Starting in November, Mircea Matei takes over all responsibilities previously held by Walter Friedl, founder of LacertA Winery from Fințești, Dealu Mare. Walter Friedl will retire in March 2026, and the winery will be managed by Mircea Matei (former Villa Vinea) and Mihai Baniță, Managing Partner and Winemaker at LacertA, according to a company press release.
- Mircea Matei Appointed CEO of LacertA Winery, Succeeding Walter Friedl, CEO and Founding Member of the Winery
- Mircea’s decision to take this new step in his career stems from two of his greatest passions: wine and business development.
- Mihai Baniță, a Third-Generation Winemaker, Has Been with LacertA Since Its Inception
Asked by Wines of Romania what inspired him to join the LacertA team and how he envisions his future role here, Mircea Matei said:
„I noticed LacertA wines ever since their launch on the market — they were one of the first wineries in the Dealu Mare region to bring a fresh approach, from the quality of the wine to the label design, the original blends, and the modern architecture of the winery itself. My professional background leans strongly toward business development. I have always been motivated to take on new projects or those with strong growth potential and to actively contribute to their development. Villa Vinea was a very beautiful chapter in my professional life. During the eight years I spent as part of the winery’s team in the Târnave region, I managed to develop the business, the brand, and the distribution network, as well as several remarkable projects — vineyard reconversion, renovation and expansion of the winery, tourism development, and more.
I have known LacertA wines since their debut on the market, and the fact that most of the projects at Villa Vinea have already been completed, combined with the opportunity to take over the management of a winery whose wines I have long appreciated and enjoyed, as well as the sense of shared values I felt from my first meetings with the shareholders and the current management, all led me to say “Yes” to the proposal to join the LacertA team. LacertA is one of the pioneer wineries of the “new wave” of Romanian wine — one that has, since its founding, bet on the quality of the wine as well as on wine tourism. These elements are part of the brand’s DNA and will continue to be so under my leadership.”
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Read the full press release below:
Mircea Matei Appointed CEO of LacertA Winery, Succeeding Walter Friedl, CEO and Founding Member of the Winery
[Fințești, România, November 7]
As of November 1, 2025, Mircea Matei has been appointed Chief Executive Officer of Fine Wine Lacerta SRL, the renowned winery from the Dealu Mare vineyard region.
Mircea Matei brings extensive experience in business management and development across multiple markets and product categories, combined with a strong passion for the wine industry.
He succeeds Walter Friedl, who will retire from all his positions at LacertA at the end of March 2026. Mircea Matei will lead LacertA alongside Mihai Baniță, Managing Partner and Winemaker of the winery.
Mircea’s decision to take this new step in his career stems from two of his greatest passions: wine and business development.
“I discovered LacertA wines shortly after their launch in 2011, and later, during one of my trips to Dealu Mare, I visited the LacertA winery and was once again impressed — not only by the wines but also by the stunning architecture and remarkable landscape. That’s where I met Mihai, the manager and winemaker, and I felt the deep connection between him and the local terroir. I realized that his spirit is an essential part of what gives these wines their unique character. It is an honor for me to lead LacertA into a new chapter of growth, quality, and market presence. For me, wine represents diversity: grape varieties, terroirs, people, and traditions — whose blending creates a unique experience every time. I believe that leading a company shares many similarities with winemaking: combining markets, teams, and strategies to achieve diverse and distinctive results.”
— Mircea Matei, CEO of LacertA Winery
Mihai Baniță, a Third-Generation Winemaker, Has Been with LacertA Since Its Inception
“Wine is part of my family’s history; in fact, my entire life revolves around it. I grew up in a family where my father, grandfather, and two of my father’s brothers all worked in the wine industry. I happily joined the LacertA project from the very beginning, back in 2003, and have contributed to its growth. Today, I can proudly say that LacertA is one of the most respected wineries in Romania, where consistently high quality is fundamental to our philosophy.
On behalf of the LacertA team, I would like to thank Walter for his decisive contribution to making this project a reality. And personally, I thank him for the honor of sharing and implementing together this common dream called LacertA.”
— Mihai Baniță, Managing Partner & Winemaker
LacertA Winery is located in Fințești, in the Dealu Mare vineyard, Romania’s premier wine-growing region, just one hour’s drive from Bucharest. LacertA is one of the pioneering wineries of the “new wave” of Romanian wine production, focused on crafting high-quality, complex, and characterful wines.
The winery cultivates twelve grape varieties across 82 hectares of vineyards, producing over 20 different wines. Its most popular blends are Cuvée IX (Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Fetească Neagră, and Shiraz) and Cuvée X (Chardonnay, Fetească Albă, Sauvignon Blanc, and Rhein Riesling).
