Vinia braces for wine shortage

Winemaker Vinia Iasi expects turnover worth $8.4 million (280 billion ROL) this year, up 13% in dollars as compared to last year. According to company officials, the grape yield was smaller this year though and the effects will become apparent in 2003.
“We are selling wine from the past years’ stocks. This year’s smaller yield will be felt in one or two years,” said Titi Babusanu, the company’s spokesperson.
Romania’s grape yield is forecast to drop 6% this year, down to 895,000 tonnes, as compared to the 953,981 tonnes picked last year. An average of 4,046 kilos per hectare is expected this year, down from last year’s 6,000 kilos per hectare.
Vinia expects to sell 112,000 hectolitres of wine in 2002, with the annual output in normal years revolving around 150,000-200,000 hectolitres.
Nine-month sales amounted to 90,000 hectolitres of wine, with exports accounting for 59,000 hectolitres, down from the 70,000 hectolitres sold in 2001.
Vinia has 17 vinification units and one distillery, with a capacity of 8,000 bottles of wine per hour.
The company exports about 70% of its output (85,000 hectolitres) in countries such as Germany, Italy, France, Spain, the United States, Russia and the Republic of Moldova. The best-selling varieties of wine are Cotnari, Murfatlar and Bohotin.
Vinia this year invested in agricultural equipment for its farms located in Cotnari, Tomesti and Raducaieni. The company was established in 1991, then privatised in 1995. Share capital amounts to 178 billion ROL and the shareholding structure includes managers, current and former employees, and landowners. “The main stake is controlled by a group of shareholders,” Babusanu said, without volunteering further details.
The main competitors of Vinia Iasi are Vincon Vrancea, Vie Vin Murfatlar, Jidvei, Cotnari and Cramele Prahova.