Beautiful Russian Women and Sparkling Wine

One of the most important days in the Russian calander is International Woman's Day, in the West its treated as a kind of Feminist Day and it celebrates female emacipation and the so called achievements by feminsts.
In Russia it is very different however,here it is a day when every Russian male shows his love and appreciation for the women in his life,be they his wife,mother,girlfriend,sister or any other female relative not to mention female colleagues.This means gifts of all sorts to them infact besides New Year, Woman's day is the biggest day of buying presents and celebrations. Imagine Valentine's Day on steriods.
Now in the celebrations of International Women's Day, opening a few bottles with the family loved ones or colleagues and enjoying a glass or two of Russian sparkling winel undoubtedly creates the party atmosphere, and its domestic sparkling wines that account for an impressive 70% of shelf space. BTW most foreigners when they try it are impressed,
This is according importers and sellers of the aforementioned alcoholic product

Which wines dominate the shelf?
On International Women's Day, a glass of domestic sparkling wine will be the perfect choice, with a 70% share of the market. Importers and sellers of this alcoholic product told Izvestia about this.The minimum purchase bill for sparkling wine for the holiday will be 240 rubles, and the maximum - almost 70 thousand rubles for a bottle of foreign drink, they specified.Which wines dominate the shelf?Stanislav Bogdanov, Chairman of the Presidium of the Association of Retail Companies (AKORT), said that women will be congratulated on March 8 with a glass of domestic sparkling wine, which accounts for about 70% of sales in kind. Next come sparkling wines from Italy, Spain, France, Portugal, South Africa, Chile and other countries.The assortment, depending on the store format, includes up to 300 types of sparkling wine.
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The competitive price of domestic sparkling wine, especially when compared to the rising costs of imported wines, is a key factor in its popularity. In addition, many buyers prefer domestic products. Russian premium sparkling wines are now taking first place in blind tastings at international competitions, ahead of famous French producers.
This year, the minimum price for a 0.75-litre bottle of wine in large retail chains is 159 rubles, and for sparkling wine, from 240 rubles. For example, the price for the latter, excluding promotions, starts at 279 rubles, for Prosecco, from 1,200 rubles, and wine from the French province of Champagne can be purchased from 3,900 rubles. The most expensive champagne costs 69,990 rubles, according to the Metro supermarket chain press service.
Dmitry Kulagin, Commercial Director of Inkerman Wine House LLC, noted that the share of sales of domestic sparkling wines is growing along with the market and is close to 70%.
— Over the past four years, we have seen an annual growth in the sparkling wine category. This growth can be attributed to several factors, including the favourable price-quality ratio of domestic products, the role of state support for the wine industry, which has led to an increase in grape cultivation, modernisation of production, and promotion of Russian wines on store shelves.Indeed, the share of Russian sparkling wines on retail shelves is increasing, as reported by Roskachestvo to Izvestia. The most popular price segment among consumers, which currently accounts for almost the entire 300–700 ruble price range, is that of sparkling wines of Russian production.( that is around $3-$7 dollars )
The reasons for this are severalfold. Firstly, there is the state's consistent support for this industry, as evidenced by the authorities' increasing import duties and excise taxes on this drink since 2022. Additionally, the growing popularity of our sparkling wines among consumers, as evidenced by a 59% preference rating in surveys conducted by the Roskachestvo Consumer Behavior Research Center in 2024, is a contributing factor.Domestic wine producers have demonstrated their capacity to meet domestic market demands, with a notable increase in sparkling wine production of 24.7% in 2024 compared to the previous year, as reported by the organization.
The Krasnodar Territory demonstrated notable growth, producing over 71 million liters of wine, marking a 30% increase compared to 2023. Crimea, excluding Sevastopol, maintained a steady output of around 10 million liters. Dagestan also exhibited robust performance, registering a growth of over 40% in sparkling wine production compared to 2023. Sparkling wine production in St. Petersburg increased by 18.2%, reaching 20 million liters, and in the Moscow Region it surged from almost zero to 7 million liters (+242% compared to 2023).As in the pre-New Year period, Russians continue to prefer products from Russian winemakers, according to the importer of alcoholic beverages, the company Ladoga. The share of domestic sparkling wines in sales varies depending on the region and outlet, but it can reach 50-70%, which is an increase from last year's maximum of 60%.

The increase in duties and excise taxes on imported sparkling wines has led to a shift in consumer preferences. Many Russians have started looking towards friendly countries and the products of Russian winemakers. A significant proportion of consumers have shifted their preferences towards strong spirits such as gin, rum and whiskey, which are suitable for mixing with soft drinks, allowing them to maintain a low alcohol content.
The company has noted that prices for quality Russian sparkling wines start at around 600 rubles. However, the lower limit for foreign alcohol is significantly higher. For example, the cost of Prosecco, the most popular foreign sparkling wine, starts at 1,000 rubles, with an average price that fluctuates between 1,700 and 2,500. French Champagne can be found from 3 thousand rubles, with more prestigious houses starting at 6 thousand rubles and reaching into the millions.

Alexander Lipilin, executive director of the Fort wine trading company, told Izvestia that Russia offers consumers the most affordable options, with domestic drinks starting at 450 rubles and there are few imported sparkling wines left in this segment. In the category up to 1,000 rubles, almost the entire assortment is made up of Russian sparkling wines, with imported ones found in the middle and premium segments.
Thus, previously Prosecco could be found for 600 rubles, but now its average price starts from 1,200 rubles, and it can be higher, depending on the outlet. The cost of French champagne starts from 5 thousand rubles per bottle, with famous brands like Veuve Clicquot, Piper-Heidsieck, Louis Roederer, and GH Mumm commanding a price tag of 6-7 thousand rubles and up.Consumer choice is largely influenced by budget: in the affordable segment, demand is highest for Russian sparkling wines. In the mid-price category, Prosecco is popular due to its light taste and versatility. In the premium segment, champagne is the preferred choice, especially of well-known brands that are traditionally associated with celebration and high status.