Wineries in Russia
The vast majority of Russia’s territory is unsuitable for the grape growing, with most of the production concentrated in the southern regions of the country with a more favourable climate. Krasnodar is Russia’s largest vineyard region. This is the area that stretches along the Black Sea coast from just south of Gelendzhik to the Taman Peninsula along the south coast of the Azov Sea. The main regions of grape production in Russia also include: Crimea, Rostov region, Republic of Dagestan and others. In 2019, the area of vineyards of all categories of farms in Russia was 95,900 hectares, and 328 million litres of silent wines and 132 million litres of sparkling wines were produced.
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Russia produces several different styles of wine, including sparkling, dessert and still wine. Russian wine producers currently use more than 100 different grape varieties, as both local and international grape varieties are grown in Russia. Rkatsiteli grapes account for more than 45% of production.
Although Russia does not rank highly in the rankings of wine producing countries, winemaking and wine itself will always play an important role in the life of Russia, a country with a long history of winemaking, which, of course, has had its ups and downs.
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1. ABRAU-DURSO
Abrau-Durso Wine House was founded in 150 years ago by a decree of Emperor Alexander II. In 1870, a perfect terroir for producing sparkling and still wines opened on the sandstone slopes of the picturesque Lake Abrau, where the first vines of classic European varieties started growing. This is where the Russian sparkling wine traditions emerged as a result of cooperation between Russian and French experts. This legendary brand still stands for the best Russian sparkling wine.
Specialists attest that local conditions in Abrau-Durso are unique and in certain aspects even more favourable than in the famous Champagne. The Abrau-Durso terroir is: the rose of the wind, the richness of the natural elements in the soils and the unique mild climate.
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To create a unique flavour bouquet of sparkling wines, assemblage is carried out – a process of marrying wines from different harvests before laying them down in bottles to mature. In the French province of Champagne, Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier, and Chardonnay are blended. Here at Abrau-Durso, there is an opportunity to use other varieties as well, including Riesling, Aligoté, Pinot Blanc, and even Cabernet Sauvignon for red sparkling wine. The addition of Riesling to the assemblage has become the hallmark and unique feature of Abrau-Durso sparkling wines.
A full production cycle for wines created using the classic technique has been created and perfected at Abrau-Durso. The wine house have been producing sparkling wine using the classic technique for more than 120 years. Abrau-Durso is also famous for its unique mountain tunnels, created in the 19th century, into which the bottles of wine are delivered for maturation.
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More than 150,000 people visit Abrau-Dyurso every year, as it is a unique place with a picturesque view of the lake and nearby vineyards. There are restaurants, an haute cuisine school and guided tours through four miles of mountain tunnels with wine tasting included. For those looking to relax, there’s the Champagne Spa, which uses grapes and champagne to soothe and tone the body.
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2. MYSKHAKO
Myskhako is one of the oldest and one of the best wineries of Russia. It is located near Novorossiysk on the Black Sea coast. It carefully keeps traditions, passing the secrets of winemaking from generation to generation. For more than 150 years, the vineyard delights the admirers of exquisite drinks with beautiful wine. From the moment of formation until today Myskhako remains the standard of quality of the product, because he highest quality of wine remains the main principle at work of this wine house. Every stage of production that goes from the maturation of the vine to the bottling and holding is strictly controlled.
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Grapes for Myskhako wine mature in practically ideal conditions. The climate of the area is close to the most popular winemaking regions of the world, the German Rhine to French Bordeaux. Myskhako vineyards are located on hills and cover 266 hectares. Fertile soils and proximity to the sea also have a favourable effect on the vineyards.
Myskhako produces a wide range of wines for every taste, so many tourists come here for wine tasting. Production capacity is 5 million bottles per year, but this Wine House is actively developing and plans to expand in the future.
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3. FANAGORIA
Fanagoria Estate Winery is a major Russian full-cycle winemaking facility, which wines have been highly esteemed by the world’s leading wine experts. This large winery established in 1957 in Krasnodar region produces more than 20 million litres of wine products a year.
Fanagoria produces grafted grapevines, processes grapes, crafts and markets several kinds of alcohol beverages: still, sparkling, ice, liqueur and late harvest wines, brandies, varietal grape juices and grape marc vodka, as protected geographical indication (Kuban. Taman peninsula) and protected appellation of origin (Sennoi) products. Its supreme-quality beverages take prizes at the world’s most prestigious contests held in the UK, Austria, France, Slovakia, China, Japan, and Russia.
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Fanagoria is the only winery in Russia that has its own cask production facility. The products of this wine house are marketed practically in all federal and regional retail chains, and in the Winery’s own wine stores. The wines are exported to China, Germany, Japan, and duty-free shops.
The total area of the Winery’s vineyard facility exceeds 3,400 hectares. The annual grape yield approximates 30,000 tons. The Company also has a grapevine nursery (600,000 grafted young vines a year). The oldest living vines were planted in 1982 (37 y.o.).
Here visitors have a chance to see the cooperage, vineyards and one of the largest underground wine cellars in Russia with the tasting hall and wine museum.
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