Hello, Constantin. I would like to start the interview with a "historical question". If I am not mistaken, Equinox, produced by Crama Domneasca, was the first organic wine in Moldova?
The second. The first one came out in the early 2000s, named Acorex. The producers of this wine were supplying it to the UK market. At that time, certification for organic products used to cost astronomical sums, and I simply couldn't afford it. So I started experimenting with organic wine production mostly for myself. I am deeply convinced that this wine is truly different.
When did you first certify your organic production?
I started the certification process in 2010. This was followed by three years of "conversion" to confirm our consistency in applying organic methods. Thus, my first officially certified organic wine came out in 2013.
Is it an international certification?
No, it is a Moldovan one. I ordered my first international certification in 2019, from a German company. From then on the wine has enjoyed both local and international certifications.
Since you hold an international certification, why would you need a local one?
To receive subsidies from the state budget. Our state supports organic farming and winemaking, in particular. We receive an annual subsidy of 20% of our turnover. However, the ceiling is limited to 200,000 lei per year. Nevertheless, for small wineries, this is also sizeable support. Especially in 2020, when almost all economic activity has been suspended, this amount has proved to be an extremely useful aid.
To what extent is organic winemaking developed in Moldova?
As far as I know, we are the only certified organic winery in Moldova. However, I notice that with the mass launch of small wineries in the country, the interest in organic winemaking is growing. The "Invest Moldova" Investment Agency and USAID are making a major contribution to promoting organic winemaking. I am happy to be involved in their programs, where I can share my experience. I am convinced that organic winemaking is the future of winemaking.
How well suited is organic winemaking for Moldova?
I am just sharing my observations. Since we only treat the vineyard with permitted copper and sulfur treatments, unlike "clean" vineyards, there is grass growing between our vine rows. As a result, a kind of biodiversification takes place. Insects living in the grass keep the grapes free from natural pests. When you have a monoculture on the field, it becomes a pest paradise. Whereas, in our case, it creates a sustainable ecosystem, that allows us to do without insecticides. By the way, vineyard grass has also another positive effect.
What is it?
The grass layer, with its superficial but dense roots, makes the grapes go deeper. We all know that good wine is made on poor soils, where grapes struggle for nutrients, rather than on fertile soils like those in Moldova. In fact, grass takes over this function - to create useful competition for the grapes. As a result, we get grapes with character!
Equinox wines have always had character, especially the red ones. Do you continue focusing on red wines?
Yes, more than 90% of the wines we produce at Crama Domnească are red wine. We only have one blending of white wine at the moment, Luchineasa. That's what the locals call the slope on which our grapes grow. The other two new blends we decided to name Fetească Albă and Feteasca Regală, whereas the red ones we have are called Rară Neagră and Saperavi. We continue focusing on red wines. The new hectare of vines we planted this year is for Fetească Neagră, Carmenere, and Shiraz.
We talked about production, but what about promotion or sales? Small wineries probably have their specifics. With an annual production of 10-20 or even 50,000 bottles, large-scale advertising campaigns don't seem to be your option.
Indeed, in our case recommendations or participation in various externally funded programs are more effective. If we are talking about the Investment Agency "Invest Moldova", with which you collaborate, we are happy to participate in the "Eco Raft"[1] in the embassies of the Republic of Moldova abroad and the "Export Morning"[2] Program. We have been told that our wines have been seen at the "Eco Raft" at the Embassy of Moldova in Frankfurt. Even preliminary eye contact can play a significant role when a potential customer later sees our wine at a fair or in a shop.
Since pavelzingan.md is a media platform promoting Moldovan business on the Romanian market, how are you doing regarding exports to Romania?
Here recommendations played an important role. Our distributor in Romania is a company founded by Diana Moraru, a Moldovan business woman based in Romania. Diana collaborates with many small wineries in Moldova and sells our wines online on vinlavin.ro or delivers them directly to wine boutiques. She also promotes Moldovan wines in Romania in every possible way, and I would highly recommend her to Moldovan winemakers as a potential partner in Romania.
Pavel Zingan
[1] To promote the export of value-added products and to support its diversification into new markets, the agency launched the ECO Moldova Program by producing the country's exhibition shelf. The Eco Moldova Shelves contain food products of 17 local companies producing organic products and was distributed to 34 Moldovan diplomatic missions and serves as an additional promotion tool for niche sectors in the Republic of Moldova.
[2] "Export Morning" - a program dedicated to increasing the skills and competitiveness of local companies for efficient export and its orientation on strategic markets of the Republic of Moldova. Each export destination is presented by describing the retail market, niche markets, B2B and B2C sales, competitors' profiling, and success stories.
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