Wines and “Champagnes” of Crimea
The production of wine in Crimea is attested from ancient Greece, and the local character of this production is reflected in the use of some very old indigenous grape varieties, including "Ekim kara" (which you will not find anywhere else ) which is used to make "черный доктор" ("black doctor") wine ... But the great development of viticulture in Crimea was the work of the very Francophile Russian nobility in the 19th century.
Thus, it is to the Prince Vorontsov that we owe the creation of the imperial Massandra cellars (on Yalta heights), which are still now the undisputed benchmark for sweet wines that Russian people love so much.
Another very important actors of the developpement of viticulture in Crimea, and also prince, whom I already briefly told you about in my previous Easter note, is Prince Lev Golitsyn. A great lover of Champagne, of which he wanted to produce his own variation. He spent years traveling around the Russian Empire to find the perfect place, finally setting his sights on an area of Crimea, which he baptized Новый Свет (New World) in reference to the discovery of America.
Carefully selected French grape varieties were imported into this area, as well as the classic method of production developed by the Benedictine monk Dom Pérignon in the 17th century. The operation is a great success !... He then chose a particularly well protected valley, whose vines were called "vines of the coronation", and whose production he reserved for the parade table during the festivities organized in Moscow in 1896 on the occasion of the coronation of Tsar Nicolas II.
Ultimate consecration, this Champagne, to which the name "Paradisio" was given, won the "Grand Prix de la Coupe", the most prestigious prize, at the Universal Exhibition in Paris in 1900 !
Note that this Francophilia is not limited to the production of quality wines. The Crimean estates also produce very good коньяк (= Cognac) ...
Other Intercultural Notes...
"Si vis pacem..." the article, some kind of manifesto of our association.
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