Lacerta Winery opens vine estate in Dealu Mare following EUR 8mln investment

Newsroom 23/05/2011 | 15:54

Premium wine producer Lacerta Winery has officially opened its vine estate in Fintesti, Dealu Mare region, following a total investment of approximately EUR 8 million. The business was set in 2003 and is owned by four foreign investors, three Austrian and one German.

The investment covers the acquisition of 82 ha of vineyard and replanting it, the building of a 2,000 sqm complex which includes modern production facilities and a wine cellar as well as a shop and a wine tasting unit. Lacerta Winery has also refurbished the Dorobantu Manor House which was designed by Romanian architect Ion Mincu and was built in 1901 on the first 11 ha plot the investors bought. Approximately 25 percent of the money invested in the business comes from EU funds and the Romanian authorities, Walter Friedl, representative of the owners told BR on a previous occasion.

This year the company plans to make over EUR 1 million from attracting tourists to the estate.

“Through this investment we also plan to boost local tourism through partnerships with local pensions and hotels to offer accommodation for our visitors (…).Presently we have reservations from groups of foreign tourists or businesspeople who come to Romania,” said Friedl.

 

What does Dealu Mare have in common with the Bordeaux, Saint-Emilion or the Tuscany vineyards?

 

The Dealu Mare region in Romania finds itself on the 45th parallel alongside more famous places in Europe for winemaking such as  Bordeaux, Saint-Emilion or Tuscany. Nevertheless, the conditions in Dealu Mare are very much similar, Friedl explains, adding that the place offers a prefect combination between good land and adequate weather, making it ideal for producing wine.

The businessman, who has been in Romania for the past 11 years, working for the Austrian Embassy to Bucharest and insurer Uniqa, says he is confient that new investors will soon follow in the region.

Lacerta Winery entered the local wine market this February by launching nine varieties of premium dry wine. The Romanian market is presently the company’s priority. “The Romanian market is by far the most important for us. We first want to introduce our wines locally, and then consider exporting,” Friedl said at that time.

As for the local market for premium wines, Friedl thinks that there is plenty of room for growth.“Look in various restaurants in Bucharest. People want to buy quality Romanian wine but it is either not available or it is poorly promoted so they end up buying Chilean or French wines,” he explained.

The Lacerta Winery portfolio includes three red wine varieties and six white. “Although traditionally Romanians are consumers of sweet and semi-sweet varieties, trends show an increase in the demand for dry quality wine,” said Friedl.

Prices vary between RON 39 and RON 69 per bottle. The wines will be entirely distributed through HoReCa and specialized wine shops. For 2011 the company has produced 46,000 bottles of wine but over the next two years the production will triple, Friedl added.

Simona Bazavan

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