Crimea and wine are inextricably linked concepts. It is even amazing how in such a relatively small territory of the peninsula there are so many wineries that do not repeat each other in brands and varieties of products. Wineries and tasting rooms in Crimea are obligatory objects of tourist visits and excursions. Which Crimean manufacturers are the most famous and how do their products differ? Let's get acquainted together.
"Massandra" - the main winery of the Crimea
The head of the list of wineries in the Crimea is the production and agricultural association Massandra, which includes nine wineries. The main enterprise of the association is located in the village of the same name. The beginning of industrial winemaking in this area was laid by Count Vorontsov. It was under his leadership that they gained a ticket to life the nowadays famous white muscat, Madeira, and new tokai varieties. The Massandra plant received particular development under Prince Golitsyn, who was the chief winemaker. It was he who laid the foundation for a collection of unique European wines. Today in the storages of the head factory there are about a million bottles of collection wine, of different ages and varieties. The tasting room of the concern is located at the main plant in the village of Massandra and is divided into four rooms. The business card of the Massandra association is strong, dessert wines and liquors.
Research Institute "Magarach"
Since ancient times, wineries on the Crimean peninsula not only produced wines using already known technologies, but also built laboratories for studying grapes and winemaking. For these purposes, the oldest scientific research institution in the suburbs of Yalta under the name "Magarach" was created. SRI "Magarach" not only studies, but also produces its own line of quality table, dessert, strong wine. At tastings conducted by the enterprise, they not only try local sherry, bastardo, aligote, etc., but also learn to do it correctly.
Crimean sparkling
Where is champagne produced on the Crimean peninsula? Wineries "New World", Sevastopol factory of champagne wines and "Golden Beam". "New World" is a factory of champagne wines, which appeared with the light hand of the famous Prince Golitsin. The assortment of the plant includes collection sparkling wine: “Prince Lev Golitsin”, “Crimea”, “Crimean”, “New World”. Champagne at this enterprise is made according to the classic French recipe. The tasting room is open in the former office of Golitsyn, the tasting takes place in a festive atmosphere: by candlelight and accompanied by classical music.
For the Zolotaya Balka agricultural firm, the sparkling wine line is built on accelerated technology for mass production. This plant is more famous for its natural dry vintage and table wines "Aligote", "Merlot".
“Muscat sparkling” of the Sevastopol plant was awarded the Grand Prix of the International Competition in Montreal. The factory has opened a Vinoteka brand store with its own small tasting room.
"Sunny Valley"
All wineries of the Crimea have their own unique assortment, their own distinctive feature. “Sunny Valley” is a state farm plant that produces products from grapes produced on its site. And the vineyards are unique - local varieties are exclusive and do not grow anywhere else. Ekim Kara, Kaffesia, Lara Kara, Tashly and other indigenous varieties have glorified the winery, the Crimean collection of which consists of unique and rare vintage wines “Solnechnaya Dolina”, “Black Doctor”, “Black Colonel”, “Meganom”, “Golden Fortune Archaderesse” .
Old "Koktebel"
Otuz Valley, Old Crimea. Wineries were not yet founded, and here, in these places, the local population was engaged in the production of healing drinks and exported them to the Khazar Kaganate. Today, the vintage Koktebel cognac is known far beyond the peninsula. And not only him. The factory of vintage wines and cognacs "Koktebel" produces vintage madeira, pinot fran, "Old Nectar", nutmegs and port. Koktebel until recently was part of the Massandra association, but has already managed to win the title of one of the most famous wineries.
Classic Inkerman
Crimean mountains are a source of valuable building material, bryozoans limestone. In place of its workings, deep adits remain, which become an ideal place for wine cellars. Some Crimean wineries try to use abandoned mines and equip their premises there. They maintain constant humidity and temperature, just suitable for aging. The creators of the Inkerman factory of vintage wines proceeded from this fact: in the underground galleries, natural dry wines made according to classical European recipes without alcohol have been ripening in oak barrels for years. Grapes are used both local and European varieties.
Wine - Museum Exhibit
On the Crimean peninsula, all wineries, famous and not very well, have their own tasting rooms, in which they not only taste different types of wines, but also give lectures on the history of winemaking and on the rules for drinking. The whole House-Museum of Wine, which is located in Yevpatoria, is dedicated to Crimean winemaking. Visitors do not regret the time spent on viewing the exhibition. Everything is told about wine here: everything to drink to reduce weight, which to strengthen the heart muscle. And most importantly - how to distinguish quality wine from fakes.
Yes, in Crimea, in addition to the main producers, it is full of various wineries that produce products no worse than recognized masters, and among the home products you can find real masterpieces. But ... about the same number of distilleries that make powder drinks, giving them the names of vintage wines. Street tasting presentations often offer outright fakes. To protect yourself from them, buy Crimean wine in specialized departments or company stores. Real natural Crimean wines are expensive, cheap is not good.