For 2007, Murfatlar officials estimate net sales of €4.2 million, 40 percent higher than last year. Furthermore, net sales in the January 1 - June 1 period of this wine variety reached €1.5 million.
“In the first quarter, the rise came mainly from a positive evolution in Lacrima lui Ovidiu sales (+ 60 percent), Trei Hectare (+ 20 percent) and Zaraza,” Daniel Negrescu, Murfatlar Brand Manager, told Business Standard.
The domestic wine market is valued at some €450 million. Main producers are Murfatlar, with a 27.8 percent market share in terms of volume, followed by Jidvei, with 14.5 percent, Cotnari - 13.1 percent, and Vincon - 7.8 percent, according to estimates provided by the Wine Exporters and Producers Association in Romania (APEV). The company registered turnover in 2006 turnover of €36 million, while estimates for 2007 are as high as €42 million.
The “Lacrima lui Ovidiu” brand includes a range of specially fortified wines, with a maximum 15 percent volume of alcohol, produced over several years. The wine’s composition includes several varieties of white grape with a high capacity to store sugar, like Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, Traminer and Muscat Ottonel. The main direct competitors on the domestic market for “Lacrima lui Ovidiu” are imported wines Porto, Xeres and Sauternes.
