Russian-made sparkling wine now accounts for more than 72% of sales in the country, up five percentage points from a year earlier, the state quality agency Roskachestvo said, RIA Novosti reported on December 7.

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has pushed many Russians to swap expensive imported alcohol for cheaper domestic drinks, especially wine and beer, as sanctions, tariffs and a weaker ruble have driven up the cost and reduced the variety of European labels. At the same time, state backing for “patriotic” wines and tighter rules and taxes on strong spirits have boosted the role of local wine while reinforcing a gradual shift away from vodka and other hard liquor toward lower‑alcohol options.

The increase came as domestic production rose 8.6% year on year, with Russian winemakers producing 146mn litres of sparkling wine between January and October 2025.

Producers added 60 new varieties to their offerings during the period, Roskachestvo said.

The agency noted that packaging options have also expanded, with sparkling wine now available in 1.5-litre magnum bottles, smaller 200ml and 375ml bottles, and aluminium cans.

Russia's wine industry has grown significantly since 2014, when Western sanctions and counter-sanctions prompted efforts to develop domestic production and reduce reliance on imports.

Legislation introduced in 2020 required sparkling wines made from imported bulk wine to be labelled as "wine drinks" rather than champagne or sparkling wine, boosting demand for domestically produced alternatives.

The country's main wine-producing regions include Krasnodar, Crimea, Rostov and Dagestan, with vineyards expanding as the government provides subsidies and support for the sector.

Russian consumers have traditionally favoured sparkling wine, particularly during holiday celebrations. December typically sees a significant spike in sales ahead of New Year festivities.

Import duties on foreign wines have also increased in recent years, making domestic products more price-competitive.

Sparkling wine remains a relatively small part of total wine imports: in the first nine months of 2024, Russia imported about 260mn litres of wine in total, of which 44.9 million litres were sparkling, with still wine accounting for nearly 83% of imports.

Almost 97% of imported sparkling still comes from “unfriendly” countries (mainly EU suppliers), but these volumes are being squeezed by higher tariffs and falling Champagne shipments, including a reported 41% drop in French sparkling exports.

Russia raised customs duties on wine from EU countries (for example, lifting tariffs from 20% to 25% with a higher minimum per‑litre duty), and is also increasing excise taxes on sparkling wine, which has significantly raised shelf prices for imported Prosecco and Champagne.