Wine may not be a visiting card of Russia, but winemaking in our country is well developed. In 2007, for example, about 7280 thousand hectoliters of alcoholic beverages related to this field were produced. And thanks to this, Russia took 11th place in the world among the states producing wine. How are things with production? What Russian wines are really good? This and much more will now be discussed.
Abrau-Durso: a bit of history
This is the name of the village in southern Russia, where a large wine house of the same name is located and large-scale production of drinks belonging to this category is organized.
They have been manufactured there since 1870. At first they produced still wines, and then they added sparkling wines to the list. Local champagne was a favorite drink of Russian aristocrats.
Today the winery "Abrau-Durso" is the most visited in Europe. About 200,000 tourists come there every year.
Wines and their features
The following drinks are being produced in Abrau-Durso:
- The Millesimes. Particularly high-quality wines made from the best wort (cuvée) and grape juice of the first extraction of the most successful crop. The so-called “millesim” years happen about once every five years.
- "Imperial". This is a collection of Russian wine, similar to the French Grand Cru. It is made from grapes that are harvested from the best sites. The highest quality of this wine is confirmed by gold and silver medals awarded at international tasting competitions - Decanter, Mundus Vini, IWC, IWSC.
- Brut d`Or Blanc de Blancs. Premium sparkling Russian wine created from selected white grapes. He has a very elegant and delicate taste that all lovers of chardonnay adore.
- Victor Dravigny. This is the only name collection from this manufacturer. Named after the famous French winemaker, who in 1905 was the main champagne in Abrau-Durso. It was he who brought the classic sparkling wine production technology to perfection.
- "Specific department." Yes, this is also the name of sparkling wine. The same drink was served at a gala dinner arranged in honor of the centenary of the Romanov dynasty in 1914. Modern technologists have restored the historical recipe and look of those bottles.
- "Russian champagne." This is the name of the most popular collection of the Abrau-Durso wine house. Many are familiar with these bottles of dark green color with a black diamond-shaped label. Excellent taste and balanced aroma made the drink incredibly popular.
- Abrau Light. A new line of carbonated wine drinks. It was created in 2014. Due to the rich bright shade, floral aroma and fruity notes, many people liked these drinks.
- Wine "Abrau". This line consists of five top quality dry table wines - blend (dark and light), cabernet, chardonnay and riesling.
- Foliage In 2010, the production bought a champagne house called Chateau d'Avize, so the first French champagne appeared in the collection of rulers . It is organic - with a minimum amount of sulfur, using double fermentation technology, made from grapes grown in special areas and taking into account the lunar calendar.
Since Abrau-Durso is one of the main wine producers in Russia, it would be possible to list drinks and their benefits for a long time to come. But one thing can be stated with confidence: if you want high-quality and refined alcohol, you can safely make a choice in their favor.
Alma Valley
In the western part of the Bakhchisaray district located in the Crimea is Alminsky Valley - a wine-making region. About 1 million bottles are processed and produced there annually.
The production is quite new - the first Russian wines of Alma Valley were released in 2015. But already in 2017, the company received more than 40 awards won at competitions in London, Hong Kong, Moscow and Krasnodar.
Drinks are made according to the gravitational principle. Fermentation is carried out under controlled temperature conditions. The resulting drinks have a special taste, due to a combination of soil and climatic factors. The Alma Valley line includes white and red wines, as well as interesting drinks - Winter Wine, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Blanc, Spring Wine, etc.
"Burnier"
The winery, known by this name, is located in the Natukhaevskaya village, between Novorossiysk and Anapa. It was founded in the early 2000s by a married couple of winemakers - Marina and Renault Burnier.
This is an ideal place for growing grapes, because there are soils with a high clay content (ideal for red varieties) and stony, marl (excellent for white varieties).
Here grows Chardonnay, Viognier, Pinot gris and Blanc, Yellow Muscat, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Fran, Syrah, Malbec, and also Krasnostop. The latter is an old Russian red grape variety, which is very rare. But DOMAINES BURNIER revived him again.
The collection is represented by the following Russian wines:
- Burnier Lublu. Gastronomic wine served with caviar, sea fish, asparagus, poultry and foie gras.
- Merlot A delicious drink with the aroma of cherries and roasted cocoa beans. Served with spicy cheeses, red and white meat.
- Cabernet Sauvignon. Complicated wine of 18 months aging. Tart, with a long finish. Ideal for grilled dishes, meat and cheeses.
- Krasnostop. It has a rich aroma of ripe fruit with hints of prunes and raisins. Suitable for lamb and game.
It is important to make a reservation that drinks from this manufacturer are made in limited quantities.
Massandra
This is the name of a small picturesque village located near Yalta, in the south of Crimea. There is FSUE PJSC Massandra. In the cellars of the winery is a collection of more than a million bottles. It is the largest in the world, and in 1998 it was listed in the Guinness Book of Records.
The producer makes very high-quality Russian wine. Russian wines of this company are distinguished by an impressive variety. Here are some of the most interesting names:
- "Muscat White Red Stone." Gourmet dessert liquor wine.
- "The Seventh Heaven of Prince Golitsyn." It is made since 1880. This is a sweet dessert white wine.
- "Cahors South Coast." It is made since 1933. Exposure - at least 3 years. This is a sweet red dessert wine.
- Red port "Livadia". Strong drink at least 3 years old.
- Massandra "Madera". Strong white wine with a shelf life of 5 years.
- "Old Nectar." Exposure - from 3 years. Sweet dessert white wine with a full, harmonious and mild flavor.
- Massandra "Sherry". Excerpt from 4 years. Strong white wine. It is considered the best among sherry drinks.
- White port "Lieutenant Golitsyn". Exposure - from 3 years. Strong white wine.
- "Pinot Gris Ai-Danil." It is made since 1888. Liquor dessert white wine.
You can list for a long time. And if you study in detail the detailed description of Russian wines produced in Massandra, you will be able to understand that there is such an assortment of drinks in this production that will satisfy absolutely any needs of even the most demanding alcoholic gourmet.
"Raevskoe"
What is interesting this winery? The fact that it is located where Russian winemaking once began. These are picturesque southern hillsides located in the Novorossiysk region. A special grape is grown there. Its taste and ripeness is influenced by the breeze coming from the Black Sea, which provides the difference between day and night temperatures, necessary for the proper ripening of the berry.
The range is counted in dozens of items. There are also very interesting drinks, for example, “Firebird” from the collection “Russian Tales”. This wine is 60% Chardonnay, 30% Riesling and 10% Palava. This combination of varieties provides a delicate flavor with hints of black berries, spices and prunes.
Inkerman
Another famous Crimean winemaker. And Russian wines, which have been produced there since 1961, are famous throughout the country and abroad. The best production technology is used - the wine is not in contact with oxygen at all. Starting from the moment the grape is being processed, and ending with the spill. The drink is in contact only with an inert gas.
If we talk about the classification of Russian wines of this manufacturer, then we need to make a reservation that they are all divided in accordance with the collections. There are nine of them at present: sparkling and young wines, the Inspiration, Sevre, Porto, Winemaker's Selection, Grand reserve, Classic Wine and Heritage collections. Among them there are dry, sweet, dessert, semi-dry, semi-sweet, strong, as well as brut.
Golden Beam
One cannot fail to mention this sparkling wine factory, which is one of the oldest in Russia. It is located in the region of Sevastopol, like Inkerman, but in a slightly different place - in Balaklava, in the Zolotaya Balka valley. The prevailing soil and climatic conditions make it possible to grow grapes, which is the best in Eastern Europe.
In addition to sparkling wines, the manufacturer also produces traditional ones - white, pink, red, sweet, dry, semi-sweet and semi-dry.
“Vinoskop” rating: pricing principle
The most famous Russian wine producers were listed above. Rating would also be nice to mention. Still, it is important to know which drinks are considered the best, according to the generally accepted opinion.
In accordance with the rating “Vinoskop”, points are given to the drink. The principle is as follows:
- 80-84 points. A drink with a pronounced aroma and taste. Suitable for every day.
- 85-89 points. Complex wines with a multifaceted, gradually revealing taste.
- 90-94 points. Wines for a special occasion.
- 95-100 points. These drinks are called "great." Their taste is remembered for a lifetime.
The best of the best
And now about the leaders of the notorious rating. In accordance with it, the following Russian wines are considered the best:
- Producer: "Chateau of Semigorye". Cabernet Sauvignon 2014. Red, dry. 90 points.
- Manufacturer: "Satera." 2013 Kacha Valley Petit Verdot. Red, dry. 90 points.
- Producer: "Tsimlyanskie wines." Grand Reserve 2013. White dry. 89 points.
- Manufacturer: Lefkadia. Lycuria Merlot-Cabernet 2014. Red, dry. 89 points.
- Producer: "Burnier". Krasnostop Burnier 2008. Red, dry. 88 points.
These are just five leaders. Also included in the rating are wines from manufacturers such as Fanagoria, Raevskoye-Heyduk, Chateau le Grand Vostok, Villa Victoria, etc.
Of course, someone may not agree with the list and with which manufacturers are included, because tastes are subjective. But if you are interested in Russian wines, and what is really worth drinking, then you can focus on it. Since most drinks are also winners of many tasting competitions, which means a lot.