OREANDA-NEWS. November 18, 2008. The Moldovan Grape Growing and Wine Making Delegation is scheduled to visit Surry Community College as part of a U.S. Congressional program, called Open World.

The U.S. Congress, funding the delegation visit, is being administered by World Services of La Crosse, Wis., and hosted/coordinated by Winston-Salem’s Forsyth Technical Community College.

These delegates, who are experts in the grape-growing and wine-making industry from Moldova (the former Soviet Union), have been visiting with Yadkin Valley vineyards since Friday and will continue to do so through Nov. 15 to share their wisdom and expertise in their 3,200-year-old industry. Through collaboration, local winemakers are hoping to learn more about modern technologies in this industry and successful marketing practices.

The group will be visiting Surry Community College on Wednesday at 3:30 p.m. to interact with faculty, staff and students, and to visit Surry Cellars winery and vineyard.

The Moldovan experts invite the opportunity to share all aspects of their agricultural and processing technology and marketing on an individual free consulting basis. Also, the Moldovan delegation is open to discussing North Carolina-Moldovan industry cooperation and collaboration with all N.C. farms and wineries.

Members of the Moldovan Delegation include:
- Dr. Gheorghe Nicolai Arpentin, director of the Union of Winemakers in Moldova, director of "LACO-ALFATEC" ME and chief evaluator for oenology degrees confirmed by Moldova State University.

- Trofim Sergiu Grosu, director of the private firm "NISTREANU-TS", Moldova’s chief grape growing Agri-Business farm.

- Roman Aleksandrovich Tcaciuc, director of economics, finance and HR for Moldova’s ACOREX Wine Holding Company.

- Sergiu Ion Vesca, director of "ULMU-VIN" Wine and Joint Stock Company.

The delegation travels to North Carolina under two mandates:

Under the mandate to teach, the delegation seeks to make itself available to N.C. grape growers and winemakers, answering questions and sharing information as may be determined and needed by the American side. The Delegation seeks to explore avenues for future cooperation and collaboration with North Carolina grape growers, wine makers and relevant institutions.

Under the mandate to learn, the delegation seeks information on the following:

- How North Carolina organizes its grape growing/wine making industry

- How the industry interacts with and coordinates activities with the federal, state and local government structure

- What are the state’s educational resources for grape growing and wine making as well as academic resources available

- What is the financial methodology used by North Carolina small and medium size grape growers and wine makers with limited funds

- How do North Carolina grape growers and wine makers finance their start-up, research and development and growth

- How North Carolina grape growers and farm associations interact and support each other

- What is the latest technology being utilized, or being considered, by North Carolina grape growers, including that of bio and auxiliary materials

- Which wine marketing techniques work best.