Chechersk. The winery.

In the heart of the Gomel region, in the quiet and picturesque Chechersk, one of the oldest enterprises in the region, the Chechersk Winery, has been operating for more than a century and a half. It is not just an operating production facility, but a real monument of industrial history that has managed to survive empires, wars, economic crises and a radiation disaster.

Noble heritage and pre-revolutionary scope.

The history of the plant goes back to the 1860s, when these lands belonged to Count Chernyshev. It was during his lifetime that the distillery was founded here. The main building of that era, built of solid brick, has miraculously survived to this day. Looking at its walls, you can't help but imagine the peasants and freelance workers who worked here from October to March, during the traditional distilling season. The products of the count distillery were famous in the province, laying down traditions of quality that would be continued decades later.

The Soviet period: from the winery to the cannery.

A new round of development began in the Soviet era. The official date of birth of the company is considered to be 1937, when the plant was nationalized and reorganized. It was headed by Moses Borisovich Kagan. At this time, production is expanding, and its own laboratory is being opened for strict quality control. The range goes far beyond wine: soft drinks are bottled here, and even sausages and bakery products are produced for the needs of the city. Chechersky winery is becoming a multifunctional center of the food industry of the district.

The Great Patriotic War destroyed all achievements. During the occupation, the factory was looted and almost destroyed. But already in 1943, immediately after the liberation of Chechersk, its restoration began. The company was literally reborn from the ruins to delight its countrymen with wines, fruit drinks and lemonades again.

However, in 1986, a wave of Gorbachev's anti-alcohol campaign swept the country. It became impossible to produce wine, and the factory was urgently converted into a cannery. Instead of grape wines, juices and preserves were produced here. But perestroika proved disastrous for the economy: unusual production became unprofitable. The accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, which affected Gomel region, dealt the final blow, forcing many qualified specialists to leave the polluted areas. The plant was on the verge of survival.

Renaissance and modernity.

Despite all the difficulties, the company resisted. In 1993, the historical name of the Chechen Winery was returned to it. We returned to the usual profile.

Today, the Chechersk Winery is a successfully operating, profitable enterprise. It is part of the Belgospishcheprom structure and continues the traditions laid down in the 19th century. Of course, modern technology has moved far ahead, but the main wealth of the plant is still the people - the descendants of those very hardworking workers who once started this business.

The factory's products are known far beyond the district. These are not only classic fruit and berry wines, but also popular wine drinks, balms, and tinctures. The company does not stand still, mastering new formulations and expanding the line in order to please consumers with a high-quality and affordable product. Looking at the old winery building on Ulyanov Street, you realize that the real story is being written not only in the capitals, but also here in little Chechersk, where the memory of Count Chernyshev and Moses Kagan lives in every new bottling.