Russian Wine Introduction

There is evidence that Russia's thousands of years ago, early in the Caspian, Black and Azov Sea region surrounding wild grape cultivation and wine wine, trade history. However, the establishment of Russia's modern wine industry, began with Tsarist Russia, Prince Leo (1845-1915 years) in the establishment of the first Crimean champagne wine winery.

After the Russian revolution of 1917, fled to Russia, the Soviet Union in the assistance of the French winemakers, wine industry to gradually scale, from 1920, the Soviet Union wine industry has experienced a rapid growth period, but in the era of the 20th century until 1985 4,50 Gorbachev to reform the reform, due to institutional and government to combat alcohol abuse causes, the slow development of the Soviet Union's wine industry. After the disintegration of the Soviet Union, Russia's economic transition to a market economy, privatization of land, many of the vineyards were destroyed bits used for other purposes. By 2000 only 72,000 hectares throughout the Russian Federation, vineyards, early 1980s less than half the total area.

Russia is the wine consumer, the consumption of vodka and other spirits and to beer, wine based. The former Soviet Union used to be wine-producing countries, former Soviet Union, former Soviet Union, one of the major wine regions of Moldova, Georgia, Ukraine, Armenia, Azerbaijan independent out, making the country a significant decline in wine production, Russia's largest wine industry shrinking margin in 2004, wine production in the 1980s compared to the above, the production capacity is only 20-25% of the time, so half the wines on the market are imported products.

Russia is currently concentrated in the main producing areas in southern Russian Federation, including the area around Dagestan, Chechnya, Kabardino - Balkar, Krasnodar Krai, Rostov, and Stavropol Krai. Russia's wine production is about 55 million liters of wine, imports about 28 million liters. Russia last 12 years the wine industry achieved initial success, product quality improvements, especially in the packaging products and packaging materials in the style progress significantly. In addition, due to people's interest in vodka consumption decreased, spirits sales continued to decline for many years, while wine sales growth alarming, in recent years, wine consumption growth in Russia, the alcohol products in more than a beer.

Russian wine market is currently the principal occupant is from Moldova, Georgia and Ukraine, some cheap, relatively high alcohol wines. Even if the French wine exports to Russia steady growth, accounting for only less than 10% market share.

Russia's Krasnodar region accounts for 85% of total Russian wine, in the former Soviet Union, Russia's domestic wine consumption as demand is far greater than production, so the region's wine industry due to market demand, especially in recent years Russia and Moldova, Georgia, diplomatic tensions between the two countries banned the import of this wine, the market demand pressure that Russia's rapid growth in wine production, but also a shoddy situation.

With the Russians the increase in disposable income, the expansion of wine consumption, as well as the domestic wine industry production growth also can not meet domestic market demand, Russia's increasing demand for imported wine, especially cheap wine on the market share gradually increased. In recent years, wine consumption in Russia, and sales were 15% and 25% growth rate. From a market perspective, the trend estimate will also continue. Experts predict that the next few years, the Russian wine market will continue to grow at a rate of 12% per year.

Russia's North Caucasus region of Russia where most of the vineyards, there is a typical mainland. In order to deal with winter, many grape growers to protect vines buried way to avoid frost. In the Krasnodar region has 193-233 days of frost-free period. Dagestan has a different climate areas, there are semi-desert soil in some areas. About 13 percent of Russian wine producing areas in the production of Stavropol, where 180-190 frost-free period. In Rostov-producing areas, where hot, dry summers are characterized by cold winters, grape harvest is relatively low.

Russia's cultivation of wine grapes than 100 species, of which rkatsiteli (white feather) grapes accounted for 45% or more. Other major species include Aligote, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Severny, Clairette, Merlot, Muscat, Pinot gris, Plavai, Portugieser, Riesling, Saperavi, Silvaner, and Traminer.
Wine market in Russia, 80% of the products is about 100 rubles a bottle of cheap wine. Although the last two years the Russian people's income has nearly tripled, but the level of consumption has not changed much, in addition, in 2006, due to Moldova, Georgia, cheap wine embargo, making low-priced wine price wine Russia, an improvement of 30 %.