Moldova: New Cahul center boosts winemaking
A new center dedicated to excellence in winemaking, research, and promoting wine culture has been inaugurated in Cahul.
The Oenological Center includes a tasting room, an office for staff/partners, and equipment storage, aimed at harnessing and expanding the vitivinicultural potential of the southern region. Cluster members, as well as local small-scale producers, will benefit from new opportunities offered by the center.
Producers have access to modern winemaking equipment. Additionally, they will participate in courses, workshops, and seminars dedicated to continuous training in winemaking, marketing, and wine tourism.
"We have a small winery, a family winery, and our own vineyards. We bottle and sell up to 5,000 bottles per year. As a small producer, this is a place for exchanging opinions and experience with our colleagues, because here we are all together – small and large producers alike. Tourists from Romania can come to taste, to meet us," said winemaker Serghei Rizov.
"Together, in the cluster, it's easier for us to promote ourselves, to enhance the value of our wines and the tasting culture. The equipment we cannot afford, we will use here. We will organize sommelier classes, tastings for guests," says winemaker Evghenii Sîrbu.
Furthermore, the Oenological Center will contribute to the development of regional tourism by organizing tastings, tours, and thematic events.
"Within the cluster, we have 10 wine producers, both large and small - four large wineries and six small producers. Winemaking is more than a profession, it's a passion, it's a way of life, and this way of life we want to promote as much as possible to increase the potential of the wine produced in the area," mentioned Nicolae Minciună, the cluster manager.
"According to all statistical data, this is the key sector in our development. Including young entrepreneurs who are here to stay in the region, to bring added value to its development," stated the Mayor of Cahul, Nicolae Dandiș.
The Oenological Center is founded by the Winemaking Cluster, funded by the European Union through the program "EU4Moldova: Key Regions", implemented by PNUD and UNICEF. The total value of the investment is nearly 154 thousand euros, including the local contribution.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
