Russian winemakers could get one of the best grape harvests in a decade

Brief retelling from RIA II

This year, Russian winemakers have every chance of getting one of the best grape harvests in a decade.

The most important feature of the year is the high supply of moisture to the vineyards due to the snowy winter.

Harvesting in the Krasnodar Territory and Crimea began on average 3–4 weeks later than in 2025, which is important for the quality ripening of grapes.

MOSCOW, September 15 - RIA Novosti. This year, Russian winemakers have every chance of getting one of the best harvests in a decade, Roskachestvo told RIA Novosti.

“Experts from the Wine Guide of Russia, having visited the leading wine-growing regions of the country, assessed the potential of the season in the key regions of the country in terms of the volume of annual grape harvest - in the Krasnodar Territory, on the Crimean Peninsula and in the Republic of Dagestan. The situation in different parts of the country is different, but the current season has every chance of becoming one of the best in the decade,” the organization said.

In all wine-growing regions of Russia, the grape harvest is in full swing. According to experts, the course of the season directly affects the quality and style of wine and the prices on the shelves.

“A few weeks each year determine a lot in the near future of the national wine market. From the gross grape harvest to the number of specific varieties that will be processed,” they note.

Roskachestvo experts explained that the quality and quantity of grapes is determined by the weather every year. It is important that there are no extreme temperatures in winter, no recurrent frosts in spring, and that there is an optimal amount of precipitation.

“The most important feature of this year is the high supply of moisture to the vineyards, mainly due to the snowy winter, which compensated for the water stress of previous years,” emphasized Olesya Latysheva, head of the Wine Guide of Russia.

She added that the year itself in Kuban and Crimea was cooler than previous years. Harvest began, on average, 3-4 weeks later than 2025. According to her, this is important for high-quality, uniform ripening of grapes for white and sparkling wines.

Latysheva said that rapid ripening leads to high sugar content in grapes and a rapid loss of acidity in wines, which reduces the quality level of the finished product.