The wine market in Russia is on the road to a full recovery, according to the ‘Russia Landscapes 2018’ report in Wine Intelligence. Sparkling wines and Rosés are in and interests in wine is still there with younger generations being keener than ever, more open-minded, and ready to put wine on center-stage. Producers and industry players are taking advantage of the momentum. Having weathered the changes, Vinitaly International’s upcoming Vinitaly Russia 2018 – at its 15th edition – is trailblazing with a steady increase in participation on both Russian and Italian fronts and a rich program of tastings, B2B meetings, and educational events.
VINITALY RUSSIA: THE PROGRAMME
The first stop of the Vinitaly Russia’s tour is in the Russian capital, Moscow. Vinitaly Russia Moscow will take place today at the luxurious Lotte Hotel, in the heart of Moscow. The event features a round table discussion for Italian producers dedicated to issues concerning wine education in Russia and a B2B Walk Around Tasting that is open to a select public including wine market professionals, press, distributors, and tradespeople. Stevie Kim, Managing Director of Vinitaly International, notes that the nearly doubled participation at Vinitaly Russia mirrors the growing popularity of Italian wine in Russia: “This year we have doubled in size for our Vinitaly Russia events. I read this increase as a clear sign that the Russian market for Italian wine is picking up again”.
ITALIAN WINE IN RUSSIA
Data show that, with an overall 523.2% sales growth in the last decade, Italian wines are leaders in the Russian wine market with a 28.8% market share. The Moscow event this year will feature 43 Italian wineries and 18 Russian importers for a total of 61 operators. In comparison with 37 operators attending the 2017 edition, numbers have significantly improved for 2018. Vinitaly understands the importance of fostering growth in the wine market in more ways than just offering B2B or B2C. Vinitaly International in Moscow is to offer educational Masterclasses once again this year, including the new addition of “5StarWines: a new era for wine evaluation”.
VINITALY IN ST. PETERSBURG
The second stop in the Russian wine fair for Italian wine will take place in St. Petersburg tomorrow with the Vinitaly Russia Networking Dinner, and will begin at 7 pm at the restaurant Probka on Dobrolyubova. This event is an exclusive B2B networking dinner, that brings together Italian wine producers with the local Russian wine trade representatives. The attending Russian importers and tradespeople will taste more than 20 different types of Italian wine from every region in Italy. The dinner will also feature food and wine pairings. This is a great time for Russians to experience Italian culture since the Italian government is also promoting its internationally renowned cuisine through the initiative dubbed World Week of Italian Cuisine running from November 19th to 25th.