Vasile Hincu, VINEX Regional Manager for Eastern Europe
Here Vasile Hincu, VINEX’s man on the ground covering production, pricing and style trends across Eastern Europe, gives his analysis on how the 2018 harvest has gone and what impact that has had on pricing and availability.
He says there is bound to be less demand as the harvests have been so strong in western Europe, but where there is interest Pinot Grigio will be top of the shopping list.
There is also growing interest in the region’s indigenous varietals and the stories they can tell including Feteasca Alba (Romania, Moldova), Feteasca
Neagra (Romania, Moldova), Mavrud (Bulgaria), Viorica (Moldova), Saperavi (Georgia) or Tsinandali (Georgia).
Moldova
- Moldova had a very good 2018 harvest both in terms of quality and crucially quantity, with production levels higher than the average over the last eight years.
- Overall production is expected to be 180-190 million litres, which is 10% more than last year. The
- Red grapes have done particularly well, up 15%, and 5% for white varietals.
- The long hot summer means many red wines have alcohol levels of 15%.
- The heat also saw Moldova register its earliest harvest in the last 40 years coming in four to six weeks than the average.
- The impact on pricing will mean:
- Whites: €0.60-0.65
- Reds: €55-60 cents for reds.
- Much in demand Pinot Grigio will be €0.68-0.73 euro which is a decrease of nearly 20% on 2017.
- Moldovan wines have become particularly popular with international buyers with the main markets being the European Union and China.Moldovan producers are keen to break into the North American market.
- Some producers lack the necessary accreditation and certificates for IFS, BRC, HACCP etc.
Bulgaria
- Total production in Bulgaria is expected to be between 5% to 10% down on 2017’s 110 million litres of wine coming in closer to 100 million litres.
- This is down to the heavy rains and hailstorms that many of the regions suffered during the key growing season. Whilst some rain came at a good time for the early picking varietals, it was particularly bad for later varietals that suffered severe damage and disease as a result. It also meant higher costs for spraying.
- We can expect pricing from Bulgaria to be less competitive than 2017 with some higher prices. The bulk market has started trading at around €0.90 per litre.
Romania
- Romania’s overall production is up 15% to an estimated 510 million litres, compared to 430 million litres in 2017.
- This is particularly pleasing for the country as a whole as some regions were also hit by higher than average rainfall in the growing season, particularly in the south where yields were down by 20% in some places, and more cases of botrytis.
- With higher production Romania will be looking at prices 10% down on 2017 at around €0.70-0.80.
- Romanian wines are also popular with international buyers in the and China and it also wants to get more into the North American market.
- Some producers lack the necessary accreditation and certificates for IFS, BRC, HACCP etc.
Georgia
- The harvest in Georgia was one of the best in the last 30 years, up 40% on 2017 to come in at 230,000 tons of grapes.
- Total volume is expected to rise to 180 million litres compared to 130 million litres in 2017.