Cotnari Awards Distributors With Trip To Hawaii

Distributors of Cotnari SA who achieved the targets stipulated the contracts for last year have been awarded a three-week trip to Las Vegas and Hawaii. "Eighty-six persons participated in this programme, which was not at all cheap, but fully deserved. We as a company rely on our relationships with our partners and appreciate their efforts. This is the fourth consecutive trip since 2006, after the U.S., China, Australia and New Zealand. We will have an exquisite prize every year for those who achieve their objectives," said Constantin Deleanu, Chairman of the Cotnari S.A. Directorate.

The company was established in 1948 as a branch of a State-run farm operating a vineyard measuring 128 hectares. A modern winemaking factory was built between 1966 and 1968, when the processing capacity was increased to 500 tonnes of grapes every 12 hours. The company was privatized in the year 2000, when the employees became shareholders. Cotnari S.A. currently operates over 1,300 hectares of vineyard. The Cotnari portfolio is best known for Feteasca Alba, Grasa de Cotnari, Tamaioasa Romaneasca and Francusa de Cotnari. Two years ago, the company introduced the new Chateau Cotnari, Blanc Cotnari, Grasa 2000 and Busuioaca de Moldova. Although most of the production is sold domestically, some 10% is exported to the U.S., Canada, Norway, Greece, Italy, Spain and Japan.

Cotnari S.A. concluded last year with a turnover of approximately 30 million RON, up by some 5 million RON from 2007. Last year"s crop of 10,000 tonnes of grapes was turned into 7 million litres of wine. The company operates 1,300 hectares of vineyard, including 200 hectares planted in 2007 and 180 hectares planted in 2008. Plans for this year include planting 200 hectares. Of this surface, 150 hectares is reserved for the Feteasca Neagra.