Romania is fifth in EU by grapevine surface
Romania is fifth in the EU by the surface cultivated with grapevine, after Spain, France, Italy and Portugal, according to data of the Association of Wine Exporters and Producers (APEV), quoted by local newspaper Ziarul Financiar.
Moldova, Oltenia and Muntenia’s hills host two thirds of total grapevine surface in Romania, which reached 182,500 hectares last year.
Local grapevines are going through a continuous process of restructuring and reconversion, backed by EU and national financing, said APEV officials.
Romania exported EUR26.8 million worth of wine last year, up almost 20% on 2016. However, the country’s exports are almost invisible in both volume and value. Only 3.5% (157,000 hectoliters) of its production goes abroad, according to ZF’s calculations.
“Export is tied to a country’s image, and Romania is seen as a country that makes cheap things. This shows on the wine market,” says Victor Ciuperca, vice-president of APEV. This is the immediate perception of consumers abroad, and the lack of a strategy on the part of authorities will make it difficult to change, he added. “Wine does not account for much in Romania’s total exports, but it could be regarded as strategic. Moreover, this industry also helps tourism and other related sectors.”
“In the eyes of the international consumers – the general public, Romania is not a wine producing country. Only connoisseurs and wine lovers know that,” explains Gabriel Roceanu, general manager of Carl Reh Winery, the owner of the Crama Onisor brand. One third of the company’s wine production is exported but that is because the owner of the winery, Germany’s Carl Reh group, is one of the biggest winemakers in Germany and handles sale of local wines.
“Another problem Romania is facing abroad is that competition is really fierce on the segment of medium priced wine (less than EUR7 per bottle shelf price). Counties in the southern hemisphere – South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Chile and Argentina can make very good wines at competitive prices.”
APEV data show average price per liter of wine exported was EUR1.7 last year, slightly up compared with the previous years, but the level remains very low, confirming Romania’s image abroad, that of a volume winemaker.
Sources: www.romania-insider.com and www.zfenglish.com, June 2018
