The producers of homemade wine intend to create an association, the head of the Chamber of Trade and Industry Gheorghe Cucu announced in an interview. At the first stage, members of the association can become the winners of the “Golden Barrel” contest that is staged under the Chamber’s aegis. The winners are traditionally announced on the National Wine Day, IPN reports.

“If we take into account not only the laureates, but also those to whom special prizes were awarded, I think we will have almost 100 producers from all the country’s districts. But there are also other winemakers who will join this association as well as oenologists, other rural specialists and simply wine connoisseurs,” said Gheorghe Cucu.

According to him, the idea is to purchase lines for bottling homemade wine by concerted efforts and then to sell this wine. The national and foreign consumers appreciate the homemade products. Such practices exist in the Czech Republic, Poland, Romania and other countries. “Given the subsidies provided by the state to groups of producers that form associations, I think they will succeed,” stated Gheorghe Cucu.

Eduard Bejenaru from Ungheni, one of the six laureates of the 2013 contest “Golden Barrel”, is an economist by profession, but makes wine as a passion. “I make about five tonnes of wine a year.  We drink a part of it, while the rest we give to our friends. They approve of the quality of my wine,” the producer said during the National Wine Day celebrations.

Simion Cibotaru, producer of homemade wine from Bahmut, said that each second household in Calarasi district makes wine. “We do not have where to sell it. It would be good to bottle a part of our production. Many producers could also bottle juice for selling it on the home market,” he said.

Other producers also consider that an association of homemade wine makers would enable them to increase sales and to promote their products.