The special climatic conditions of Crimea are suitable for growing grapes of different varieties, from which strong and dessert wine has been made on the peninsula since the time of Tsarist Russia.
Large wineries own extensive vineyards on the southern coast of Crimea. Some of them were founded in the first half of the 19th century, others appeared during the years of Soviet power. Tourists are allowed to visit many Crimean wineries. Almost every factory has tasting rooms and specialty shops selling gourmet drinks.
Top 5 best wineries of Crimea
Winery "Massandra"
The outskirts of Big Yalta are buried in vineyards owned by the Massandra winery. The head plant of the company, and there are 12 of them in total, is located in the village of Massandra. It is here that you can see the old Golitsyn cellars, carved into the rocks, where wines of different varieties mature in oak barrels. It also houses the largest collection of the best Massandra wines - an enoteca. It consists of approximately one million bottles of fortified and dessert wine. Every year this collection is replenished with 30-70 thousand new items.
Six branches of the company are located in different cities of the South Coast (Gurzuf, Alushta, Alupka, Sudak, Kiparisnoe, Morskoe). There are tasting rooms at each plant. Sometimes tourists are offered evening tastings with musical accompaniment.
Another interesting entertainment for visitors offered by the Massandra winery is the opportunity to participate in the grape harvest, which begins to ripen by the end of August.
Inkerman winery
Inkerman is a suburb of Sevastopol. It is here that the Inkerman Factory of Vintage Wines has been operating since 1961, which has adits with an area of more than 5 hectares, where a certain air temperature is maintained year-round, which contributes to the maturation of vintage wines in the amount of 15 million liters.
During the excursion, tourists are told about the production process, shown the underground storage with oak containers and held tastings.
Vineyards belonging to the Inkerman winery can be seen near Balaklava and in the valleys closest to Sevastopol. Experts compare the soil and climate of the south-west of Crimea with those in the French province of Bordeaux. The grapes grown near Sevastopol are ideal for the production of sparkling and dry wine.
Winery "New World"
The history of the Novy Svet sparkling wine house began in 1878 under Prince Lev Sergeevich Golitsyn, who supplied the intoxicating drink to the imperial table. The prince organized a winery near Sudak with deep tunnels under the Koba-Kaya rock.
A hundred years after the opening of the plant, in the former prince's mansion, a modest Museum of the History of Viticulture was founded, consisting of seven exhibition halls. It contains a collection of awards that the House of Champagne has received in its entire history, and wine samples for which the winery is famous. The tour also includes a champagne tasting in historic interiors.
On languid summer evenings, the Novy Svet plant offers wine and cognac tastings to the sound of a violin.
Winery "Livadia"
Winery "Livadia", founded in 1920 on land that in the past belonged to the emperor, is now included in the company "Massandra". The vineyards, which the winery has, occupy an area of more than 300 hectares.
The strong and dessert wines of the Livadia enterprise mature in two factories, which are located in Livadia, near Yalta, and in Alupka. In the latter, on the Palace Highway, there is an excellent tasting room where you can taste Livadia port, Livadia white nutmeg, white, pink and black muscatels under the same name Massandra, etc.
Bakhchisarai winery
Wines on the lands surrounding modern Bakhchisarai were made back in the days of the Genoese, who delivered local products to Europe. Scientists have discovered in some abandoned cities and cave monasteries places where grapes were pressed under their feet.
The date of foundation of the present Bakhchisarai wine estate is 1963. It is interesting that for some time there has been an enterprise here, where wine already produced at other factories was poured into a special container. By the 60s of the last century, it became clear that Bakhchisarai, thanks to the vast vineyards in the area, would be able to independently produce ordinary wines.
The products of the Bakhchisarai winery are decorated with a trademark, which depicts a bowl of a fountain with two roses - romantic-minded history lovers, when looking at this drawing, will immediately recall the story of Pushkin, who brought flowers to the local Fountain of Tears.
The tasting room, owned by the plant, is located in Bakhchisarai on Lenin Street.
Map of Crimean factories and wineries
Listing the wineries of the Crimea, one cannot fail to mention Koktebel near Feodosia, where, in addition to brandy, good wines are made, Solnechnaya Dolina in Sudak (be sure to try the Black Doctor wine of Sudak production), Zolotaya Balka in Sevastopol is also a brainchild. Golitsyn.
