• The largest volume of imported wine comes from the Bordeaux region.
• Romanians Spent Over 40 Million Euros on Sparkling Wine Last Year
  

According to an analysis by Wines of Romania, a platform exclusively dedicated to promoting Romanian wine, based on data from the National Institute of Statistics, the final figures for 2023 show a slight increase in both imports and exports of wine from Romania. Thus, Romania imported wine worth 268.4 million euros and exported wine worth 72.5 million euros, 3.7 times less. In terms of volume, imports reached 123,000 tons, while exports totaled 34,400 tons.

Compared to 2022, imports increased by only 30 million euros, from 238 to 268 million euros. However, this increase is significant compared to 2021, when Romania imported wine worth 189 million euros. Regarding price, in 2023, Romania imported wines at 2.17 euros per liter, 5% cheaper than in 2022, when the average value was 2.26 euros per liter, but more expensive than in 2021, when the price paid per liter was 1.59 euros.

The value of exports continued to grow slightly, from 69 million euros in 2021 to 71.6 million euros in 2022, and 72.5 million euros in 2023.

The price per liter for exported wine continued to evolve, from 1.82 euros/l in 2021 to 1.97 euros/l in 2022 and 2.09 euros/l last year. However, the total volume exported has been continuously decreasing over the last three years—from 38,000 tons in 2021 to 36,300 tons in 2022 and 34,600 tons in 2023.

"At first glance, there is not much difference in the Romanian wine market regarding exports and imports over the last two years. However, a rather clear trend is emerging—a rise in the average price per liter of exported wine, which remains between 5 and 7% per year, coupled with a decrease in exported volumes, with over a 10% difference between 2021 and 2023. This means that more premium Romanian wine is reaching more people and that we are beginning to have international consumers returning to Romanian wines. In an optimistic scenario, I would say we are witnessing a moment where consumers understand that Romania makes good wine. In any case, we are witnessing the consolidation of the position of premium Romanian wines, which will hopefully serve as a foundation for future development," says Marinela Ardelean, founder of the Wines of Romania platform.

On the other hand, according to her, the import figures are quite encouraging, especially in the medium-priced wine category, which means that Romania has a class of consumers still in the early stages, who are curious, experimenting, and discovering new wines and regions.

"I always wish for a broad and well-educated class of wine consumers in terms of taste, because this comparison between imported wines and local wines can gain Romanian wine its rightful place not just globally, but also here at home," added the founder of Wines of Romania.