Region InFocus: Moldova

Traditionally, Moldova’s wine producers relied on Russia to buy the vast majority of its wine exports. But the trade embargo placed on Moldova by Russia in 2006 has forced its country’s winemakers and producers to build up new market in both the West and the East to ensure they could survive the decision makers in Moscow.  

The Moscow ban had an initial devastating impact on the country’s wine industry, with up to a half of producers having to close and its total wine production falling by some 60%.  

But over time it has slowly built itself back up again. Not only in terms of the number of producers now involved in quality winemaking, but, importantly, the level of investment the country is now seeing both internally and externally as the global wine market sees the opportunities that exist throughout what is one of the oldest wine producing countries in the world.  

Here we look at the headline figures for the Moldovan wine industry and how it is growing in importance on the international bulk wine market.  

* The Moldovan wine sector accounts for 3.2% of the country's GDP and 7.5% of its total exports.  

* It consists of four main wine regions: Valul lui Traian (south west), Stefan Voda (south east), Codru (centre), and Balti (north). Note the first three are destined for the production of wines with protected geographic indication.

* It employs over 250,000 people in 140 wineries, accounting for some 27% of the working population.  

* Moldova has the biggest density of wineries in the world, making up 3.8% of the country’s land and 7% of the country’s arable land.  

* This works out at 112,000 hectares of vines with 30 different varieties of grapes.  

* 70% are its vineyards are dedicated for white varieties (mainly Rkatsiteli, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Aligote) which are mainly in the Codru region.  

* 30% are red varieties (Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Saperavi) grown more in the southern regions. Aromatic varieties account for 36 % of the vineyards.  

* Its average annual production is 15 million dal (decalitres).  

* 88% of its production is still wines, 6% sparkling and 6% specialised wines.  

* €330 million has been invested in new vine plantings, production equipment and technologies in the past ten years.  

* This has resulted in 30,000 ha been planted in the past seven years alone, mostly taken up by the Mediterranean grape variety, Vitis Vinifera, as well as plantings of more local varieties

* 80% of Moldova’s wine production is exported annually, to more than 50 countries, of which 55% are red wines.  

* Wine export represents 13.4 million dal with a total value of $156.1m.  

* 60% of its wines are shipped in bulk and 40% bottled.  

* Wine accounts for 3.2% of the country’s GDP and 7.5% of Moldova’s total exports.  

Moldova’s key export markets:

East Russian Federation 38%

Kazakhstan 15%

Ukraine 11%

Belarus 6%  

West

Poland 36%

Czech Republic 22%

Romania 6%

United States 5%  

* The CIS states account for 68% of all exports, which are worth $156m. But this is down from 90% back in 2004.

* The objective for the Moldovan wine industry is to diversity its exports by expanding into Western and emerging markets and reduce exports to former Soviet countries to 33% before the end of the decade, according to Dumitru Munteanu, director of the National Office for Vine and Wine, the industry’s lobby group.  

Sources: Wine of Moldova, EverVin, National Office For Vine and Wine, Moldova Vin