Years after the collapse of the Soviet Union, the
vineyard landscape of the States of the Black Sea re-appeared but they are in need of
renovation. A great share of the production is under the control of the big industrial
companies. Lack of investments and modern
equipment affects their performance.
In the beginning of the XIXth century, at
the invitation of the czar Alexander, French wine-growers brought into Moldavia
their grape varieties and their knowledge. That explains the traditional presence of
Cabernet-Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Merlot, Chardonnay and Sauvignon. Currently their
oenological practices and equipment leave a lot to desire, but the quality of the grape is
excellent. Since 1991, wines produced under management of international wine-growers
like Jacques Lurton, Alain Thienot and Hugh Ryman are at good levels and improve
year by year.
In Moldavia, the influence of the Black Sea remains strong. Summers are dry and hot
enough, but the rainfall during the remainder of the year is sufficient.
The center of the country has mainly Sauvignon and Chardonnay grapes. The South and the
Southeast, hotter and dry, lends itself to red vines. The dominant white grape
variety is Aligoté followed by Rkatsiteli, Sauvignon,
Feteasca, Chardonnay and Traminer.
The Merlot is the most cultivated grape variety followed by Cabernet-Sauvignon,
Pinot Noir and Saperavi.
The vines of Balti, to the north, produce essentially white wines. In Purcari, to
the southeast, Cabernet is the main grape. Negru of Purkar, an assemblage of
Cabernet and Saperavi can have a remarkable longevity. The Romanesti, a red wine produced
to the north of Chisinau, is equally excellent. It carries the name of family Romanov, to
which the vineyard belonged formerly. Cricova offers very good Cabernet wines.
Ukraine
The most important wine-producing
region of the Ukraina is Crimea. The vineyard there is essentially concentrated on the
south coast of the peninsula, the remainder of the region not offering a climate hot
enough.
The Ruby of Crimea, a powerful assemblage of Saperavi, Matrassa, Aleatica, Cabernet and
Malbec is to key. Currently, the best wines are derived from the cellar of Massandra in
Yalta.
Georgia
If the vast Rion valley, to the center, welcomes the essential of the vineyard,
quality wines are mountainous hillsides of Caucasia, to the north-east of the
country. The climate there is slightly more dry and hotter than in the West, but, thanks
to torrents that descend mountains, generally muddy grounds are not lacking water. The
first town of the region is Telavi, that has given its name to a white wine based on
Rkatsiteli and a red Saperavi. Two of white wines most considered in Georgia, the
Gurdzhaani and the Tsnandali are assemblages of Rkatsiteli and Mtsvane raised in the oak
during three years. To know more about Georgian wines, visit the site : Georgian Wine Page
Russia
Russia includes two great wine-producing areas, both are situated in regions
where the presence of important water source tempers the rigor of winters. In the region
of Krasnodar, on banks of the Black Sea, the grape varieties Riesling, Aligoté,
Sauvignon, Sémillon, Pinot Gris and Cabernet-Sauvignon are cultivated for the wine
production; best originate from the region of Anapa. More to the north, to Rostov-on-Don,
one finds wines based on red Tsimlyansky that go from the most dry to the sweetest.
Stavropol, to the north of the Caucases, is considered for its dry wines based on Riesling
and Sylvaner, as well as for its muscats. Finally, vineyards situated on the shores of the
Caspian sea, around Makhachkala, produce red and dessert wines.
Kazakhstan, Azerbaïdjan and
Armenia
Kazakhstan is considered
as for its Riesling and its dessert wines.
Wines from Azerbaïdjan are often dessert wines. Best are red wines of
Matrassa and white wines of original Sadilly near Baku, on the seashores of the Caspian
sea. Armenia red wines and strengthened liqueur wines are a bit
original. Vintages from the region of Echmiadzin, on the other hand, have a
good reputation.
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