According to ancient Greek traditions, the gods gave people the vine. They also taught to make a wonderful drink from the fruits of this plant. Since then, winemaking has become one of the most profitable sectors of the economy. In our country, not the best climatic conditions for the cultivation of grapes. However, there are several regions where not only grow this culture, but also make it a fragrant and unique drink. One of such places is the Crimean peninsula. Let's plunge into her amazing history of winemaking and find out where to buy Crimean wines in Moscow.
Interesting story
Winemaking in the Crimea appeared two millennia ago, when the area still bore the Greek name Tauride Chersonesos. Thanks to the ancient traditions of the Greeks, a new industry was born in these parts - the cultivation of grapes. It developed throughout the existence of the Bosporus kingdom and the reign of Theodoro.
However, in 1475, the Turkish conquest of the colonies and states located in the Crimea took place. The existence of the Ottoman Empire left a mark on winemaking: religious bans on the consumption of wine caused table grape varieties. Historians and cultural scientists call this period raisin. In the article you will find out where you can buy the best raisin Crimean wines in Moscow.
Crimean wines from the XVIII century to the present day
The heyday of winemaking came in the period of the Russian Empire, when sovereigns personally supported vineyards. The first who drew attention to Russian winemaking and attempted to plant vineyards throughout the foothills of Crimea was Prince Potemkin-Tauride. The history of the Crimean winemaking development is inextricably linked with the oldest Massandra winery, which is located in the village of the same name near Yalta.
It was founded in 1894 by Prince L. S. Golitsyn, who at that time was appointed by the emperor himself the main managing winemaker of the Specific Department in the Crimea. He was the first to lay an underground winery in the Russian Empire . For its construction was spent 1 million rubles (royal). The prince personally chose a place with an ideal microclimate - it is located on the side of the mountain and is a tunnel, in which the main production of table and dessert drinks are located.
In 1914, Nicholas II adopted the "Law on Grape Wine", one of the points of which was the protection and all sorts of material support for domestic winemaking.
"Massandra" - the metropolitan network of Crimean wines
One of the best Russian wine producers is NPO Massandra. Founded in the distant 1830 by Count M.F. Vorontsov, the plant continues to produce decent products to this day. Where can you find the best Crimean wines? In Moscow there is simply a huge number of wine markets, among which there are both elite and medium quality. As a rule, boutiques with expensive alcoholic drinks are located in the central part of the capital. However, good shops with a wide selection of different wines can be found in sleeping areas.
According to M.V. Lipavsky, a connoisseur of Crimean wines in certain circles, one of the best shops of Crimean wines in Moscow can be attributed to one of the Massandra chain markets, which is located on Leninsky Prospekt (d. 64). This is a small but quite cozy place where a decent selection of Crimean wines is offered.
Here you can buy the rarest items of collection drinks: a bottle of white Muscat “South Coast” (1989) costs a little more than ten thousand rubles, and the legendary Muscat of “Red Stone” will cost thirteen thousand rubles.
Each wine from the Massandra collection is a unique noble drink that has a delicious delicate taste.
Offered assortment and prices
In this wine boutique, the choice is not limited to Massandra wines. Here are presented the products of such famous Crimean manufacturers as Inkerman, Novyi Svet, Tavria, Magarych and Solnechnaya Dolina.
In general, Massandra is a chain of stores. Crimean wines in Moscow can be bought at any of the markets of this network. In total, there are 12 stores in the capital, which are scattered in all areas.
The company often arranges promotions where you can buy Crimean alcoholic beverages at affordable prices. The cost of ordinary table wines varies from 200 to 800 rubles. For example, a bottle of red semi-dry “Crimean cellar” costs only 250 rubles, and the famous “Black Doctor” can be bought for 820 rubles.
In addition to table and dessert wines, the shops have a wide selection of other types of Crimean wines. In Moscow, on the whole, more strong drinks are very popular: port, sherry, Madeira, Cahors, liquor. Even the most spoiled buyer will surely find something new here. In general, the aging range of Crimean drinks varies from one to five years.
"Red and White"
There are many other markets in the metropolis where you can buy Crimean wines. A store in Moscow called “Red & White” offers quality domestic-made drinks. The company is a large network of stores that are located in almost any city in Russia.
Many of them offer consumers not only wine, but also stronger types of alcoholic beverages. The catalog has absolutely everything you could wish for: Russian and imported drinks, cognac, whiskey, liquor, beer, vodka and cocktail drinks, for example, tequila and rum.
What is surprising, in the "Red & White" relatively low prices for Crimean wines. In Moscow, you can rarely find something worthy at an affordable price. A bottle of red dry wine from Cabernet Sauvignon grape costs only 169 rubles, and discount card holders can get a 10% discount. We definitely recommend that you visit any of the stores of this network to see not only elite drinks, but also ordinary canteens, which are as good as famous foreign wines.
Crimean wines in Moscow can often be found on the shelves of ordinary hypermarkets such as Perekrestok, Pyaterochka, Auchan, etc. As a rule, they are not the largest choice, but sometimes you can find interesting items.
For example, in Gagarin's Auchan Crimean wines of the Inkerman brand are often offered: 2007 Aligote - for 250 rubles, 2010 Kachinskoye cabernet - for 550 rubles. There are many Massandra wines that can be purchased at a very low price.