Top brands bring 50m euros to wine producers

The best selling wine brands cumulated sales worth around 50 million euros last year, i.e. 30% of the almost 160 million-euro turnover of the top eight players, according to a ZF analysis based on data released by companies. ZF has attempted to put together for the first time a ranking of the best selling brands in the portfolio of wine producers, with the top ranking wine being Zestrea Murfatlar, with almost 15 million euros in revenues. For this year, Murfatlar expects sales worth 15.25 million euros (61 million RON) for this brand, accounting for 30% of the overall turnover, expected to stand at 50 million euros (200 million RON). The company is indirectly controlled by the Dobronauteanu family, George Ivanescu and Catalin Bucura. For Vincon, the biggest revenues were recorded by Muscatel - 9.7 million euros and Beciul Domnesc - 9.2 million euros. According to Vincon representatives, the two products will help boost the company's turnover from 36.8 million euros, to over 40 million euros. In Jidvei's portfolio, the semi-dry wine range Dry Muscat brought it around 10 million euros in revenues, with a 15% advance budgeted for 2009.