Latin American Wine and Spirits Producers Expand Exports to Russia Amid Shifting Market Conditions

Latin American wine and spirits producers are increasing their presence in the Russian market, as seen at Prodexpo, Russia’s largest annual food and beverage fair held this week in Moscow. Companies from Argentina, Chile, and Mexico are using the event to boost exports of wine and tequila, taking advantage of shifting market conditions and new opportunities created by international sanctions.

Fernando Pavón, commercial manager of Viña Marchigüe, a family-owned Chilean winery with 2,300 hectares under vine, said that Russia has become a key market over the past four years. The company now exports to 53 countries but has seen particular growth in Russia despite the challenges posed by the war in Ukraine. Pavón explained that many businesses hesitated to enter or remain in Russia due to language barriers and financial risks, especially after the conflict began. However, he decided to continue investing in the Russian market. As a result, Viña Marchigüe now exports 600,000 bottles of wine annually to Russia.

Anastasía Shiskova, sales manager for Viña Indómita from Chile, attended Prodexpo for the second time after positive results last year. Indómita is just starting operations in Russia and recently sold three containers—16,000 bottles—of entry-level wine to a local client. Shiskova noted that Russian supermarkets are increasingly seeking direct contracts with producers rather than working through distributors. She sees this as an opportunity for companies that can offer competitive prices and quality products with attractive labels. She also pointed out that European sanctions have made it more difficult and expensive to import European wines into Russia, opening space for Latin American brands.

From Argentina, José Alfredo Bartolucci, sales manager at Wenfor and president of the Argentine Wine Chamber, is a veteran of Prodexpo with more than 20 years of participation. He explained that four years ago Russia changed its import rules for bulk wine, pushing his company to focus on bottled wines with origin certification. This shift has benefited Wenfor by providing consumers with greater assurance about product authenticity. Wenfor currently supplies about 800,000 bottles of wine annually to Russia. Bartolucci emphasized the mutual need between Russian buyers and Latin American producers: “We need to sell and Russia needs to buy.”

Mexican spirits are also gaining ground. At the booth for Tequilas del Señor, visitors sampled tequila as Ana Evelia Moreno, sales manager for the company, described their growth in Russia. The distillery exports to more than 60 countries worldwide; about 20% of its production goes to Russia. Moreno said that while Russia is not their largest market, it is significant because Russian consumers appreciate strong spirits like tequila. Tequilas del Señor has been active in Russia for a decade but paused operations during the Covid pandemic and after the start of the war in Ukraine. Moreno acknowledged that traveling to Russia is not easy but said her team remains committed to expanding distribution beyond Moscow into other regions.

Prodexpo 2026 features 2,014 companies this year, including 543 from 37 countries. The event highlights how Latin American exporters are adapting to changes in global trade and finding new opportunities in markets affected by geopolitical shifts and sanctions. For many producers from Argentina, Chile, and Mexico, Russia now represents both a challenge and a growing source of demand for their wines and spirits.