The best grapevine pruners named in Sevastopol

By Stefania Novak On Мар 2, 2026

The first professional skills competition “Vine of Russia 2026” took place in Sevastopol, aimed at developing viticulture, increasing the prestige of the winegrowing profession and strengthening the professional community of the industry. The organizer of the event was Agrofirma Zolotaya Balka LLC, in whose vineyards the stages of the competition were held.

More than 35 specialists from winegrowing farms of Sevastopol, the Republic of Crimea and the Krasnodar Territory, as well as students from specialized educational institutions in Sevastopol and the Republic of Crimea, took part in the competition.

The competition included three stages. At the admission stage, participants underwent registration, mandatory medical examination and safety instructions. The theoretical block tested knowledge in the field of viticulture, and during the practical part, the contestants performed pruning of Chardonnay bushes with the formation of “double-sided Guyot”. Based on the results of the draw, each participant was assigned his own row, and 60 minutes were allotted to complete the task. The panel of judges assessed the quality of pruning according to strict criteria: correctness of formation, location of the replacement knot, cleanliness of the cuts, accuracy of cleaning the vine and the trunk.

Based on the results of the competition, winners were determined in three categories:

Absolute personal standings:

1st place — Valentina Puchkova (LLC Koktebel Vintage Wine Factory)
2nd place — Bunchuk Liliya (Agrofirm Zolotaya Balka LLC)
3rd place — Fataliev Serdar (Agrofirm Zolotaya Balka LLC)

Team standings:

1st place — LLC Factory of Vintage Wines «Koktebel»
2nd place — Mriya Terroir LLC
3rd place — LLC Agrofirm «Yuzhnaya»

Find out more: The results of the regional stage of the high technology championship were announced in Sevastopol

The winner in the “Quality Work” category was Andrey Lutsenko from the Federal State Autonomous Educational Institution of Higher Education “KFU named after. V. I. Vernadsky.»

The winners and runners-up were awarded diplomas and cash prizes. Additionally, the organizers awarded certificates for microscopy of vines and vineyard inventory services using clicker technology.

In addition, as part of the event, winegrowers held a full-fledged master class on pruning vines for students of agricultural classes from schools No. 59, No. 17, No. 30.

The development of viticulture and winemaking in Sevastopol remains one of the priority areas of the region. From 2014 to 2025, the industry received 3.25 billion rubles of state support. Today we see how the All-Russian competition of excellence of winegrowers throughout Crimea and the Krasnodar Territory is emerging. This is a platform for winemaking professionals, as well as immersion in the profession for students of agricultural faculties— said the acting. Deputy Governor Nikolai Prestavka.

In 2026, about 600 million rubles will be allocated for the development of the industry. The funds cover the full production cycle: from planting new vineyards to the release of finished products.

source: press service of the Government of Sevastopol

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