The first wine city in Russia and globally, Bely Mys, will debut by the end of 2025.

The first wine city in Russia and the globe, “Bely Mys” in Gelendzhik, will be fully operational by the end of the year, restaurateur and project manager Dmitry Levitsky told RIA News in an interview.

“Until recently, we planned to launch the city in parts; we wanted to start with two objects: our enoteca with the largest collection of Russian wine and a cafe-bakery on the embankment from Arkady Novikov. They were supposed to open at the end of spring. But recently we made a difficult decision – not to open partially. We don’t want to invite people to the “hallway” when the rest of the building is still under construction, even if it is a “wow-hallway”. So now the entire complex will be launched at once – we plan by the end of the year,” the agency’s interlocutor said.

At the project presentation in early December, he stated that the first item of “White Mys” – a wine shop – would open in March, with the complete complex opening in August-September.

“We are building “White Mys” in the biotech style – without right angles, with organic forms, as if water flows from a mountain into the sea. It is beautiful but technically difficult. Plus, sanctions had an impact: the equipment that was planned to be brought from abroad now needs to be replaced; something needs to be redone,” Levitsky noted.

He emphasised that there is no comparable initiative not only in Russia but anywhere in the globe.

“There is a wine centre in Bordeaux that has a museum, restaurant, and shop, but it is four to five times smaller in size. So we’re starting from zero,” the RIA News source added.

Levitsky stated that the concept of establishing a wine city originated with the Rossiya joint-stock bank group. They also own popular brands such as Massandra, Inkerman, and Novy Svet.