Winemakers dry sparkling wine – WWN No. 29 (7474) dated 02/16/2023

Changing consumer preferences and the opportunity to take part of the share of imports stimulate the production of brut sparkling wines in Russia. In 2022, the production of such drinks increased by more than 40%, which led to a decrease in the share of semi-sweet sparkling wines. Additional demand for local brut could drive up the price of foreign wines.

Brut and extra brut are replacing semi-sweet drinks in the structure of sparkling wine production in Russia, follows from the data of Roskachestvo, which publishes the Wine Guide of Russia. According to analysts, in 2022, local winemakers increased the production of bruts by almost 42%, to 6.1 million deciliters year-on-year, and the share of the segment exceeded 37.7% against 33.3% a year earlier. The production of semi-sweet sparkling wines during this period increased by 17.9%, to 8.5 million decaliters, and their share decreased to 52.5% against 55.8% a year earlier. The total production of sparkling wines in the country, according to Rosalkogolregulirovanie, increased by 25% in 2022, to 16.1 million deciliters year-on-year.

In the structure of new products on the sparkling wine market, bruts already form a large part. According to Roskachestvo estimates, last year the range of Russian sparkling wines expanded by about 140 units, to 1.1 thousand items. In particular, about 80 new products were for bruts and extra-bruts, and 55 items were for semi-sweet sparkling wines.

Luding Group Marketing Director Andrey Ushakov adds that sales of bruts in 2022 also grew the fastest among Russian sparkling wines – by 23.7%, while semi-dry – by 2.1%, semi-sweet – by 0.2%, and sweet decreased by almost 18% year-on-year. Mr. Ushakov connects the trend with changes in consumer preferences and an increase in the supply of quality drinks from winemakers in the Krasnodar Territory, Crimea and Dagestan. The time for semi-sweet and semi-dry wines is gradually fading, and the competence of Russian winemakers is growing, says Fanagoria CEO Petr Romanishin.

Ladoga President Veniamin Grabar adds that quality sparkling wines are easier to produce than quality still wines. To obtain maximum benefits and high volumes at lower costs, it is advisable for winemakers to fill free niches in the market with sparkling wine, he notes. Alexander Lipilin, executive director of the Fort wine trading company, adds that some of the semi-sweet wines could go into the category of low-alcohol drinks after the ban on calling a product based on imported wine materials wine. Consumers are also willing to pay more for brut, he points out.

Mr. Romanishin adds that the increase in the share of bruts is also facilitated by a greater demand from the restaurant market and retail chains for local sparkling wines due to a rise in price or the washing out of some foreign brands from the market. According to Kommersant’s data from market participants, the import of sparkling wines in Russia in January-September 2022 in general increased by 6%, to 4.4 million decalitres, but supplies from France decreased by about 13%, to 0.4 million gave.

The President of the Abrau-Durso Group of Companies Pavel Titov says that in 2022 the company increased the production of brut sparkling wines by 21% year-on-year and their share almost approached the level of semi-sweet ones. He is waiting for the trend to continue and further increase in interest in brut. The production of sparkling wines of the brut category in 2022 at the Kuban-Vino company grew by almost 100%, and extra brut – by 38% year-on-year, its representative says. The company also expects further growth in demand for these positions.

Alexander Stavtsev, head of the WineRetail information center, notes that bruts previously accounted for 10-15% of the Russian assortment, and given the current pace, these wines can take more than 50%. As the expert notes, now in some networks in Russia you can find Italian Prosecco Dry and Extra Dry for 500-600 rubles. for a bottle of 0.75 liters. But given the beginning of the weakening of the ruble, the depletion of stocks and high demand for Prosecco in the world, prices could rise to about 1 thousand rubles. per bottle, which will make Russian brut more attractive to some buyers, says Mr. Stavtsev.

Anatoly Kostyrev