Drinks Industry/ Russian Wine Fair

Drinks Industry / Russian Wine Fair 2011 Exhibition. Results

During three days, from November 17 to 19 the exhibition venue traditionally became a center of international communication and business cooperation between producers and distributors and potential partners from around the world, confirming the status of Russia's main exhibition of viticulture and winemaking.
On November 17, the exhibition opening day, the Council of Federation of the Federal Assembly of Russian Federation held a roundtable discussion on legal regulation of production and turnover of wine and wine products, organized by the Federation Committee on economic policy, entrepreneurship and property and the Federation Committee on the agro-food policy and the fishing industry. The initiative of holding at this very day the profile discussion of topical issues of the wine industry belongs to the Union of vine growers and winemakers of Russia. The round table was attended by parliamentarians, heads of federal and regional authorities, representatives of the Russian Chamber of Commerce, Entrepreneurs of Russia, the Russian Public Chamber, professional associations and unions, as well as heads of major wine companies - exhibitors.
At the official opening ceremony of the exhibition the First Deputy Chairman of the Federation Council Committee on Economic Policy, Entrepreneurship and Property Vladimir Gusev in his welcome speech reported on the results of the round table, noting, that the Russian winemaking industry needs a law on viticulture and winemaking, which will give the necessary support to producers and allow Russia to become a strong player on the international wine market on a par with the leading wine-making powers in the world. The status of the exhibition was emphasized by the high level of guests gathered for the official opening.
Exhibitors and visitors were welcomed by Federico Castellucci, Director General of the International Organization of Vine and Wine, Oleg Tolmachev, director of the department of grape growing, winemaking and horticulture of Krasnodar Region; Nebojsa Koharovich, Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of Croatia in Russia, Leonid Popovich, president of the Union of vine growers and winemakers of Russia and Nariner Bagmanyan, president of the Asti Group exhibition company. A welcome letter to the participants of the exhibition was sent by the State Secretary – Deputy Head of Federal Service for Alcohol Market Regulation (Rosalkogolregulirovanie) Vladislav Spirin, who underlined "the importance and relevance of the exhibition for small and medium-sized businesses, including retail, as well as the development and improvement of Russian winemaking and promotion of domestic wines on the Russian alcohol market."
On November 18th from 10.00 to 17.00 the Forum of professionals dedicated to the problems and prospects of Russian and international beverage markets took place within the frames of the exhibition. It comprised the seminar "The wine market in Russia and abroad. Trends and Prospects ", presentation program "Modern production technologies, positioning, promotion and trade in the beverage industry" and discussion meeting “Prospects for the Russian drinks market reformatting. Legal support of business processes in the beverage industry in Russia”.
This year, about 5,000 wines were presented by more than 250 producers from Azerbaijan, Germany, Greece, Italy, Spain, Macedonia, Portugal, France, Slovenia, Croatia, Czech Republic and other countries. The main section of the exhibition was devoted to Russia's best wineries from the Rostov region and the Kuban. Russia was represented by a collective stand "Wines of the Kuban - the pride of Russia", where among the participants were the leading Russian producers of wines and brandies from the Krasnodar region (such as "Aurora", "Myskhako", "Fanagoria", "Vinogradniki Guy-Kodzora", "Kuban-Vino", "Russky Azov", "Kubanskie vina", "Russian champagne house Abrau Durso", "Novokubanskoe", "Gelendzhik" and other well-known companies), stands of Rostov wineries of "Millerovsky vinzavod" (an internationally recognized "Vinodelnya Vedernikov"), and the famous plant "Tsimlyanskye vina," which is celebrating this year its 225th anniversary.
On November 18, during the exhibition, the results of the XV-th International professional contest of wines and spirits were summed up.
Master classes which were held during all three days of the exhibition by Russian and international wine experts gave the opportunity to all professionals and guests to appreciate the unique taste and flavor of each beverage presented by the best wineries in the world. Liliane Turmes, Romain Batya, Darrel Joseph, Bernd Kost, Dmitry Fedotov and Vladimir Tsapelik acquainted the public with a professional Spanish wines from Rioja and Catalan cava, the history of winemaking in Azerbaijan, great German Rieslings, unique Rieslings and ice wines from Moravia, organic wines of Greece, wine collections from Slovenia, Croatia and other countries. Outstanding French winemaker Patrick Leon, known to the world by his copyright works such as Mouton-Rothschild (Bordeaux), Almaviva (Chile), and Opus One (California) introduced to the wine community his new project "Wines of Lefkadia" – Russian winery in the Krasnodar region, which essentially is only beginning to win the wine market.
For the first time in Moscow, within the frames of the exhibition was held the Croatian Gourmet Festival. The world tour of Zagreb Wine Gourmet Festival, the most prestigious enogastronomic event in Croatia started from Russia and were conducted within the frames of the exhibition with the support of the Embassy of Croatia in Russia, Chamber of Commerce of Croatia and the Croatian National Tourist Office in Russia. The festival was opened by the Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the Republic of Croatia in the Russian Federation, Mr. Nebojsa Koharovich. It is known, that it is very difficult to surprise Moscow public, nevertheless the Croatian project has collected a large number of guests and won, without a doubt, the general sympathy. The master classes of three leading chefs from Croatia – Deniz Zemba, Branko Ognenovich and Bilyana Milina presenting continental cuisine and cuisine of Adriatic coast, have become a real attraction for all those who love this beautiful country or so far only dream to go there.
A festival of Italian gastronomy and wine also took place within the framework of the exhibition. Products entirely new for the Russian consumer were presented at a specially designated area. Presentation of wines and delicacies from Italian companies, carefully selected and brought to Moscow by Wine & Food Made in Italy company, was organized in the form of gastronomic sets and wine tastings, which attracted a large number of professional visitors and lovers of Italian food and wine.
The Independent Wine Club Awards Ceremony took place on November 17th.
Rich and intriguing was the cultural program of the exhibition, the events of which in the form of evening receptions took place at the best restaurants of Moscow. On November 17 the oldest hotel of the capital "National", whose history is closely intertwined with the history of Moscow, hosted a celebration of the young Russian wine Chateau Taman. The wine was presented in Moscow for the first time, providing the opportunity for professional wine community and the diplomatic corps in Moscow to fully appreciate the freshness and fullness of this beautiful drink.
On November 18 in no less famous hotel "Metropol" the company "Tsimlyanskye vina" hold the champagne and wine Ball in honor of its 225th anniversary. The famous "Kazachka" and other sparkling wines from this oldest Russian winery shined to the accompaniment of delicious dishes. The guests could fully enjoy the unique atmosphere of the celebration of wine and winemaking.
The next exhibition "Drinks Industry / Russian Wine Fair 2012" will be held on November 16-18, 2012 in Moscow, Crocus Expo. Plan your participation in advance!