Moldovan cognacs to get Protected Geographical Indication

Chisinau, 12 December /MOLDPRES/- The Moldovan cognacs will get international recognition with the application of Protected Geographical Indication. The conclusion was made by experts from the National Vine and Wine Office and international experts at a seminar held in Chisinau.

The director of the National Vine and Wine Office, Gheorghe Arpentin, said that the cognacs of Moldova has the highest quality and can compete with similar products from the world wine regions. "The production of Cognacs Protected Geographical Indication, followed by better promotion on the domestic market and abroad would help re-launch this select product. The high quality of wine products in Moldova, including cognacs, is guaranteed by the Protected Geographical Indication (IGP). At present, IGP is about 12% of the vineyard area, a significant figure, given that the first harvest was turned to good account in 2015, and we have an annual growth of 20-25%. We are glad that several distilleries have started to produce the Cognacs Protected Geographical Indication, and we will continue to boost the production of this noble beverage under the sign of quality - IGP,” Arpentin said.

Experts believe the selected product, with tradition and history over a century, needs more intense promotion and implementation of the provisions set out in the Specification for beverage production with Cognacs Protected Geographical Indication.

Boris Zamaru, a specialist at the National Office of Vine and Wine, said that Moldova produces around 800,000 decaliters of distilled cognac per year.”We were committed to relaunch and promote the cignac IGP. Like the EU states, we have to go the way of Geographical Indications, which guarantee genuine quality products. It is important to know our product better and how we can present it on foreign markets. We are also pursuing an increase in exports," Zamaru said.

The head of the Cognacs and Brandy Producers Association of Moldova, Constantin Olaru, said that last year three companies started the process of ripening distillates according to the conditions of the IGP, and this year two more followed the example.

The Cognacs and Brandy Producers Association of Moldova is made up of 21 producers, of which only six export their products to foreign markets.