OREANDA-NEWS. On October 11-12, 2008 54 Moldovan wineries, joined by 60 food selling entities, 100 handcrafts people attend the 7th edition of the National Wine Day, rolling out Moldova-wide.

The celebrations started on Saturday morning in the Great National Assemblu Square (GNAS) in Chisinau by conferring the Grand Prix in winemaking and performances staged by the prize laureates. The presenter of the celebration – playing the wine's god Bacchus – slid, on strings, from the nearby building of the Government.

President Vladimir Voronin has awarded the 2008 Grand Prix to the manager of Vinaria Purcari SRL winery, Victor Bostan. The prize has been awarded for "special merits in making high quality wines, promoting the excellent quality of the Moldovan wines and promoting Moldova's image on international arena".

Victor Bostan has said he is honored to get the highest award in winemaking. "We receive this prize a year after we launched the legendary wines "Negru de Purcari" and "Rosu de Purcari" which have been exported this year too all the countries of the world, including Romania, Poland, Germany, the U.S.A., the CIS countries, being highly appreciated on the Moldovan market, too," the manager said.

"Growing vine and making wine is a historic custom in Moldova, that is why the winemaking industry is granted special attention on the part of the country's leadership," said the manager of Moldova-Vin agency, Iurie Carp.

According to him, now more vines are planted, the technologies are updated, as environment-friendly products are set to be made. The Moldovan wines are known to consumers from over 60 countries to which they are exported. Wines worth US130 million have been exported this year, up 80% year on year.

The celebrations are on in the capital and in all district centers and major towns in Moldova.