fertilizers during the cultivation. This certificate is acquired, mainly by the wine-making enterprises, which intend to process 300-320 thousand tonnes of grapes this season. According to the director of the “Moldova-Wine” Agency, Valeriu Mironescu, the quality of the grapes from this year’s harvest could be the past 5 years’ highest. A harvest of 320-330 thousand tonnes of grapes, including 30 thousand tonnes of table varieties, is expected this year from a surface of 150 thousand hectares of grapes. Private businesses expect a harvest of 150 thousand tonnes of grapes.