In view of the sanctions imposed by Western countries, Russian wines now represent around 60% of the domestic market
The war in Ukraine and the economic sanctions imposed on the Kremlin have profoundly changed consumer habits in Russia, especially in the wine sector. Where French and Italian labels once predominated, Russian supermarket shelves are now largely occupied by national wines.
Since sanctions were imposed following the invasion of Ukraine in 2022, imported wine prices have soared and the supply of foreign brands has drastically decreased. As a result, Russian wines now represent around 60% of the domestic market, a significant increase compared to the 25% recorded a decade ago, according to .
According to Yury Yudich, president of the winemaking committee of the Federation of Restaurateurs and Hoteliers, “Russian wine has captured a very high share of the national market”, a change that is due not only to the increase in taxes on products from “hostile countries”, but also to the effort to modernize Russian wine production.
Yury Yudich also adds that “gradually, the market began to change and wine prices began to rise”. Imported wines will have increased in price by between 30% and 40%, but despite this, many consumers are still trying to “get used to” the taste of local wines.
Vladimir Putin has already praised Russia’s economic resistance and has urged companies and employees to find a way to escape the sanctions imposed by Western countries, which he himself considers illegal and unjustified.
The Black Sea region, with an ancient tradition in grape production, has been the epicenter of this new phase of Russian wine. After decades of decline caused by revolutions, civil wars and anti-alcohol campaigns in the Soviet era – particularly under the leadership of Mikhail Gorbachev in 1985 – the sector was reborn thanks to the investment of businessmen who acquired land to rehabilitate the vineyards and modernize production, using the experience of winemakers from France and Italy.
One of the most notable examples of this renaissance is the Côte Rocheuse winery, situated near the Black Sea. Chief winemaker and production director, Irina Yakovenko, explains that the company started selling wines in 2022 and has increased production annually, says that “sales continue to increase”, although production is limited to 500 thousand bottles per year. The vineyards cultivate traditional European varieties, such as Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, but also varieties such as the Russian variety Krasnostop Zolotovsky, originating in the Rostov region.
Despite the use of French and Italian equipment, Côte Rocheuse wines have a distinctly Russian identity, shaped by the local soil and climate. This national pride is also reflected in consumers, as shown by the testimony of Galina Romanova, a tourist who visited the winery: “I want our children to see this, so that they don’t buy Italian or German wines, but ours. Our wines are the best.”
With more than 25,000 sanctions applied to the country since 2014, Russia has sought to strengthen its economic self-sufficiency. In the wine sector, the result is visible: an industry revitalizing itself, supported by a growing feeling of patriotism and the need to adapt to a new consumer reality.
