Comrat Wine Festival: tradition, dance and authentic tastes
The traditional annual Wine Festival took place in Comrat on Sunday. Wineries from the Gagauz Autonomous Region and across the country, along with local home wine producers, showcased their harvests alongside a variety of traditional dishes. Dozens of dancers and folk ensembles provided rhythm and cheer throughout the event. Additionally, the winemakers received awards for their contributions.
Victor Drangoz, a winemaker from the village of Dezghingea, has been participating in the Comrat Wine Festival for several years, and this year proved to be particularly successful for him.
"I won first place in both the dessert wine and dry wine categories. I also have Kagor wine, along with wines from previous years and young wine from this year and last year. We have a rich selection," says Victor Drangoz.
"We are from Ialoveni and have come to Comrat by invitation to take part in the Wine Festival. We are showcasing a new product," states winemaker Vasile Șoronta.
Producers of the best wines from the Gagauz autonomy received prizes in various categories. The grand trophy was awarded to a winery from the village of Tomai, which has been active in the international wine market for over 25 years. The winery manages approximately 1,000 hectares of vineyards and produces about 8,000 tons of bulk wine annually, as well as up to 2 million bottles of bottled wine.
"This is just one of the many distinctions we have received. Each award is very precious to us and serves as an additional indicator that we are heading in the right direction. We will continue to strive for excellence in the future," says Vladislav Sibov, a representative of the Tomai winery.
The festival was attended by over 15 wineries, amateur winemakers, and representatives from local authorities in the region. In addition to exhibitions showcasing local wineries, visitors could explore the "courtyards" of autonomous localities, where they could sample the delights of traditional cuisine from southern Moldova.
