Since the fall, due to the delayed harvest due to unfavorable weather, many vineyards in Moldova “entered the winter” poorly prepared. Then in the second half of winter in the south and center of the country, where the main area of industrial vineyards is concentrated, there were two waves of frosts up to -12-14 degrees Celsius. In the central zone they dropped to -18 degrees Celsius at times.
The state of buds was also damaged by ice on the vines. As the chairman of the Association of table grapes producers of the Cahul region Sergey Tutovan notes, only some vineyards analyze the “eyes”, so it is difficult to definitely judge about their death from freezing or breathing difficulties. But the percentage of losses can be significant.
It is also worth taking into account the factor of “biological periodicity”. Last year, thanks to good weather conditions in the first half of the season, the vineyards of Moldova formed a high biological yield. According to many experts – at the level of about 150 thousand tons (of table grapes). Its quality – balance of sugar content and acidity, size and density of bunches, size of berries, etc. – was not high. – The quality of the grapes was generally low, and it was aggravated by poor conditions of the harvesting campaign – prolonged precipitation. However, in terms of quantity of production, the season was generally productive.
In such initial conditions, according to Sergei Tutovan, in the 2026 season winegrowers should “work on the health of the bush, not on the quantity of harvest”.
Limit the load on the bush for the sake of quality
Not quite clear at the moment (but visually not very good) situation with the overwintering of vineyards is partly smoothed by another factor – high accumulation of moisture in the soil after the fall and winter period. Winegrowers estimate the moisture reserve at the average level of 200-220 mm (locally – up to 240-260 mm). This is one of the best indicators for the decade.
Nevertheless, experts advise, taking into account all factors “for” and “against”, that on non-irrigated plantations of table varieties it is worth limiting the load of harvest of grape bushes within 8-10 tons/ha. In some cases with especially favorable factors – up to 12 t/ha.
In irrigated vineyards, especially those formed according to the “pergola” and “gable” types, as experts say, “Moldovan winegrowers have already gotten used to yields of 30 tons/ha and higher”. However, even in this case it is worth remembering the experience of the last season.
Then, taking into account the less than ideal quality of the harvest, some winegrowers decided to sell the products in the fall (soon after harvesting), at a relatively low price – 7-12 lei/kg. And most of them “at their own risk” put table grapes for storage and realization in the cold period of the year. The risk was not justified. In winter-spring most of the products “from refrigerators” were sold below the autumn price level, on average – at 5-6 lei/kg. A significant share of table grapes stocks during this period went to industrial processing at the price of 2-3 lei/kg.
Taking into account this negative experience, experts recommend to sacrifice the quantity of harvest in favor of its quality: fresh green ridge, dense bunches, large berries without traces of cracking and diseases.
