Once dominated by French and Italian imports, Russia’s wine shelves are now filled with local vintages. Western sanctions and rising import taxes have reshaped consumer habits, giving rise to a homegrown wine revolution. From the Côte Rocheuse vineyards in Krasnodar to supermarkets in Moscow, Russian wine now makes up 60% of the national market — up from just 25% a decade ago.
Winemakers like Irina Yakovenko say demand is soaring despite limited capacity, while experts note that the 2014 annexation of Crimea gave Russia’s wine industry a powerful boost. As imported wines grow costlier and local pride deepens, more Russians are raising a glass to their own creations — declaring, “Our wines are the best.”
Explore how sanctions turned into opportunity, reshaping taste, trade, and tradition across Russia’s vineyards.
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