The National Wine Day festivities brought together more than 100,000 people in the Great National Assembly Square of Chisinau on October 1 and 2. Another 12,000 people visited the eight wineries included in the Wine Road. About 115,000 bottles of wine were consumed during the two days, with 22 new products being launched. The preliminary data were presented by the director of the National Office of Vine and Wine Gheorghe Arpentin in a news conference, IPN reports.
Gheorghe Arpentin said the first conclusions show that the holiday was a success. There are positive comments about the organization of the event, including on the part of foreign tourists. The Wine School that taught consumers how to drink rationally was also popular.
Tourism Agency director general Stanislav Rusu said the event of October 1-2 involved a significant number of foreign tourists, while the hotels of Chisinau were 95% occupied. The National Wine Day is promoted throughout the year, at all the international exhibitions where Moldova is present. The fact that the event involved tourists from China, Japan, Italy and other countries is an accomplishment. “It is an event by which we promote the national identity and traditions. It is important for this festival to continue and to be supported so that we have as many visitors as possible,” stated Stanislav Rusu.
Parascovia Popov, manager at “Vinaria Purcari” winery, said the wine tourism develops. “We insisted that this year the people could also visit the wineries the same day, not only the stands in the Great National Assembly Square, so as to see how the wine is made. The result was very good. “Vinaria Purcari” was visited by over 1,100 persons,” she stated.
In the same connection, sales manager at “Vinaria Fautor” Sergiu Mocanu said their winery this year presented new products. The idea of staging this event in the central square of Chisinau was very good because direct interaction between producers, consumers and tourists could be thus ensured. Despite particular shortcomings, the event was a success.
