The aim of the research is to evaluate new elites of cherry by the most valuable economic and biological traits and to select promising for production and breeding use. In recent years, cherries occupy more and more areas, thanks to the development of winter-hardy, disease-resistant varieties. However, of the available variety diversity in the State Register of the Russian Federation only a small part of cherries is suitable for cultivation in the Middle Volga region. This article presents the results of the primary study of 12 elite forms of cherry in comparison with control varieties Chermashnaya (early maturity) and Fatezh (medium maturity) for the last 4 years from 2019 to 2022. The indicators of winter hardiness, productivity, resistance to diseases and pests, maturity and fruit quality of cherries were studied. The elites characterized by high winter hardiness, productivity (20 and more kg per tree), large fruit size (over 5 g), excellent taste (over 4.5 points) were identified. Elite forms of cherry resistant to moniliosis and weakly damaged by cherry fly were identified. According to the results of primary varietal study in the state variety trials in 2021–2023 transferred 3 varieties of cherry Nyusha, Olechka and Lisa.