Crimean red dry wine of the name. Beware of fakes: how to choose a real Crimean

Discovering Crimea for the first time, one cannot ignore its famous vineyards and Crimean wine. Let's talk about the history of winemaking on this Black Sea peninsula and describe red, dry and semi-sweet wines of famous brands.

1 Crimean wine - from ancient times to modern production

The history of viticulture and winemaking on the Crimean peninsula goes back to the 4th-6th century BC. The vine was brought here by the ancient Greeks, who taught the local Taurus how to grow a sunny berry and make wine from it. This alcoholic drink was very popular on the Black Sea coast, and city-states produced grape liquor in such quantity that it was more than enough for the inhabitants of the Bosporus kingdom to consume it and for export to other regions of the ancient world.

The technology for converting grapes into alcohol in those days looked like this:

1. The grapes were crushed in three stages - first on a stone platform with their feet, then with a light press, then with a heavy one.
2. The resulting wort flowed into large rectangular containers, where the juice matured and alcoholized.
3. Further, alcohol was poured into pithoi - clay vessels that were stored buried in the ground.
4. Sometimes the wine was thickened by boiling it down.

The most expensive drink was considered the first pressing. Alcohol from under a heavy press was valued least of all.

With the departure of the Greeks and Romans from the peninsula, winemaking, like viticulture, began to decline. And only many centuries later, after the annexation of Crimea to Russia, the industry began to rapidly revive. A lot of effort was put into this by Prince L. Golitsyn, who, in fact, created anew industrial production grape wines. IN Soviet times managed to maintain the quality and popularity of local alcohol. The production volumes of the product increased every year. Dry, red, white, semi-sweet wine, table and fortified drinks, cognac were produced. To date, the wine of the peninsula has become a real hallmark of the Crimea. It is successfully exported to Europe and America.

It is important to know!

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2 Table wines of Crimea

Table brands are considered to be the most natural wines. They are made exclusively from grape juice without the addition of alcohol and other ingredients. Table wine cannot be aged for more than 2 years and more than 12% ABV. Such alcohol is washed down with dishes served to the table. They do not drink it separately, and even more so they do not have a snack. This light spirit comes in red, white and pink.

All sorts of table wines are produced in Crimea. Widely known dry white wine Rkatsiteli, Riesling, Chardonnay, Sauvignon and Aligote. These brands are perfect for meat dishes, especially fried and cooked on a fire or in a brazier. For example, we advise you to try baking. Dry red Cabernet, Alushta and Saperavi are served with seafood, vegetable dishes, white meat. A dry pink Alkadar or Heraclea is combined with almost any dish. The most useful is red wine, which can be drunk daily, not exceeding a dose of 0.4 liters per day. This drink serves as a good prevention of many diseases.

A sophisticated buyer can be offered dry red wine "Alushta", made at the "Massandra" association in the "Alushta" state farm. It has a dark red color and complex saffiano tones with aromas of mignonette and flowering grapes. The drink is not only pleasant to the taste, but also capable of providing beneficial effect on digestive system person. Magnificent dry produces and JSC " Sunny Valley", located in the area of ​​the resort town of Sudak. We advise you to try the Sauvignon brand with a mild taste and slight sourness. Dry is combined with fish, cheeses, cold appetizers.

3 Fortified drinks Massandra

Near Yalta, in the town of Massandra, unique grape wines are made from local grape varieties grown on 4,000 hectares of plantations. Dry, and is also the pride of local winemakers. In contrast to table alcohol, in the manufacture of fortified alcohol, alcohol is used, which is added to the drink to stop fermentation. Fortified wines include:

• port wine,
• madera,
• sherry,
• Cahors,
• muscat,
• tokay.

Port "Crimean" - one of the the best drinks Black Sea coast. This popular red has a ruby ​​color and a complex fruity bouquet. The taste is soft, harmonious. Alcohol content - 17.5%, sugar - 10%. This port wine is pleasant to drink. It is also known for its medicinal properties. The drink has a bactericidal effect, improves immunity, improves digestion.

Gorgeous in taste and bouquet Madeira "Massandra".

It is made from three grape varieties and aged for five years in oak barrels placed in sunny outdoor areas. The taste of the drink is harmonious, slightly burning, with pleasant tones of roasted nuts. Alcohol in it is 19.5%, sugar 3%. Madeira is an excellent aperitif, which will be complemented at the feast by the brand "Solnechnaya Dolina" - red semi-sweet.

4 "Sunny Valley" - a masterpiece of winemaking art

Crimean dry is known as an alcoholic drink made from grapes with an exquisite taste and rich bouquet. Low sugar content and medium strength allows it to be used in combination with various dishes. But, of course, everyone has different taste preferences, and therefore, lovers of sweeter drinks are certainly advised to try the brand of red semi-sweet "Solnechnaya Dolina". Why him?

Firstly, this alcohol is made from the best local, native grape varieties with the addition of modern European varieties. Secondly, the finished drink is aged in special galleries located at a depth of 60 meters. And thirdly, the red semi-sweet "Solnechnaya Dolina", thanks to ancient technologies and the latest innovative methods, embodied all the best that local masters could give to winemaking.

Alcohol in the drink contains 10-13%, sugar is only 0.3 g per 100 ml. The color is rich, ruby ​​with festive tones. The aroma is very warm, containing pronounced shades of berries and wildflowers. The taste is harmonious, without any cloying. Semi-sweet wine "Solnechnaya Dolina" is ideal for vegetable dishes and tender meat. It is recommended to serve the drink chilled. Such alcohol is also suitable for.

grape wines Crimean peninsula are very attractive not only for their quality and a wide palette of taste and aroma, but also for their price ranges, which are very democratic and allow a large number of consumers to enjoy a real alcoholic drink.

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Winemaking in Crimea its history dates back to antiquity, i.e. to the period from the VI century BC. to the 4th century AD In the Greek cities on the peninsula, wine production was put on stream. For example, in Chersonese. If anyone has been, then there you can see the ruins of ancient wineries.

So much wine was produced on the peninsula that it was enough not only for domestic consumption, but also for export. They exported it, first of all, to barbarian countries, i.e. to our region, because they still didn’t know how to do it in our places or the climate didn’t allow it. The closest buyers were in those days the Scythians. The technology of making wine among the Hellenes was as follows. Grapes were crushed on special stone platforms - tarapans. They pressed with their feet, light pressure and heavy. by the most expensive wine it was considered what was choking on the feet. What remained after pressing with the heaviest press was considered the cheapest and was intended for slaves. The squeezed wine juice (must) was poured into stone vats and ripened in them.

The finished wine was stored in pithoi, clay barrels with a pointed bottom, buried in the ground. They were transported on ships in two-handled amphorae. Until now, in the sea in Chersonese, along the entire beach, you can easily find clay shards. There are just a lot of them scattered along the entire coast.

It is interesting that at that time it was considered bad manners to drink undiluted wine, and therefore it was diluted with water.

Especially the winemaking of the Crimea developed during the reign of Byzantium. Then the production of wine in some Crimean monasteries reached 300 thousand liters per year.

When in In 1475, the Turks, devout Muslims, settled on the peninsula, and wine production decreased. Decreased, but disappeared, because the main population of the coast was still Greeks, Armenians and descendants of Italians. And we know that Christians could not do without wine. In addition, the Crimean khans also had a good deal from the wine trade. They took 20% of its value in taxes.

Then, according to historians, from the moment the Crimea was annexed to Russia, winemaking began to fade. Prince Potemkin of Taurida hopelessly tried to revive it with the help of Tokay vines brought from Hungary. And only Count M.S. Vorontsov, the governor of Novorossiysk, by his order forced all the settlers to grow grapes, from which he then bought wine materials. During these years, or rather, in 1828, the Magarach School of Horticulture and Viticulture is established.

Another prominent figure in the field of Crimean winemaking was Prince L.S. Golitsyn. His red and white wines, as well as champagne, were awarded gold medals at exhibitions in Moscow, Paris and New Orleans. The result of his activities is the receipt of the Grand Prix in 1900 in Paris for New World champagne. Thus, Prince Golitsyn can be safely considered the ancestor of Crimean wines.

Currently, many products are produced in the Crimea different varieties guilt. They are classified by color, sugar content, strength, age and region of production. Consider the most notable and famous of them.

Table wines of Crimea.

White wines such as Rkatsiteli, Aligote, Riesling, Feteasca, Cocur, Chardonnay and reds such as Cabernet, Pinot Franc, Merlot and Alushta are just fermented natural grape juice. Exposure of these wines is not more than 2 years. Why canteens? Because they are served on the table during meals and they are washed down with food, and not vice versa! The strength of such wines is usually 10-12%, and the sugar content is not 0.3%. Hence the name - dry wines. Semi-dry wines contain 1.5-2.5%, and semi-sweet 3-5% natural grape sweetness. Table wines can be drunk daily. Red for meat, white for vegetable dishes, fish and seafood.

Fortified wines.

Their difference is that at a certain stage of fermentation, alcohol is added to the must and fermentation stops at that moment. Fortified wines are divided into strong (port, Madeira, sherries) and dessert.

Strong wines of the Crimea. Ports.

They owe their name to the city Porto in Portugal. Vintage ports are aged for at least 3 years in oak barrels. Therefore, they can be called relatives of cognacs. The alcohol content in them is 17-18%, and sugar 6-11%. Port wine is usually drunk before lunch or dinner. They serve cheese or meat sandwiches for an appetizer. Red port is good for colds.

Sherries.

The technology of this wine appeared in the Crimea at the beginning of the 20th century. Outside of Spain, sherry was first created here. Unlike other wines, sherry is aged in incomplete barrels under the cover of sherry yeast. Then the must from under this film is mixed with dry and dessert wine and, in addition, aged in cool cellars. Holding period is four years. It is customary to serve sherry with olives, cheeses, almonds, apples or mushroom snacks. The sugar content in Crimean sherries is from 0.2 to 3.0%, and the alcohol content is from 16 to 18%.

Madeira.

Favorite wine of Grishka Rasputin. It was born quite by accident. During the shipment of wine to India, it changed its taste qualities under the long rays of the sun. It was not possible to sell it at the destination, and after traveling back to Portugal, the wine acquired a characteristic taste and color that did not go unnoticed. Today, Madeira is aged in incomplete barrels under the sun in open areas. The fortress of the Crimean Madeira is 18-19%, and the sugar in it is about 4%. Drink Madeira shortly before meals. They say it goes well with Madeira Walnut. Madeira perfectly tones and gives strength.

Dessert wines of Crimea.

Contain from 12 to 19% sugar and a strength of 16%. Dessert wines are primarily muscats: white, rosé or black. They are prepared from muscat grape varieties such as cocour, pinot gris, bastardo, aleatico. Such wines, as the name suggests, are served for dessert with various sweets and ice cream. Cahors occupies an important role among these wines. The older he is, the better his qualities. Cahors is also used in medicinal purposes, for example, in combination with aloe or honey. Due to the content in cahors of such a rare microelement asrubidium, it is able to remove radionuclides from the human body. The king of muscats in the Crimea is called “White Muscat of the Red Stone”. At the entrance to Gurzuf, just below the highway, there is a state farm-factory of the same name. It produces wines from white Muscat, Pinot gray, Cabernet Sauvignon and Saperavi grapes.

And above Gurzuf itself rises the Red Stone rock, the correct name is Kizil-Tash. This is the only place in the Crimea where the world's best dessert drink "White Red Stone Muscat" is produced on slate soils.

Cognacs of Crimea.

The full line of cognac in the Crimea is produced only by Koktebel. Crimean cognac. The classification remained Soviet because the whole world does not recognize cognacs, except for French ones. The number of stars indicates the average aging age of the spirits from which the cognac is made. Ordinary Crimean cognacs have 3, 4 or 5 stars and, accordingly, a fortress from 40 to 42%. In vintage cognacs, the average age of alcohol aging is indicated by the following letters: KV - aged cognac, 6 years old with a strength of 40-42%. KVVK - aged cognac of the highest quality for 8-10 years and a strength of 42%. KS - old cognac 10-12 years old 40-43% and, finally, OS - very old, aged 13-15 years and a strength of more than 42%.

Recently Masandra plantallowed Alushta to produce cognac under his license. Here's what it looks like.

You can buy Masandrovsky cognac everywhere in the Crimea, but it is best to try to do it in company stores. Guess why. There are two such stores in Yalta. One of them is located on the embankment near the monument to Lenin, the second in the basement is also on the embankment.

Grapes and wines have medicinal properties if consumed in moderation. Wine cure is called enotherapy. White table wines are recommended for metabolic disorders and anemia. Pink - for the treatment of neuroses, diseases of the stomach and kidneys. Red wines for prevention of cardio-vascular system. Sherry in small doses normalizes blood pressure. Madeira tones.

Speaking about the merits of Crimean wines, one cannot ignore such a moment as the falsification of wine products. When buying, do not try to buy cheap, do not buy from kiosks and untrustworthy stores. Beware of street vendors. IN best case you will be sold low-quality wine or self-made. Good wine is not cheap.

Here are some prices for Crimean wines:

Vintage white port wine from the Sudak factory can cost 90-100 rubles, while a similar port wine from Solnechnaya Dolina will cost 250 rubles. All vintage strong and dessert wines cost between 100 and 200 rubles. The exception is Massandra's "White Red Stone Muscat" and wines produced by the same "Sunny Valley". The highest price of the famous " black doctor”and amounts to a strand of 1000 - 1300 rubles. About " black doctor". This is the rarest brand of dessert wine. Prepared from unique grape varieties Ekim Kara, Jevat Kara, Kefesia and Krona, growing only in the Crimea. The wine has a garnet-red color, and if you look at the sun, the color will become a deep ruby. There is a bouquet of prunes, chocolate and subtle shades of vanilla. The taste is velvety, tart, soft and harmonious. " black doctor» was awarded 5 gold and one silver medal. Exposure - 2 years. Alcohol 16%, sugar 16%. The cost of wines "Solnechnaya Dolina" is quite high. " Black Colonel"(almost the same as" BH ") 1500 rubles, "Sunny Valley" 1500-1700 rubles, the rest in the range from 150 to 180 rubles. Cognac "Massadra" in Massandra's branded store now costs 200 rubles.

Vintage table wines cost between 200 and 300 rubles. Ordinary cognacs aged 3-5 years - 150 - 300 rubles, and vintage cognacs from 200 rubles. and higher. The most expensive Crimean cognac is "Kutuzov" of the Koktebel plant and it costs 3,500 rubles. This is very old cognac with aging of cognac spirits for more than 25 years. Color from light amber to dark amber. The bouquet is mature, with a vanilla-chocolate tint. Wines sold on tap are cheaper, but their quality is lower. We are talking about wine on tap in company stores, and not from hand.

Shop of Crimean wines.

Wine cellar in Yalta

Wine tasting takes place in the following halls and brand shops:

2. Alupka. Tasting complex "Massandra". Palace highway, 9, tel: 72-11-98.

3. Gurzuf. Company store at the entrance to the village.

4. Alushta. Shop of the state farm-factory "Alushta". Per. Ivanova, 3 and the tasting room of the Malorechensky state farm (Solnechnogorskoye village).

5. Pike perch. Tasting room Feodosia highway, 4, tel: 2-12-46, 2-10-43. And also in the store "Wines of Massandra" on the street. Lenina, 28, tel: 2-16-63.

In Novy Svet, a new tasting room with 100 seats has recently been opened in the basement of the Golitsyn House Museum.

Not far from Cape Meganom lies the Solnechnaya Dolina winery. Wine tasting is held here in a new hall in the village. Almond, tel: 3-52-49.

So drink up Crimean wines they are tasty and healthy!

In our time, Crimea is a wonderful territory for creating quality wines. There are already standing samples and time-tested producers here, but the winemaking potential of the peninsula is so huge that in the future, we are sure, local wines will be in demand far beyond its borders.

History of winemaking in Crimea

Winemaking in Crimea originated not hundreds, but thousands of years ago! And if we can accurately find here archaeological evidence of viticulture and winemaking from antiquity, that is, from the sixth century BC, then according to indirect evidence, wine was made in the Crimea long before the appearance of the Greeks. It is believed that even the Taurians, the ancient inhabitants of the peninsula, were already cultivating grapes and developing their own winemaking methods. There is little surprise in this: on the territory of Crimea, nature itself has created ideal conditions for winemaking, suitable soils, a mild climate, an abundance of sun - from time immemorial, the vines feel great in this climatic zone.

The center of the Crimean winemaking was the Bakhchisarai region. Archaeologists have found tarapans carved into the ground here - special presses for wine. In Mangup, Chufut-Kale, Eski-Kermen, Kachi-Kalyon they made wine not only for their own use, but also for sale, trade was carried out with Europe.

Unfortunately, the Crimean vineyards faced serious challenges, as well as winemaking traditions. It can be said that the very course of history either contributed to the rapid flourishing of the Crimean winemaking, or practically led to its death. First, the Huns, Khazars, Polovtsy, Pechenegs attacked the settlements of the Taurians, causing the local vineyards to fall into disrepair. After that, the locals again restored the traditions of making ancient drinks.

In the XIII century, the Genoese, seizing the lands of the peninsula and moving along the coast, successfully developed winemaking, making this area a major place. wine trade. But another rise was followed by a period of desolation. The next decline awaited the vineyards in the XV century with the fall of Genoese rule and the invasion of the Turks. The traditions of local winemaking will be revived in a completely different form and only at the beginning of the 19th century, through the work of amateur enthusiasts, including Count M.S. Vorontsov.

After so many years and so many blows of fate in our time, Crimean winemakers are reviving the great history of local wines, planting new vines, working with European and local varieties, improving equipment and introducing proven world technologies. Already, Crimean wines are reaching a fundamentally new level, and we are sure that the quality of local winemaking will only grow.

Varieties of Crimean wines

Among the Crimean wines, everyone is guaranteed to find something to their taste. After all, Crimean wines are not the same type of products, but completely different producers, varieties, technologies and price categories. Even with similar production methods, wines are obtained with their own special character. On the territory of the peninsula you will find more than twenty different climatic zones, and the variety of soils, landscapes and terroirs make the grapes special, and the wines from it individual.

What kind of wines can be tasted in Crimea? In short, almost any! Young or aged, white or red, dry or sweet, light or fortified - choose and be sure to try.

If you make some general classification Crimean wines, then the list of items will be huge. So let's try to cover at least the most basic.

Table wines are one of the most lively and natural products. No alcohol or flavors - only grape juice. As the name implies, it is customary to serve them to the table and accompany them with a meal. Table wines you can try white, red or rosé. Most often they are represented by dry varieties and contain no more than 0.3% sugar. And if you take semi-sweet or semi-dry, then sugar is not added to them, this is a natural sweetness obtained due to high content sugar in the berry itself. The percentage of alcohol in them often ranges from 10 to 13 percent.

Fortified wines are another pride of Crimea. As the name implies, they have a high strength. This means that alcohol is added to the wine during fermentation. They are divided in turn into strong and dessert. Strong port wine, Madeira or sherry, dessert Cahors, Muscat and Tokay - you definitely heard these names, be sure to appreciate their Crimean incarnation!

For example, ports are made using a special technology for heating pulp and wine materials, as well as subsequent aging. Port wines, although associated with Portugal, have a long history in the Crimean land. At the end of the 19th century, the first Russian ports were produced here. It was port wines that became one of the first wines, the production of which was launched at the Bakhchisarai KVKZ, opened in 1963. Now there is a separate line of red and white ports.

Sparkling wines are divided into ordinary, vintage and collection according to the duration of exposure, brut, dry, semi-dry, semi-sweet and nutmeg according to sugar content, as well as traditional and reservoir according to production technology. There are also sparkling wines. This is a still wine with an artificial addition. carbon dioxide.

By the way, cognac also has a direct relation to winemaking. After all, its basis is grape spirits, which again are born in the Crimean vineyards. The cognacs of the Koktebel and Bakhchisaray factories are definitely worth your attention.

How to choose quality wine?

One of the Crimean stereotypes is that you can buy wine from any taxi driver. Yes, you can, but you don't have to. Please don't risk buying Home wine» from strangers and local markets. Unfortunately, no one can guarantee you the safety of such a product. Let's drop this risky option and try to choose a good wine.

• Buy wine where you definitely won’t run into a fake: in branded stores, at a factory, in specialized liquor stores, wineries or proven large chains. The advice of a sales assistant can help you if you understand what you would like to try.
• Always pay attention to the storage conditions of the drink: if the room is too hot or damp, and the bottles are not horizontal, there is a risk of buying already spoiled wine. You will have to avoid supermarkets and budget stores, where violations of storage standards are common.
• The bottle itself must also be of high quality and well designed. You need opaque glass to block out the sun, a secure stopper, and a label firmly attached with all the necessary information. If something is suspicious, it is better to avoid such a bottle.
• The label itself is worth reading. Pay attention to the composition, grape varieties, harvest year, compliance with GOST, manufacturer's data, availability excise stamp and so on. This will help detect counterfeit.
• Now there is another way to find a good wine - the PGI badge on the label. It means "wine with protected geographical indication”, that is, the crop for him was harvested in the Crimea, and not brought in a tank from distant countries.
• One of important factors choice quality wine- price. Unfortunately, very cheap wine is rarely good.

Wines KVKZ "Bakhchisarai"

Crimean wine and cognac factory "Bakhchisaray" is one of the largest and oldest wineries in Crimea. It has existed since 1963, and the traditions of Bakhchisarai winemaking themselves are centuries old! Back in the 6th-14th centuries AD, wines were already successfully produced here and even traded with Europe, where Crimean wines were valued for original fragrances and tastes. Now in Bakhchisarai there is a full-cycle enterprise, a unique winery with European equipment and the highest quality standards.

Bakhchisarai has its own vineyards and new varieties are constantly planted, so there is no risk of encountering an imported bulk, low-quality wine materials or fakes.

The plant "Bakhchisaray" produces:

• six lines of first-class wines;
• four lines of cognac;
• natural apple ciders;
• original balms on Crimean herbs and aromatic plants.

The wines of the trade mark "Bakhchisaray" are represented by the "Crimean" and "Southern" series, a series of light wines and ports, as well as an elite author's collection. There is also a more affordable, but no less high-quality trademark "Legends of Ai-Petri". These are democratic wines from a blend of European grape varieties and cognacs.

1. The Crimean line reflects terrarar well - these are dry, semi-dry and semi-sweet red and white wines from European and autochthonous grape varieties.
2. Southern wines are represented by assemblages that perfectly reflect the Crimean flavor and perfectly match the local cuisine.
3. In the light series you will find semi-sweet varietal and blended wines with a low level of alcohol - light and drinkable.
4. The author's line is noble wine drinks, unlike other wines of the peninsula. Fortified and sweet, semi-sweet and dry, red, white and pink - you will remember them not only for their interesting names("Khan's Palace", "Moonlight Sonata", "Janike" and so on), but also bright tastes and rich aromas.
5. The ports here are made red and white using classical technology port wine. These are elite drinks, delicate and balanced.

Separately, we highlight the fact that some wines are presented not only in classic bottles, but also in a volume of 375 ml, as well as in Bag in Box containers of 10 liters. All the same level of quality, but in a volume convenient for you to choose from!

Of course, you can't try Bakhchisaray wines, missing the opportunity to appreciate local cognacs, as well as refreshing cider and invigorating balm.

The best wines of Crimea

The wines of "Bakhchisaray" can be safely recommended to friends to also take home as a fragrant Crimean souvenir. But of course they are not the only ones. quality products on the peninsula. If you want something authentic and different from the usual wines, but take a closer look at the Crimean autochthonous varieties, the main value of local winemakers.

Originally Crimean native varieties are often found here and they grow only here. Nowadays, experts count more than 70 of them. Of course, you will not find good wine from all of them, but some are definitely worth trying. If we were already talking about the Bakhchisaray KVKZ, then Bastardo Magarachsky is successfully cultivated here and original wines are made from it.

When choosing Crimean wines, you can always focus on older wineries that have earned a reputation, experience, and consumer confidence.

Their list is familiar to many:

• "Magarach"
• "Massandra"
• "Bakhchisaray"
• "Golden beam"
• "Koktebel"
• "New World"
• "Sunny Valley"

In their assortment you can always find something to your taste. Many wineries conduct tours and tastings, so you can see everything with your own eyes, and make sure of the quality, and try something new.

What wines should you definitely try in Crimea? One of the most popular has long been called "The Seventh Heaven of Prince Golitsyn" from "Massandra". This white dessert wine has been produced since 1880, and it contains interesting varieties - two types of Muscat and Kokur. A honeyed and interesting wine with a rich history.

Many have heard about the Black Doctor wine, which has been made here since 1933 from the local grape of the same name. The name is associated with interesting history about a French doctor who practiced wine therapy in the fight against cholera. This wine is somewhat reminiscent of port wine, but with a truly Crimean aftertaste!

It must be said that in recent years many new trademarks, manufacturers, brands. It is not easy to sort through them, but some young wineries deserve no less attention than factories with history. For example, the first wines from the young estate of Alma Valley appeared only in 2015, but they have already been titled and awarded high awards at many world exhibitions and competitions.

In any case, you can choose your ideal Crimean wine only by trial, and we want you to avoid mistakes! May all your enogastronomic experiments be successful, and Crimean wines become your favorite drinks in your home wine cellar!

The masterpieces of the Crimean winemakers are guaranteed to please the most demanding connoisseurs and will decorate the table at any banquet.

The main advantage of the Crimean wine is naturalness and richness, says sommelier Natalia Goncharova. "When I try french wine I don't even understand why they pay this kind of money. Simple water, slightly sour. And our wine is rich, you can feel the taste and aroma,” she says. For many years, Natalya Semyonovna conducted tastings, including for foreign guests. He says that foreigners were especially captivated by vintage and collection wines, with their rich taste and rich aroma. So that the reader does not reproach us for subjectivity - after all, Natalya lives in the Crimea, Respublika turned to Denis Rudenko, a well-known Moscow taster.
“Traditionally, fortified sweet wines are considered the best wines of the Crimea. This is explained by the fact that in the conditions of the Crimea (especially the South Coast), grapes accumulate by the time of ripening a large number of sugar (the sugar content of the must can reach 26-28%) and dry wines from such grapes would be too heavy and alcoholic,” notes the Russian taster.

1. "White Muscat of the Red Stone" ("Massandra")
Type: Liquor white.
Alcohol - 13%, sugar - 230 g / l.
In 1940, the winemaker Alexander Yegorov glorified the Crimea to the whole world, creating the famous Massandra wine from grapes growing exclusively under the Red Stone rock near Gurzuf. At the international tasting competitions "White Muscat of the Red Stone" was twice announced the best wine world, in addition, in his piggy bank seventeen gold and one silver medals. "White Muscat of the Red Stone" is highly appreciated by the English Queen Elizabeth II. They say that in the 60s, Massandra annually sent a two-hundred-liter barrel of this Muscat to Great Britain through the Leningrad port - especially for Her Majesty's table. However, the wine deserved the title of “King of Muscats” not at all because of the queen’s gastronomic preferences, but thanks to a unique exquisite bouquet. According to Denis Rudenko, it has tones of tea rose, dry herbs, overdried orange peel, and a light shade of cumin. “The taste is typical for dessert nutmeg, full, with good acidity. Tones of dried rose petals, dark honey, dried apricots, fresh orange peel and spices,” notes the taster.
Price: 180-200 hryvnia per bottle.

2. " New World Pinot Franc "brut" (factory of sparkling wines "New World")
Type: Champagne Rose.
Alcohol - 11.5%, sugar - 12 g / l.
Grapes: French Pinot Noir grown on rocky soils in the vicinity of Sevastopol.
The first champagne in Russia was made in the Crimea. It was Ai-Danil sparkling wine, which was aged in the wine cellars of Prince Mikhail Vorontsov in the 1840s. Indeed, it was no different. high quality and, eventually, production ceased. The history of Crimean champagne was continued by Prince Golitsyn, who founded in 1878 a plant for the production of sparkling wine in the Novy Svet estate. Twenty years after the founding of the plant, sparkling wine began to be produced on an industrial scale and delivered to the imperial court - they even allowed the coat of arms of the Russian Empire to be placed on the bottles.
One of the brightest products of the Crimean wine yard is the New World Pinot Franc collection champagne. It is made from Pinot noir grapes (fr. Black cone) - the variety got its name because of the cone-like shape of the bunch. Champagne gets a pink tint naturally, as the skin of the grapes is painted black. Tasters note a light floral aroma of wine, oily and candy flavor on the palate.
Price: 135-170 hryvnia.

3. "Black Doctor" ("Sunny Valley")
Type: Dessert red.
Alcohol - 16%, sugar - 160 g/l.
Grapes: Indigenous varieties Ekim Kara, Jevat Kara and Kefesia.
The sonorous name made this wine the leader in the number of various fakes. Perhaps, no other Crimean wine has so many clones and imitators. You will definitely meet the "Black Doctor" both in roadside eateries and in street shops, where unpretentious holiday-goers are treated to cheap vodka.
The real and only producer of this vintage dessert red wine was and remains the winery "Solnechnaya Dolina". "Black Doctor" is interesting for its varietal composition, which includes a rare native variety Ekim Kara. It is curious that transferred to other places and regions, the same varieties can produce higher yields, but at the same time lose their unique properties. The production of wine from native varieties began half a century ago: at first the drink was called "Dessert Red", then - "Ruby Crimean", and in 1967 it received the name "Black Doctor" (Ekim Kara).
“The aroma is not too strong, with tones of cherry jam, prunes, suede, light notes of almonds and dark chocolate. The taste is rich, mostly cherry-prune. There are hints of cocoa and cream in the aftertaste,” Denis Rudenko describes this wine.
Price: 170-220 hryvnia.

4. "Bastardo Cimmeria" ("Koktebel")
Type: Vintage dessert red wine.
Alcohol - 16%, sugar - 190 g/l.
Grapes: Bastardo Magarachsky.
The unconditional pride of the Koktebel plant. The aroma of a dark ruby ​​drink has tones of wild berries, plums and chocolate shades. The taste will not leave you indifferent either - it has a lot of vanilla, light spicy notes with jam tones and hints of dried fruits.
Price: 70-120 hryvnia.

5. "Madera Alminskaya" ("Magarach")
Alcohol - 19.5%, sugar - 40 g/l.
Grapes: a mixture of white grape varieties with a predominance of the Rkatsiteli variety grown in the Alma Valley.
Madeira - a drink born twice by the sun - oak barrels with strong wine they mature for years in a special solarium, similar to a greenhouse. During this time, a quarter of the volume of wine evaporates (according to winemakers, angels drink exactly that much). Thanks to the caramel flavor mixed with roasted nuts, which gives cognac-rum tones at the exit, Madeira is called "ladies' cognac". According to Denis Rudenko, "Alminskaya" is the best of the Crimean Madeiras.
Price: 35-55 hryvnia.

Crimean wines have unique bouquets of aromas and palatability because they are made from rare varieties grapes grown only in this southern region.

Crimean winemakers know many recipes that have existed for centuries, which makes alcoholic beverages produced in this part of the country unique.

Table wines

Wines of Crimea - natural product, because They do not contain any artificial additives. Table varieties are obtained in the process of fermentation of grape juice. They do not add alcohol, because. it is formed naturally in the product. The aging period of table alcoholic drinks is small - about 2 years. They are consumed directly at the table, washed down with food in the process of eating.

The strength of such wines can vary from 10 to 12%. Sugar in the composition of such alcohol contains a small amount, so table wines are often called dry. If sweeter varieties of wine berries were used in the manufacturing process, then the table will be called semi-dry.

Crimean wines, whose names are sometimes the same as those of alcohol produced in other countries, have their own unique taste. Among the alcoholic products of the peninsula, you can find Rkatsiteli, Kokur, Chardonnay or Merlot.

The color palette of such alcohol is rich. It can be not only red or white, but even have a pink tint.

Traditional medicine is attributed to this type of wine medicinal properties. It is believed that moderate consumption of table drinks during a meal can serve as a good prevention of diseases of the cardiovascular system.

Fortified and Port wines

In the recipe for fortified wines of the Crimea, there is another technology used in the process of their manufacture. Winemakers inhibit the fermentation of grape juice by adding alcohol to the must when it is in the fermentation stage.

Fortified varieties are heterogeneous. Among them, drinks of both high strength and weak ones stand out.

To the strong fortified wines include port. The birthplace of this alcohol is Portugal. Here, for the first time, they began to mix berries with grape juice, and then heat the resulting mixture. However, Crimean winemakers have somewhat changed the recipes of their Portuguese colleagues, adapting the manufacturing procedure to the grape varieties growing in the region. The taste of Crimean port wine is softer.

This type of alcohol is aged in barrels for at least 3 years, due to which a drink with a content of 17-20% alcohol has a cognac flavor. So, for example, pink Alushta has a harmonious, memorable taste. Its strength is 17%, and the sugar content does not exceed 6%.

Thick dark port brand Massandra, Koktebel or Solnechnaya Dolina cannot be confused with other varieties of this type of alcohol.

Each wine of the Crimea type of port wine has its own characteristics. So, for example, the dark red Livadia alcohol has a nightshade aroma and a velvety taste. Port wine Magarych is one of the oldest types of Crimean red alcohol. The sugar content in it reaches 10%, while it is quite strong, because. contains 18% alcohol.

Sherries and Madeiras

They began to produce in the Crimea at the beginning of the last century. The peculiarity of the production is that the aging is carried out in barrels with the addition of special yeast. After some time, they add to such a wort. The alcohol content in sherry reaches 16-18%. In Crimea, this drink is produced under the Massandra brand.

Crimean Madeira for a long time stands in direct sunlight in incomplete barrels. Thanks to this, it gets a deep golden hue and rich cognac taste. Madeira fortress is not less than 18%. Madera Crimean includes 3 grape varieties and is aged in barrels for at least 5 years.

Drink Sersial II refers to the sweet wine semi-dry. He is not Madeira pure form, has a somewhat sharp, tart taste and a spicy bouquet of aroma. Its strength is 19%, and the sugar content does not exceed 4%.

Dessert and flavored

As part of dessert wines, the sugar content can reach 20%, alcohol should be no more than 16%. For the production of such alcohol, Muscat grape varieties are used, for example, Kokur, Aleatico or Pinot Gris.

The peninsula produces a rare dessert wine of the Muscat white Red Stone brand. It is made in the mountainous parts of the peninsula, in the town of Gurzuf. Here, on slate soils, grapes grow, which become the basis for such brands of dessert alcohol as Pinot gray, Saperavi and Cabernet Sauvignon. Taste features this type of alcohol is revealed when it is served with cheeses, fruits and desserts.

Dessert Pinot Gris Ai-Danil refers to the type of alcohol. The wine is aged for at least 3 years, thanks to which it gets its exquisite, mild taste. It is not too strong - 13% alcohol, while containing 24% sugar.

The Crimean Cahors Yuzhnoberezhny gained great popularity, having received 2 medals in 1958 at competitions held in Yugoslavia and Hungary. Cahors is distinguished by a deep dark red color, has rich taste with cream flavor. Interestingly, this short-aged drink has purple hues.

3 awards in the 50s. of the last century received wine Solnechnaya Dolina, made from several varieties of grapes at once, the berries of which must contain at least 22-24% sugar.

Dessert drink Surozh has a rich amber hue, which later turns into honey. This alcohol has a rich spicy bouquet. It is made mainly from 1 grape variety.

Dessert Ruby belongs to vintage red wine, which has a slightly chocolate tint and mild taste.

Flavored wines are represented by vermouths, they add various kinds of flavoring and aromatic herbal additives, for example, wormwood. The most popular are such Crimean vermouths as the Bouquet of Crimea and the Monastic Treat. The alcohol content in - up to 18%, sugar - 10-16%.

Vermouths are often used to make cocktails. When using flavored wine as an aperitif, dilute it with water.

Sparkling wine

Sparkling alcoholic drinks produced in the Crimea come in different shades, like. By aging, ordinary wines, vintage or collection wines are distinguished. This type of alcohol differs from table or dessert alcohol in that it contains bubbles of carbon dioxide obtained naturally.

Crimean white wine has a delicate aroma and complex taste. You can feel light shades of citrus and vanilla in it.

In addition to sparkling, they distinguish the species sparkling wines. Bubbles in such drinks are larger, but they disappear faster. A striking example of such semi-sweet Crimean is the Bakhchisarai Fountain brand.

Sparkling alcohol is distinguished by the degree of presence of sugar in it. So, if it is almost absent in the composition of the drink, then sparkling belongs to the category. With 2.5% sugar, champagne is considered dry, 4.5% - semi-dry. Semi-sweet will contain up to 8% sweetness, and nutmeg - up to 9.5%.

Each enterprise has its own technology, according to which additional substances are added to champagne to make the drink taste of high quality and unlike others. The process can take up to 3 years. Sparkling alcohol with such exposure is one of the most expensive.