📍 Crimea

Crimea is a peninsula of about 27 thousand km² in southern Ukraine, one of the country's historic wine regions. Grapes have grown here since the VI century BC; in early 2004 the AR of Crimea had 35.9 thousand ha of commercial vineyards, second in Ukraine after the Odesa region. The Autonomous Republic of Crimea is part of Ukraine, temporarily occupied since 20 February 2014.

The peninsula is joined to the mainland by the Perekop Isthmus, and about 70 % of its territory is plain. The Crimean Mountains run for 180 km from Cape Fiolent to Cape Illia; the highest peak is Roman-Kosh (1,545 m). The mountains shelter the Southern Coast of Crimea, whose climate has subtropical features; in the north of the peninsula it is moderately continental.

The first vineyards were planted by Greek colonists in Chersonesus, Panticapaeum and Tyritake, and in the XIII–XIV centuries the Genoese revived the crop. In 1828 the Magarach experimental institution began work in Yalta; it grew into the National Institute of Vine and Wine “Magarach”, which received national status by decree of the President of Ukraine in 2005. Its specialists have bred 45 varieties and assembled a collection of over 3,300 vine accessions. In 1897 the Massandra cellars opened.

The Southern Coast was considered the most valuable zone: on the slate soils of its slopes, white, pink and black Muscat, Pinot Gris and Muscadelle were grown for dessert, liqueur and strong wines. In the foothills Riesling, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir were grown for vintage table wines. The VIVC catalogue gives Ukraine as the country of origin of the local varieties Kefesiia, Ekim Kara, Dzhevat Kara, Sary Pandas and Kokur Bilyi.

Why it matters to you. Under Law of Ukraine No. 1207-VII, Crimea remains an inalienable part of Ukraine, and its Constitution and laws apply there. The history of Crimean wine is part of the history of Ukrainian winemaking, and it is best described by Ukrainian sources, notably the Encyclopedia of Modern Ukraine.