Wine sales and prices see continued increase

The wine market has maintained its upward trend in the first five months of this year, both in terms of sales (15% increase) and especially in terms of prices. The shelf price per 0.75l bottle rose by 20%-25% compared with 2003. The market also expanded in 2003, with increases in prices exceeding increases in volume, as is being similarly witnessed this year. “The positive trend of the last two years is based on the improvement in the quality of Romanian wines, on the various promotional campaigns and on the expansion of the major supermarket chains,” says Ion Dobronauteanu, chairman of the National Interprofessional Organisation of the Grape Growing and Winemaking Industry. His organisation brings together most of the winemakers in Romania. He explained that another reason for this continual increase in prices is because winemakers started calculating costs in euros as of last year. On the other hand, Dobronauteanu noted, the grape yield last year was very poor, while the cost of raw material soared, therefore leading to higher wine prices. ZF