Russian revolution
Russia may be the largest country in the world but much of it is too cold for sustainable viticulture, with winters getting down to -15 to -30°C. Vines can tolerate -15°C but they’re dead in the water at -30°C. The exception to this situation is in the far south-western corners of the country, around Anapa and Novorossiysk on the north-eastern tip of the Black Sea, which coincidentally runs along the 45th parallel, famed further west for being home to Piedmont, the Rhône valley and Bordeaux.
Château le Grand Vostock
Château le Grand Vostock was established in 2003 by a Franco-Russian team. It is in Russia’s Krasnodar region, some 18km, as the crow flies, inland from the Black Sea. Or 45km by roads to the resort of Anapa.
Vedernikov Winery
Valery Troychuk and his son Maxim, work with indigenous Russian grapes on their 200 hectares of vineyard, situated in the chilly Rostov region, where vines need to be buried to survive the winter.
Next stop – krasnostop
Krasnostop was the most interesting indigenous black grape variety I came across during my recent visit to Russia.
Vine burial in Russia
Not some ancient rite of passage for dead vines but a way to keep vines alive during the -26 to -27°C winter temperatures
Vineyard Joggings
(aka the jog blog – thanks @thewinebird). Having taken up (very slow) jogging again in the summer of 2012, I thought it might be fun to share some microclimatic observations.
First taste of Russia
Russia is the world’s largest country, though its population of 138 million ranks it ninth most populous in the world. It is one of those old world countries, with a multi-millennia history of vine cultivation, once again diving into the modern and new world of wine.
