16 small and medium-sized wineries of Moldova, with the support of the USAID project, received new equipment worth $170 thousand.
Among them there are 10 members of the Association of Small Wine Producers. Through the USAID Performance Agriculture in Moldova (USAID APM) Project, they received high-performance equipment and technical assistance to improve the wine production process and improve the quality of designer wine. The new equipment, worth about $170 thousand includes stainless steel fermenters, stainless steel wine storage tanks, barrels, presses, temperature control systems, and filters for cleaning and sterilizing wine. The new equipment makes it easy to manage the wine production process at all stages of production, ensures compliance with hygiene standards, ensures wine maturation and improves the quality of wine. At the same time, the support provided by USAID APM led to additional investments from wineries of about $410 thousand to improve the wine production process. Improved technologies allow small winemakers to bottle wines, increasing the added value of the product sold. As part of the same initiative to support small-scale winemakers' efforts to improve wine quality, USAID APM helped the Small Wine Producers Association acquire small equipment needed for wine production, bottling and labeling, which is offered for rent to members during the harvest, production and bottling of wine. The owner of Crama Mingir, Nicolae Olarasu, noted that the equipment provided by USAID APM allows him to ensure the continuous production of wine. With the new equipment, the winery will improve its production capacity and hopes to expand its sales in Romania, which will allow the winery to build a tasting room for tourists. “In addition to the equipment, we received advice from production and marketing specialists, they helped us create a website and presentation materials,” says the winemaker. At the same time, a winery from the village of Bahu in the Calarasi district, founded by two friends Mihai Iuzvac and Anton Deleu, received equipment that, in the opinion of winemakers, is crucial for improving the quality of the wine produced by their enterprise. Currently, about 3,000 bottles of wine produced at this winery are sold through wineries, as well as at local fairs, but winemakers claim that the equipment received opens up prospects for them to develop and expand their business. Nicolae Minciuna, who opened the small winery Domeniile Pana in the village of Slobozia Mare, Vulcanesti district, claims that thanks to the climate, limestone soils with geological characteristics and the unique mineral composition of the Slobozia Mare district, the local grapes have a special taste and the wines are characterized by an incomparable terroir. The equipment that his winery has received will increase the production of wine and improve the quality of the author's wine, which is planned to be supplied to the Romanian market. Among the beneficiaries of assistance provided by the USAID APM project to small winemakers are AlterEgo and Familna Vinarna Rizov wineries, which were awarded gold medals for their first wine in 2021. This year, Moldovan wines were awarded more than 1150 medals at international competitions; more than 200 medals went to small wine producers of Moldova, members of the Moldovan Small Wine Producers Association. // 02.12.2021 – InfoMarket
