Rating of the best Crimean wines for 2022

One of the most picturesque places in the world is ancient Taurida - the current Crimea. He pleases his guests not only with beautiful landscapes, mountains, beaches, but also with amazing taste of alcoholic products of his own production. Hundreds of kilometers of the fertile land of the peninsula stretch marvelous fields of vineyards, where the most exquisite and sought-after varieties are grown. Winemaking is a leading area of ​​activity for many Crimeans, and local producers offer a wide range of products.

A review of the best wines of the Crimea with recommendations from experts will help you understand all the variety so as not to make mistakes and make the right choice of an excellent drink from Taurida.

Excursion into history

Crimean wine is an alcoholic drink made from grape must or fresh grape berries grown on the territory of the Crimean peninsula and processed at wineries located there.

Archaeologists claim that the first distilleries in the region appeared in ancient times in the 4th century BC. However, the early flowering of winemaking fell on the period of its development by the Greeks. In ancient Chersonese, magnificent drinks were produced, which were popular both among local residents, as well as among the population of other countries and colonies.

Turkish rule proved unfavorable for the industry due to the ban on the use of wine. However, the active cultivation of table varieties and the abolition of taxes did not allow the traditional agricultural sector to be completely destroyed.

During the Russian Empire, production was restored with the active participation of Prince Potemkin, who was the first among statesmen to consider the prospects for the development of the industry. Princes M. Vorontsov and L. Golitsyn made a significant contribution to this cause, planting almost all foothill fields with vineyards. As a result, it was possible to develop viable varieties and move on to the rapid development of the wine business with the development of new production technologies and prescription formulas. The regulation of the industry at the legislative level in the 19th century had a beneficial effect on the volume of external and internal sales.

Despite the fact that in the mid-80s. a significant part of the vineyards was destroyed by the “Gorbachev reform”, now the Crimean winemaking with an accentuated local individuality is gradually being restored. Small wineries spring up producing good quality "garage wine", and some manufacturers have become world famous. Unfortunately, after 2014, access to the international platform for Crimean masters turned out to be closed and all the charm of Crimean wines is now available only for domestic consumption.

Winemaking conditions

Vineyards on the peninsula occupy more than 20 thousand hectares, and after 2014 almost 2,800 hectares were planted, and the state allocated more than a billion rubles to support the industry.

Favorable climatic conditions:

1. In summer, the peninsula is sunny, dry and hot, and in winter it is humid and quite warm.
2. In July, the average temperature is a comfortable 24⁰С with a total number of hours of sunshine up to 2250, which guarantees the full ripening of the berries.
3. Among the winds, warm eastern and southern Black Sea breezes prevail, which bring humidity and rain, mainly in autumn and spring.
4. Mountains protect the crop from northern winds, on the hills and slopes of which a quality product grows, slowly developing a complex bouquet and maintaining acidity.
5. Very diverse soils are subject to erosion and weathering, which does not allow them to be used for other crops. However, the saturation with iron, calcium and minerals allows you to grow a quality crop.

grape varieties

111 varieties are cultivated on the peninsula, of which 40 are table varieties and 71 are technical varieties.

Zone	Area	Canteens	Technical
Yuzhnoberezhnaya	Alushta, Sudak, Yalta	Asma, Italy, Cardinal, Hamburg Muscat, Amber Muscat, Moldova, Early Magaracha, Red Globe, Shabash, Chocolate	Aligote, Aleatico, Crimean Albillo, Bastardo Magarachsky, Verdelho, Cabernet Sauvignon, Kefesia, White Kokur, Merlot, White Muscat, Pink Muscat, Pinot Gris, Rkatsiteli, Saperavi, Semillon, Green Sauvignon, Tokay, Pink Traminer, Shabash, Chardonnay, Ekim Kara
Foothill	Bakhchisarai	Italy, Cardinal, Codryanka, Moldova, Amber Muscat, Hamburg Muscat, Early Magaracha	Aligote, Bastardo Magarachsky, Cabernet Sauvignon, White Kokur, Merlot, Muscat Ottonel, Pinot Gris, Pinot Franc, Rhine Riesling, Rkatsiteli, Chardonnay, Saperavi, Green Sauvignon, Pink Traminer,
steppe	Simferopol	Agadai, Arcadia, Italy, Karaburnu, Cardinal, Moldova, Hamburg Muscat, Odessa souvenir, Early Magaracha	Aligote, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Rhine Riesling, Rkatsiteli, Saperavi, Green Sauvignon, Chardonnay

In general, table and technical grades correlate 17 to 83 percent.

Wineries

The largest enterprises of the Crimean wine industry are presented in the table.

Name	Capabilities	Location	Official site
Winery "Massandra"	More than 100 brands are produced, 38 types of vintage wines, up to 19.5 million bottles per year. Assortment: 55% - a group of fortified (liqueur) wines, of which 35% are dessert and 20% are strong; 45% - dry aged (Premium), dry (Author's), dry, semi-dry, semi-sweet and sweet.	town Massandra, Yalta	massandra.su
Factory of vintage wines "Koktebel"	Tank farm for the production of still wines of at least 5 million liters; barrel park for aging vintage still and dessert wines, port wines of at least 6 million liters; Madeira area is not less than 1 million liters.	town Koktebel	vinokoktebel.ru
Factory of vintage wines "Inkerman"	More than 3,000 hectares of vineyards on the territory of the Kachinskaya and Alma valleys, where 17 international and autochthonous varieties are grown. Products are aged in limestone storages located at a depth of up to 50 m. The galleries occupy more than 5 hectares and contain almost 15 million liters.	Sevastopol	inkerman.ru
Winery "Solnechnaya Dolina"	Vineyards on an area of ​​352 hectares. Processing capacity of 5 thousand tons per year, more than 3 million liters are bottled annually.	With. Sun Valley, Sudak	sunvalley1888.ru
Wine house "Fotisal"	Vineyards on an area of ​​775 hectares. Production capacity 1.7 million bottles per month.	With. Tankovoye, Bakhchisarai district	fotisal.ru
Winery "Golden Field"	Vineyards on an area of ​​700 hectares. About 6 million liters of bottled wine are produced annually.	With. Golden Field, Kirovsky district	gold-pole.com
Alma Valley Winery	Vineyard on an area of ​​370 hectares. 50 brands of nine lines are produced with a volume of up to 1.5 million bottles per year.	With. Vilino, Bakhchisarai district	alma-valley.ru
Winery "Dom Zakharinyh"	Vineyard on an area of ​​88 hectares. The collection includes 75 Crimean autochthonous varieties.	Simferopol	valeryzaharin.com/en, interfin-wine.com
Winery "VK Satera"	Vineyards on an area of ​​138 hectares. 17 varieties are grown (nine red and eight white). Up to 3.5 million bottles are produced annually.	With. Dolinnoye, Bakhchisarai district	essewine.com

winemaking technology

On the peninsula, the classic multi-level gravity technology is mainly used for production - from the vine to the glass, consisting of the stages: acceptance of berries, vinification, aging, bottling, storage and shipment to consumers.The main point is to move the product in this chain without the use of excessive mechanical influences.

In addition, biodynamic production is becoming popular, representing the complex use of non-GMO fertilizers in soil cultivation, vineyard processing, as well as in the production process on specific days according to the lunar calendar in accordance with the location of the planets relative to each other.

As a rule, the maturation period of the product in bottles and barrels is from six months to five years.

Wine storages are created in cellars, dungeons, ravines, rock masses - in any place where, in a hot climate, it is easy to maintain a stable humidity within 80-85% and a temperature of +16⁰С.

Criterias of choice

To avoid mistakes when choosing a quality product, experts recommend paying attention to the following points:

• the drink is contained in a transparent bottle made of dark glass that protects from direct sunlight;
• the presence of the inscription "Protected Geographical Indication - PGI";
• on a well-executed label, the varieties from which the wine is made, the year of its collection, as well as the name and address of the production, must be indicated;
• information on the excise stamp fully corresponds to the label;
• cork stopper made of natural material with the logo of the manufacturer in the neck sits at the level of the walls, and does not stick out or sag;
• the drink has a pleasant smell of fruity aroma and the barrel where it was stored;
• the price starts on average in the Crimea from 250 rubles, in Russia - from 500 rubles per bottle;
• the absence of flashy labels with the repeated declension of the word "Crimea" or the names of popular holiday destinations.

Where could I buy

Crimean wine should be bought in company stores where the requirements for storage rules are strictly observed, which provides for a mandatory horizontal position at a humidity of 85% and a temperature of 12-14⁰С. Consultants will always tell you: which company is better to buy, what composition, properties, taste, how much it costs.

A wide range of wines from the Crimea is offered for ordering online on the pages of online stores of leading manufacturers or wholesalers. For buyers, there are descriptions and main characteristics of drinks, their photos, price, as well as customer reviews.

The best Crimean wines

The rating of quality brands from Crimea was developed on the basis of feedback from users who rated on the pages of the largest Internet alcohol markets, such as Red-White, Aromatny Mir, Winestyle. Popularity is due to taste, opinions, as well as price.

The review is made up of ratings among the best red, rose and white wines of Crimean wineries, presented on the domestic market in bottles of 0.75 liters.

TOP 4 best red wines from Crimea

Alma Valley Pinot Noir Reserve

Brand: Alma Valley.
Producer - Alma Valley (village of Vilino, Bakhchisaray district).

An aged natural product made from high-quality Pinot Noir, which is grown and hand-picked in the Alminsky Valley. Fermentation takes place in stainless steel and oak fermentation tanks. Partial aging is carried out for a whole year in Burgundy-type oak barrels. The expressive aroma reveals nuances of black berries, forest flowers, raspberry jam, cherries, balsamic herbs and spices. It goes well with stewed and fried meat, game and poultry, pasta, mushroom risotto, soft cheese, vegetable stew.

Price - from 2,584 rubles.

• saturated color;
• soft taste;
• velvety tannins;
• harmonious acidity;
• dry aftertaste.

• overpriced.

Tasting Pinot Noir 2014:

"Bakkal Su"

Brand - "Valery Zakharyin"
The manufacturer is Interfin LLC (Simferopol).

A semi-sweet product created by winemaker Valery Zakharyin from a blend of Bastardo, Saperavi and Cabernet Sauvignon. The ruler is named after the location of the site in the valley of the Alma River (western foothill part), where the soils are saturated with underground sources. The rich aroma contains notes of herbs, spices and dark fruits. Suitable with meats, pâtés, sweet and savory pies, desserts, fruits and cheeses.

Price - from 1,558 rubles.

• ruby color;
• balanced acidity;
• rich aroma;
• silky taste;
• pleasant sweetness;
• persistent aftertaste.

• high price.

Winery Valery Zakharyin:

Cabernet Grand Reserve

Brand - Grand Reserve.
Producer - LLC "Inkerman plant of vintage wines" (Sevastopol).

An exquisite natural product from a limited edition branded collection that appeared in 2008 with an exposure of more than three years. It is the embodiment of the rich experience and skill of Crimean winemakers, combined with the unique characteristics of the terroir of the peninsula. The drink is made from Cabernet Sauvignon grown in the Alma and Kachinsky valleys on the west coast. Exceptional organoleptic properties are acquired thanks to the classical technology of preparation and prolonged exposure for more than one and a half years in oak barrels. The complex aroma has a feeling of ripe fruit, spicy spices, morocco, violet, as well as characteristic tones inherent in long-term aging in Caucasian and French oak tanks.Organically complements fatty meat, barbecue, game, salads, cheeses.

Price - from 861 rubles.

• saturated color;
• garnet reflections;
• generous aroma;
• optimal balance of tannins and acidity;
• rich harmonious taste;
• feeling of bitterness;
• velvety texture;
• long aftertaste.

• not detected.

Winery Inkerman:

"Sellar Master" Cabernet Franc Bakhchisaray

Brand - Sellar Master.
Producer - VK Satera LLC (V. Dolinnoe, Bakhchisarai district).

A rich drink to complement roasted or stewed meats, as well as poultry dishes. It has a mild taste with a floral and berry aroma with a hint of violet and black berries. For production, the hand-picked Cabernet Franc variety, which grows in the Bakhchisarai region, is used. Fermentation is carried out at a set temperature in stainless steel tanks. Aging is carried out in oak barrels.

Price - from 784 rubles.

• dark ruby ​​color;
• rich aroma;
• harmonious taste;
• pleasant astringency;
• moderate acidity;
• light aftertaste;
• reasonable average price.

• not detected.

comparison table

	Alma Valley Pinot Noir Reserve	"Bakkal Su"	Cabernet Grand Reserve	"Sellar Master"
Wine	dry	semi-sweet	dry	dry
Fortress, %	13.5	12	11-13	14.4
Variety	Pinot Noir	Saperavi, Bastardo, Cabernet Sauvignon	Cabernet Sauvignon	Cabernet Franc
Color depth	rich	dark	rich	dark
Body/Saturation	average	average	full-bodied	average
Serving temperature, deg	16-18	14-16	15-18	16-18

TOP 3 best Crimean rose wines

Massandra Rose Dry

Brand - Massandra.
Producer - JSC "Industrial and agricultural association "Massandra" (village Massandra, Yalta).

Table natural product for use as an aperitif along with cheeses, salads, snacks. For production, red varieties are used, grown in our own vineyards and processed according to classical technology. Traditional vinification of the must is carried out in steel tanks at a controlled temperature.

Price - from 374 rubles.

• bright color;
• a feeling of delicate shades of strawberries, raspberries, cherries and light nuances of caramel;
• fresh rich taste;
• excellent value for money;
• stylish design;
• well-known brand.

• no.

"ZB Wine"

Brand - Zolotaya Balka.
Producer - Agrofirma Zolotaya Balka LLC (Sevastopol).

Natural fruit product from a blend of Pinot Noir and Cabernet Sauvignon, hand-picked at the optimum moment of ripening. Each berry is controlled to produce the perfect wine material and prevent premature oxidation. During the manufacturing process, the must briefly contacts the skins and, after draining, is fermented in stainless steel containers using the white wine technology. Served as an aperitif or accompaniment to fish, white meat, shrimp, appetizers.

Price - from 534 rubles.

• brilliant light color;
• air fragrance;
• sensation of tones of raspberries, strawberries, currants, sea breeze and delicate nuances of lemon balm;
• generous fruity bouquet;
• pleasant sourness;
• delicate aftertaste.

• not detected.

"Muscat Festival"

Brand - Sun Valley.
Manufacturer - Solnechnaya Dolina JSC (Sudak, Solnechnaya Dolina village).

A natural liqueur wine to lighten the mood or complete a gala dinner, paired with fruit or dessert, as well as a drink on its own. For production, nutmeg varieties are used, which determine the variety of aromas, bright color and richness of taste.

Price - from 594 rubles.

• elegant color;
• pleasant aroma;
• sensation of tones of apricot, honey and tea rose;
• delicate shades of ginger root and lemon wormwood;
• oily taste;
• light sourness;
• aftertaste with hints of figs, dried melon and rose jam;
• solid tube.

• not identified.

Video review "Muscat Festival":

comparison table

	Massandra	"ZB Wine"	"Muscat Festival"
Wine	dry	dry	sweet
Fortress, %	12	12.5	16
Variety	red	Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir	Muscat Ottonel, Muscat, Hamburg Muscat, Amber Muscat, Pink Muscat
Color depth	moderate	light	moderate
Body/Saturation	lung	lung	average
Serving temperature, deg	12-14	14-16	16-18

TOP 3 best white wines of Crimea

"Cosmos" Riesling

Brand: Cosmos.
The manufacturer is Yayla LLC (Sevastopol).

A lively invigorating drink from Rhine Riesling grown on the Karatau plateau to serve with seafood, fish, light snacks and pan-Asian cuisine. Berries are picked by hand at the end of September and are collected in a small container of 10 kg. The must obtained after pressing the grapes undergoes a natural cold clarification. Fermentation is carried out with natural yeast. The most gentle and efficient extraction of varietal qualities is achieved through fermentation for two months at low temperatures. After the onset of cold weather, it is suspended in order to resume in April next year.Steel vats are used for aging, from which the wine is bottled with bright labels.

Price - from 2,268 rubles.

• straw color;
• fresh aroma;
• sensation of citrus and green apple tones;
• refreshing taste;
• invigorating acidity;
• long aftertaste.

• space price.

Trying Riesling Cosmos:

"Rem Akchurin" Muscat

Brand: Rem Akchurin.
Producer - VK Satera LLC (V. Dolinnoe, Bakhchisarai district).

Refined natural product grown in the Black Muscat Valley for use as an aperitif or in harmony with cheeses, fruits, desserts and seafood. Manual harvesting is carried out after the berries have reached perfect ripeness. Vinification technology is carried out according to the traditional method for white grapes. Additional saturation is given by cryomaceration for 14 hours.

Price - from 1,887 rubles.

• light golden color;
• rich aroma;
• a sense of shades of orange peel, tropical fruits, Turkish delight, roses;
• balanced taste;
• live acidity;
• long aftertaste.

• overpriced.

«Solnechnaya Dolina» White sweet

Brand - Sun Valley.
Manufacturer - Solnechnaya Dolina JSC (Sudak, Solnechnaya Dolina village).

A liqueur product produced since the mid-1950s. of the last century, with a real extravaganza of taste created by a blend of European and autochthonous varieties grown in the vineyards of the peninsula. The taste of the drink has a special local flavor, combined with the finest harmony and elegance of the structure. The charm and added complexity comes from aging in oak barrels for three years.Suitable for consumption in its pure form, supplemented with fresh fruits and berries, desserts, unsalted nuts.

Price - from 979 rubles.

• amber color with a golden tint;
• intoxicating aroma;
• sensation of tones of honey, melon, peach, flowers, herbs, exotic fruits;
• rich taste;
• enveloping aftertaste.

• no.

Winery "Solnechnaya Dolina":

comparison table

	"Cosmos"	"Rem Akchurin"	"Sunny Valley"
Wine	dry	dry	sweet
Fortress, %	12.6	13.5	16
Variety	Riesling	Muscat	Furmint, Pinot Gris, Muscat, Kokur, Solnechnodolinsky, Sary Pandas, white
Color depth	light	light	moderate
Body/Saturation	average	average	average
Serving temperature, deg	10-12	10-12	16-18

Good luck choosing. Take care of yourself and your loved ones!