Zsolt Feldman: current developments could determine the future of winemaking for decades

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Zsolt Feldman emphasized that the traditions of Hungarian winemaking must not be forgotten, but we must respond to changing circumstances. Producers are facing a serious challenge due to the decline in demand, as wine consumption in Europe has fallen by almost a quarter in the last 10 years. Hungarian winegrowers and winemakers have accumulated enormous knowledge, but their product developments can only be successful in the long term if they take into account the needs of future customers – he drew attention.

According to the Secretary of State, customer decisions can be influenced by many aspects beyond price and quality, from packaging to alcohol level

Anyone who plants a plantation or prepares a business strategy must take into account that for today’s young people, that is, for the consumers of the coming decades, wine is part of entertainment and experience. Those born around the turn of the millennium grew up in an accelerated world, they like light wines and are happy to choose a product that comes to them in interesting, colorful, easy-to-open packaging – he said. Therefore, we should not do what we did 20 years ago, instead we should see what will happen in 20 years, and we should direct innovations and plan the product range accordingly – said Zsolt Feldman. He also announced that the innovation investment support to be released in the spring will help developments that produce innovative wine products or new types of packaging materials, in line with changing consumer needs.

The rector of MATE explained at the event that when the university was transformed 4 years ago, a modern structure replaced the previous fragmented system

The changes were aligned with the significant transformation of agricultural sciences, institutions capable of meeting market and social criteria were established, and both the framework and content of education were renewed. As a result, the grape and wine sector can also rely on a modern development background. The expert base supports producers with knowledge and experience, and can also be an important helper in the field of product innovations – emphasized Csaba Gyuricza, who highlighted orange wine, vegan wine, and reduced-alcohol or alcohol-free wines among the marketable wine innovations. In his opinion, it is also thanks to the modernization of the intellectual hinterland that MATE is the only research center in Hungary that has been able to introduce new products to the wine goods market.

MTI