Wine Region

Many of Russia's 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 near-neighbor Krasnodar Krai are the key wine regions. They border the Caspian Sea and Black Sea respectively – an important factor in their climatic suitability for viticulture. Without the moderating influence that these inland seas bring, the very continental climate would be too extreme for successful viticulture.

Russian winters are typically very cold, to the extent that many vineyards mound earth around their vines to protect them from terminal frost bite. Summers are sunny and warm, sometimes bringing about the need for irrigation. The Caspian and Black Sea also moderate the threat of drought, though a sizeable proportion of Dagestan is semi-desert.

The grape varieties most likely to be found in Russian vineyards are Rkatsiteli, which accounts for more than one vine in every three, and an array of European varieties. Among the white-wine varieties are Riesling from Germany, Traminer from Italy, Pinot Gris, Aligote and Clairette from France and various members of the international Muscat family.

Russia once figured among the world's largest wine-producing countries, in terms of sheer volume produced. Many thousands of hectares were grown in various Russian republics. But many vineyards did not survive President Gorbachev's staunch approach to alcohol, the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991 and later privatizations. Under 70,000ha (170,000 acres) remained at the start of the new millennium.