Record visitors and sales at the Moldovan Wine Festival in Bucharest
The sixth edition of the Moldovan Wine Festival took place last weekend in Bucharest and set new records for both attendance and sales. On the first day alone, more than 20,000 visitors participated in the event, resulting in over 2,000 tastings. There was a significant interest in top products, including premium wines and cognacs, which quickly sold out.
"We successfully encouraged Bucharest residents to attend our festival once again, despite it being 33 degrees Celsius. We also bring sunshine to Bucharest, and we had over 2,000 tastings, which is a significant number. It shows that Bucharest residents come to taste and purchase wines," said Ștefan Iamandi, director of the National Office of Vine and Wine, during the "Bună dimineața" show on Moldova 1, on the September 7 edition.
Interest in wines from the Republic of Moldova was evident in the high volume of bottles purchased during the event.
"In the first half of the day on September 5, premium wines, including cognacs priced at approximately 350 lei, were in high demand. Some wineries reported that their premium wines sold out quickly on the first day. The festival is a crucial tool for us to analyze and monitor market potential. Visitors were eager for bottles; no one left with just one. This is very important," added Iamandi.
Representatives from the wine sector in the Republic of Moldova emphasize that initiatives like this not only boost sales but also enhance the country's image and attract new consumers.
"The festival is an admirable example of how well the sector can mobilize and collaborate with the state. It's not just about the government; winemakers play a vital role too. This brings us back to the idea of teamwork, which should represent both economic and agricultural success," commented Iamandi, reflecting on the event in Bucharest.
White and sparkling wines: Romanians' favorites
The high temperatures in Bucharest have influenced consumer preferences, leading to an increased interest in white and sparkling wines.
“It is encouraging to see that dry, quality wines are being preferred. At the same time, many different wines were sampled, obviously due to the warm weather. White wines and sparkling wines were particularly in demand. Sparkling wine is no longer just a beverage for birthdays or New Year's celebrations; it has become a regular choice, even used in mixes and cocktails," stated Ștefan Iamandi.
Romania: Key market for Moldovan wines
Romania is the most significant market for wines from the Republic of Moldova. Eugeniu Osmochescu, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Industry, highlighted the strategic importance of the Romanian market not only for the wine sector but also for the entire agricultural and agri-food industry in Moldova.
"Romania is our largest market, particularly for wine products. More broadly, it plays a crucial role in our agriculture and industry by serving as a gateway to the European Union. This relationship enables us to develop our marketing and bilateral relations between the two banks of the Prut, as well as foster inter-institutional connections. We receive substantial support from our Romanian colleagues in promoting exports from Moldova," declared Eugeniu Osmochescu during an interview on Moldova 1.
The minister emphasized that increasing exports is a priority, noting that Moldovan wines are now present in over 70 countries.
In 2025, exports to the Romanian market were approximately 14.38 million liters, valued at 45 million dollars. Compared to 2024, the volume increased by 7%, and the value rose by 18%.
"If we look at the last five years, we have experienced approximately a 20% growth in volume and a remarkable 108% growth in value. It sends a strong message that in Romania, our primary market, sales of premium quality wines have also increased. The potential here is enormous," added Ștefan Iamandi.
According to him, the Bucharest festival is a vital platform for producers to gauge consumer preferences and discover new opportunities for sales growth.
Replanting vineyards: A priority for the industry
The development of the wine industry faces several challenges, including climate change, logistics, supply chains, and access to financing.
"The challenges are well known, particularly those related to climate. In agriculture, what benefits one area can be detrimental to another. Therefore, we must strive for balance. While we cannot always rely on nature, there are technological and modern methods that can help us, such as inducing rainfall when necessary or dispersing clouds," stated Eugeniu Osmochescu.
The minister also emphasized that financing remains a significant concern for winegrowers, as investments in grape plantations require a long period before any results can be realized.
The focus should not only be on expanding cultivated areas but also on replanting existing vineyards, many of which were established decades ago, say sector representatives.
"We, the winemakers, do not necessarily want to increase the area. We want to replant the existing one, because we have many varieties that are no longer used. Let's not forget that consumers also change their preferences once every five years. If five years ago they were red wines, now they already prefer white wines, sparkling wines. We, the wine sector, cannot adapt so quickly", explained Ștefan Iamandi.
He noted that a vineyard plantation has a 30-40-year life cycle, and that some vineyards in the Republic of Moldova were planted during the Soviet period.
Replanting would also allow for greater focus on local varieties, such as Feteasca Albă and Feteasca Neagră, which could become a competitive advantage for the Republic of Moldova.
"The consumer has already gotten a little bored with Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot. The French, the Italians have made efforts for over 100 years to promote these varieties. We have 13 years since the National Office of Vine and Wine was created and we started promoting local varieties", said Ștefan Iamandi.
2026 grape harvest: Improving over last year
The Minister of Agriculture and Food Industry, Eugeniu Osmochescu, reports that this year's grape harvest is promising, despite the challenges faced by winegrowers, including frosts, drought, and difficulties in accessing water.
"This harvest is encouraging, with an increase of 10 to 15% compared to last year. Although we encountered some challenges, such as frost in certain regions, drought, and limited access to water, the overall outlook for the harvest is positive. We anticipate that the wines produced in 2026 will be of high quality, with the potential to be aged for several years," stated Osmochescu.
The harvest campaign has already begun, and the final results will be analyzed in the coming weeks.
The sixth edition of the Moldovan Wine Festival took place on September 5 and 6 on Kiseleff Boulevard in Bucharest.
The event brought together approximately 40 producers of wines, sparkling wines, and divins, all of whom had received awards in international competitions.
In addition to tastings, visitors enjoyed live contemporary jazz concerts, activities for children and families, relaxation areas, and a food court.
A new feature of this year's edition was the organization of four daily masterclasses at the Wine School, hosted by experienced sommeliers. These sessions included tastings and wine pairing experiences.
The festival was organized by the National Office of Vine and Wine of the Republic of Moldova and promoted local wines under the "Wine of Moldova" brand.
It is noteworthy that the 2025 edition of the festival attracted over 44,000 attendees, and the dates for the 2026 festival will be announced in the coming days.
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