Prince Lev Golitsyn, patriarch of modern Russian winemaking
Ukraine was part of the Russian Empire by the nineteenth century, and later became a founding republic of the Soviet Union. Ukraine has a long coastline along the northern Black Sea and western Azov Sea where vineyards are favored by the moderating influence of the sea and soils that provide excellent conditions for wine grapes.
Ancient Greek settlers planted the first vineyards when they arrived on this Black Sea coast in the seventh century BC. They settled villages on the Taman Peninsula from Anapa and the northern country, and across the straits to the Azov Sea and the Crimean Peninsula near Kerch. The area became a principal trade center for the Bosphorus region and wine was a major commodity. After successive tribal invasions that swept civilization from the area, Italian Venetian and Genoese traders developed the area in the 13th century for the trade route from the Black Sea to the Caspian Sea. Later the region became part of the Ottoman Empire until incorporated into the Russian empire.
The Crimean Peninsula, which lies between the northern Black Sea and the Azov Sea was transferred from Russia to Ukraine in 1954 – an event that Russia has come to regret today. Most of Ukraine’s best wineries are located in Crimea. Massandra, Novy Svet, Inkerman, Koktebel and Magarach are the best known. Until recent years, sweet wines were heavily emphasized. Read more…
