Top 100 wines of Russia - Page 4

Discover the top 100 best wines of Russia as well as the best winemakers in the region. Explore the varietals of the wines that are popular of Russia and the best vintages to taste in this region.

Discovering the wine region of Russia

Russia is the largest country in the world, covering over 17 million square kilometers (6. 5 million square miles). It also spans 143 degrees of longitude (27-170°E) and 41 degrees of latitude (41-82°N). Only the southernmost lands of the country are capable of supporting quality viticulture.

Many Russian vineyards are located near the borders with Georgia, Azerbaijan and Ukraine, between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea. Dagestan, Russia's southernmost republic, and its close neighbour, Krasnodar Krai, are the main wine regions. They border the Caspian and Black Seas respectively - an important factor in their climatic suitability for viticulture. Without the moderating influence of these inland seas, the very continental Climate would be too extreme for successful viticulture.

Russian winters are generally very cold, so much so that many vineyards pile soil around their vines to protect them from terminal frosts. Summers are sunny and Warm, which sometimes makes irrigation necessary. The Caspian and Black Seas also mitigate the threat of drought, although a significant proportion of Dagestan is semi-desert. The most common Grape varieties in Russian vineyards are Rkatsiteli, which accounts for more than one in three vines, and a range of European varieties.

Discover the grape variety: Saperavi

Originally from Georgia - Kakhetie region - where it has been cultivated for a long time. This variety is found in many countries such as Russia, Bulgaria, the Caucasus and Crimean republics, etc. Care should be taken not to confuse it with others, which are admittedly quite similar, but which bear the name Saperavi, generally followed by another name. In France, the "real Saperavi" is practically unknown, it is however registered since November 2012 in the Official Catalogue of wine grape varieties list A1.

Food and wine pairing with a wine of Russia

wines from the region of Russia go well with generally quite well with dishes of pork, rich fish (salmon, tuna etc) or vegetarian such as recipes of ham croquette with purée, cod and potato gratin or tuna, pepper and tomato quiche.

Organoleptic analysis of wine of Russia

On the nose in the region of Russia often reveals types of flavors of citrus, red fruit or dried fruit and sometimes also flavors of black fruit, plum or cherry.

News from the vineyard of Russia

California 2022 harvest variable but quality predictions high

Given the sheer climatic diversity, the California 2022 harvest was a story of variability, specific varieties and varied approaches to making it all work out. Yields are down, nearly across the board. Still, winemakers and vineyard managers report high-quality fruit throughout the state, and the prediction is that the potential for fantastic, complex wines is high. There was tremendous variability up and down (as well as across) the state. An uneven growing season, with uneven effects throughou ...

Brad Pitt, Jolie and Château Miraval story takes new twist

Brad Pitt has filed a lawsuit against Angelina Jolie at a Los Angeles court regarding her sale of a stake in Provence winery Château Miraval last year, according to media reports, including in Bloomberg (via Associated Press) and the Los Angeles Times. There had been speculation for several years about how Pitt and Jolie’s divorce proceedings would affect their joint ownership of Miraval, which they acquired in 2008. It was the Hollywood couple’s wedding venue but the estate has also gained a re ...

Bordeaux’s secondary market share plummets to all-time low

The region’s trade share slumped to an historic low of 37.7% in 2021 after failing to keep pace with the broader market. It was the first time Bordeaux’s market share had ever fallen below 40%. At the time of writing, it has slipped to 32%, according to Liv-ex. The company divides its main index into a series of sub-indices. Over the past year, the Bordeaux sub-index increased by a modest 11.5%, compared to 43.8% for Burgundy and 51.2% for Champagne. The main challenger to Bordeaux’s throne is B ...