The winemaking and winegrowing sector of Moldova witnesses an upward trend. In 2017, it recorded the largest production volume in the last four years, of 18 million dekaliters. The weather conditions, policies to improve the situation in the sector, enhancement of the quality of wines and extension of export markets contributed to a successful year in the history of the Moldovan wine. The data were presented in a national conference on winemaking and winegrowing that was held to sum up the results in the wine industry in 2017, IPN reports.

Last year, Moldova’s wine exports came to over 14 million dekaliters, an increase of 5.5% on 2016. Almost 10 million dekaliters were exported non-bottled. Belarus remains the most important export destination for non-bottled wine. This country last year imported 4.4 million dekaliters of wine from Moldova. 60% of the bottled wine from Moldova goes to Europe and Asia.

Currently, 71% of the non-bottled wine represents only 42% of the value of Moldova’s wine exports. For comparison, 29% of the bottled wines represent 58% of the total wine exports.

According to the presented data, the areas of vineyards with Protected Geographical Indication in Moldova during the last three years grew by 37%. Now 64 producers in the given regions can produce over 2 million bottles of wine.

The grape harvest in 2017 was by up to 25% larger than in 2016.