Hello Friends! Welcome to Russia!
First of all, a little introduction. What do you know about Russia? Let’s try to guess! Most likely, you think so: this is a very cold country, only pines and spruces grow here, and certainly no grapes grow.
Really, many regions are located in the north, for example, the well-known Siberia. But, let’s look at the map, it`s best with meridians and parallels. Find the 45th parallel or, if it is not on the map, mentally draw. And you will see that it is here that several southern provinces are located.
If you are be observant, you will notice that this parallel also runs through Bordeaux and Piedmont. This means that the climate of these Russian provinces is similar to the best wine-growing regions of France and Italy. But, in reality, all is even more better, since the best vineyards in Russia are located in an absolutely unique climatic place, between the two seas – the Black and Azov. Therefore, we can confidently say that the conditions for growing grapes in Russia are ideal!
What else? It will be useful to know that all famous classic grape varieties are cultivated in Russia. In addition, here you can taste wines from unique grape varieties grown only in Russia and some countries of the former USSR.
However, perhaps you also did not know until now that Russia has centuries-old winemaking traditions. And now, thanks to huge investments and the most modern technologies, Russian winemakers produce wines that are not inferior in quality to the famous world wineries!
And these are not only simple, ordinary wines. In Russia, you will find local wines for every taste and budget, from inexpensive young wines for every day to excellent aged wines for special occasions, incl sparkling, fortified and dessert! Now it remains for us to figure out
HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT RUSSIAN WINE.
It is important! After all, as in almost any country, in Russia there is wine of not very good quality too, the so-called ‘Plonk’. How not to be mistaken? Let’s start with the simplest. With labels and lines in the wine list. You are now in Russia, so info often can only be in Russian.
By what main parameters do we choose wine? Usually for these three (see below). Even in the store, by eye, it is not always possible to distinguish white wine from red wine, and even more so how you will understand what kind of grapes in the bottle. So it’s best to know for sure. Well and in the bar you can choose a glass of something yourself and even have a little chat with the bartender in Russian.
#traveltorussia #russiancuisine #russianwine
So, click on the links and become a Russian sommelier!
RED – WHITE – ROSE. How to determine and choose
GRAPE VARIETIES
SUGAR CONTENT (brut/dry/sweet)
And besides, absolutely everything about wine in Russia. Including how to identify and choose specific types of wine, such as dessert and fortified, fruit and mulled, vermouth and sparkling.
Here:
and here:
So what kind of Russian wine is worthy of your attention and wallet? This is not an easy question, as there is a wine factories (not wineries!) in almost every province of Russia, but there are at least a hundred brands!
We have three tips for you to help you choose an excellent Russian wine, that rivals best Italian, Spanish and even French wines!
a) THE FIRST ADVICE and perhaps the most important! PAY ATTENTION TO THE PRICE !
* Regular quality Russian wines cannot cost less than $ 4 (normal price) / $ 3 (sale price)!!!
* High quality wines cost usually $ 7-10
* Premium quality – from $ 10 per bottle
These prices are relevant for supermarkets. In a restaurant or bar, the surcharge is at least 25%
Calculate the actual equivalent in ₽/rubles with a online converter by this link:
b) ADVICE # 2. If you buy an inexpensive ordinary Russian wine for 4-7 USD (this advice does not apply to more expensive brands), it is better to choose wine from a vineyard owner, then you can be sure of excellent quality. The fact is that small provincial wine bottlers often buy cheap wine materials from different suppliers, so the taste and quality of wine is unstable.
Therefore – our second tip! Inexpensive sparkling wine under $7 ? Look for the inscription in Russian on the label or back label:
ВИНО С ЗАЩИЩЕННЫМ ГЕОГРАФИЧЕСКИМ УКАЗАНИЕМ
that is ‘Wine with the PGI Status’ (Protected geographical indication).
c) ADVICE # 3. Buy wine of the brands that we have indicated in this video. These are not all producers of good wine in Russia, but these are brands that can be found in almost every supermarket.
A guide on how to identify a fake, as well as the rules and restrictions on the sale of alcohol in Russia, read here:
Cheers!