Ep. 239 Dmitry Fedotov (journalist & brand ambassador at Gambero Rosso) on the Russian wine market

Italian wine podcast. Chinching with Italian wine people. This podcast is brought to you by Native Grape Odyssey. Native Grape Odyssey is an educational project financed by the European Union to promote European wine in Canada, Japan, and Russia. Enjoy. It's from Europe. Hello. This is the Italian wine podcast. My name is Monte. All of my guests today is Dimitri Fedotov. Fedotov. I'm back. That's always rather hard to the accents. Yep. So that's Right now, the accent on the second letter fedotov. Fedotov. Yep. Right. Alright. So that's a Russian name. That's for sure. And you're from Russia? Yes. I'm from Russia. I've been born in Moscow, and I've been living in Moscow. And so far, you know, my residency is just half kilometer for my real birth place. Really? Yeah. Real Moscow. A real Moscow. That's cool. I don't have many Musculars. Okay. So you have lots and lots of different titles. Yes. So let's start with something simple. You are a member of the super member of the supervision board of Russian wine growers and winemakers. That's true. So how did you get on that? I've been the editor of, let's say, and co author of the very first, guy dedicated to the Russian wine, and I completely wrote this one, just from the first page to the last one. Just in brief, how many roughly how many Russian wine growers are there roughly? Roughly, around forty. Wow. So still, the problem is the legislature. Is, roughly speaking, there are forty licensed bank growers. Let's say not bank brewers, but by makers. Yep. And it's rather hard to, to work on there, on the license to get it. And, by there are really a lot of the small farmers who are working just like their persons, and it's impossible to count them at all. Right. Okay. So how did you get into Italian wine? So naturally, I would say, I wouldn't say that I'm focused, but, it is, is promoting its culture. It's wine, much more actively than other countries. So I'm, deeply involved in the Italian wine and Italian cuisine. So what does that mean? When you say you're dealing, what are you doing? You writing articles? Are you giving it wine education? I would say both. For sure, I, write it a lot. I'm I'm working as a presenter. I'm able to cover from the smallest privatization up to the exhibition. So us, recently, I ran, friend Master classes in Saint Pidesburgs during the, Gabriel Rosa roadshow, and the two, during the Treba Kiri Moscow as well. So so any kind of the learn so plus education in the similar school. So let's say that's my responsibility. So you're hosting tastings or conducting tastings of Italian wines for system. Not only you know, just anyone, any interesting wine, let's say, any pleasant wines. So what are the trends in in, obviously, generalizing about Russia is difficult, but what are the trends that you're seeing in the market for wine, for imported wine general? I was talking about Russian market. Yep. Yeah. Okay. So, I would say there are some common trends. We share those trends with the entire Europe, this trend for them, low alcohol. So elegant wines, so not houses screaming wines, so gentle and delicate. Not not really oaky. Oh, no. No. No. The we will leave all of the kind of stuff for America. So, no, Russia, at least for the get it, consumer will not, even put a look for the heavily oaked, or even teddy quiet. So that's not a Russian style at all. So, the second, common trend is, strange, but passionate love to organic and biodynamic wines. And, even right now, there are certain, companies dedicated just for organic wines, and they are working in all that fields only. So, and there are how to say, we invented, our own passions. So, the biggest trend or the, let's say, the biggest noticeable difference between the this year and the last one was, real love for the thought that she's try vines. So all of that pet nuts went from all over the walls from Prasek up to the vines from our way. So they, are very popular right now. The Sparkling wine? Yeah. I mean But do they like the Sparkling wine to the root of yeast in the bottom. Yep. Yeah. That's yeah. Right. I saw the color one. So I'd like to go this kind of natural by making starters. I wouldn't say it's natural. Of course, when you're leaving, the yeast in the bottle, you should be natural, but I wouldn't say that's, it has a certain hundred percent correlation. Okay. What about Russian and wine growers? Do they think about planting Italian grape varieties, or was the climate not favorable enough? The climate is too hot, I would say. Really? So, yeah. I think that, the biggest problem is, the heat. And again, the frost in the wintertime. So very continental climate. Yeah. It's very continental. Climate. You have to select some varieties, which are still frost resistance because sometimes you are able to find out the wrong varieties, we are, which are not resistance at all. And, there is a certain phenomenon even in the Black Sea coast, which is quite one region, a kind of the, you know, ice range when actually it's rain, but during the negative temperature, and, the water turns, the device immediately. And, so it gives, dermatical effect to the yields and to the plants as well. Yeah. Winter freeze as well. Yeah. Okay. So how much time do you spend in Italy? That really depends, but I think that thirty to forty days per year is sometimes even more. Okay. And what are your favorite regions to visit? Regents regions? Regents. I wouldn't say I have some, let's say, favorable regions. I really love, Tuscana. I really love Vanessa and flew civilians at Julia. I would say, they, the most visited for me, but I've been just in every part of the country probably except, Sardinia never before. I've been on that either and and I haven't yet visited Savados as well. What do you think Russian wine growers could learn from Italy in terms of wine culture? Respect to the results of the labor. That's the answer. Definitely. Okay. Alright. What else? I wouldn't I would say they have to learn, also proper relations between the governmental body who control the, actually, my biomarker and, actually, themselves. And, plus, they have to implement probably the same or let's say quite a similar point of view to the consortiums. Right now, there are several Russian ablations, but no DOC wines, I would say, no yet. Okay. And there is no bodies. I mean, inside those consortiums who will be able to monitor to who will be able to give appropriate suggestions in band growing techniques, etcetera. And, still, I would, recommend Russian lots say not winemakers, but Russian officials, just to understand that wine is not alcohol. Mine is, culture. Right. Okay. So if I if I had to put you, you could have a one I can I'm gonna give you a free vineyard Italy, where would it be? And it was your Christmas present. I only give you a free video. Where would you where would it be? Oh, okay. Probably, it will be in Balbaresco. Okay. Not Barolla? No. No. No. No. Why Balbaresco? Barbara is much more safe, considering the hill and, probably gives again the, a more delicate wine. Good answer. Yeah. Very climaticly oriented answer. Yeah. Interesting. Alright. Demetri Feduttoff. I said that right? Right. Oh my goodness. I'm a quick learner. No one's ever said that about me before. So I wanna say thanks for coming in today on the Italian wine podcast and giving us a little insight into Russia, and into your burgeoning career. Thank you. This podcast has been brought to you by Native Grape Odyssey, discovering the true essence of high quality wine from Europe. Find out more on native grape odyssey dot e u. Enjoy. It's from Europe. Follow Italian wine podcast on Facebook and Instagram.