Russia Wine Guide Highlights Top Domestic Reds and Whites Amid Shifting Market

The fifth annual Wine Guide to Russia highlighted the top red and white Russian wines after an extensive evaluation of 500 bottled samples purchased in retail. The study focused on bottles priced up to 1000 rubles and was reported by the organizing body in charge of quality assessment for the Russian wine market. The results point to strong performances in the budget segment for dry red wines, with standout results from winemakers in the Krasnodar Territory. For semi-dry red wines, the Don region emerged as a notable producer, while semi-sweet red wines around 389 rubles drew attention to Crimea. The best white wines showed equivalent excellence from producers in both the Krasnodar Territory and Crimea. The overall message emphasized that wine quality did not drop as imports fell and domestic demand rose; instead, quality continued to improve and helped cultivate a broader consumption culture within the country. There was also a noted increase in competition among producers on quality standards, reflecting a market that openly benchmarks excellence. In mid-November, a sommelier and Fort specialist discussed how different alcoholic drinks align with various social settings in a separate report, offering practical guidance for consumers and hosts alike. — Roskachestvo