There are a few well known producers of fine wine in the World. Massandra is the oldest winery of Ukraine. Today Massandra compromises a mail large winery and nine state farms. A vast area of Massandra stretches all along the South Coast of the Crimea - a narrow strip of land - from a settlement of Foros in the west to a small town of Soudak in the east. . Subtropical arid climate detritus loam, and a compound mountainous relief repents unique conditions that give special flavour to well-known European vine verieties and a birth to unique, high quality strong and dessert wines.
A small settlement of Massandra, located close to the popular resort town of Yalta, lies down on the slopes of green, picturesque coastal hills. The Massandra winery is situated not far from it, in a canyon, the spurs of which are densely covered with century old pine woods.
Massandra produces a great variety of wine, each wine differs from the other, however, all of them have one common feature - high quality.
At international contests the Massandra wines have been awarded four Super Grand Prix, four Grand Prix cups and 190 gold and silver medals. No other wine maker has a larger number of awards on record.
Massandra present storage capacity is about one million bottles of collection wines, of various types and vintages. Such unique, tremendous and numerous wine collection could hardly be found anywhere else. High quality makes old wine unique. The Massandra Wine Collection is proud of 1775 Spanish Sherry that still preserves its note of selected wine despite the venerable age.
The art of choosing, serving and drinking wine is interesting and useful, especially, when tasting Massandra collection wines. Strong and dessert wines follow main course. Massandra wines are never served cold, the best temperature is +14 -16C. They require special wineglasses, preferably made of crystal glass. A wineglass has to be half-full, that leaves spacefor flavour concentration. It is not recommended to pour wine down the thoat, better to savor it, nosing its aroma, admiring the color and to appreciate a bouquet like a connoisseur of wine.
Besides fine flavor, unforgettable palate, the Massandra Collection Wines are rich in vitamines, microelements, so important for the human organism. Due to their medicative properties Massandra wines are widely used for medical treatment.
Table wine
The name comes from the tradition to serve the wine during meals, taking courses in turn with it. The distinctive feature of table wine is almost complete conversion of suger into alcohol so that makes the wine dry.
Alushta Red Table Wine
is only dry wine type, produced by Massandra since 1937. It is made of Cabernet Sauvignon, Saperavi, and Morastel grape varieties that grow on the south slopes of Mounts Chatyr-Dag and Demerdgi neat resort city of Alushta. A vintage is harvested when grape natural suger content has reached 18-22%. At International contests the wine has been awarded three gold and one silver medals.
Dessert Wine
Dessert Wine is the name for various sweet wines with suger level not less than 15%. They are served mostly with dessert, though they come nicely at any time of the day.
Massandra presents a great variety of dessert wines, including those from its wonderful collection. Muscat wines make a considerable number of this grape variety. A deep Muscat aroma, distinctive of this grape variety, makes the wine fabulous.
Delicious and unique, Muscat wine also has medicative properties. Doe to glucose, fructose, organic acids, vitamins and microelements, the wine helps to regain physical strenth, to nourish cardio-vascular vessels, certainly, when used in a reasonable doze.
Massandra White Muscat, made from the White Muscat grape variety, grows in all Massandra state farms since 1981. A vintage is harvested when grape natural suger content is no less than 20%. The wine is aged in oak casks and col cellars for a period of two years and cimes to consumers with suger level -16% and alcohol - 16.
The Massandra Collection keeps the chateau liqueur Massandra White Muscat that was produced from 1892 till 1945. The wine was made from the White Muscat grape variety, used to grow in the vineyards in the vicinity of Massandra. The grape was harvested shrivelled and raisined, when its natural suger content was no less than 33%. After 2 years aging in barrels, the wine was bottled and a part of it went for storage. Growing older the wine preserves its remarkable tasting note: a nice color of golden tea, mighty concentrated old wine nose, classical flowery, resinous flavor, noble super-balanced palate, creating a state of bliss. Indeed, delicious wine!
South Coast White Muscat is produced since 1940. The white Muscat grape is harvested from seaside vineyards, when grape natural suger content has reached no less than 26%. Before bottling the wine is aged in oak casks in the coolness of Massandra mountainous cellars for 2 years. The resultant wine has suger level - 20%, alcohol - 16. It's distinquished by light amber color with a golden tinge, concentrated classical Muscar nose that makes one feel slightly dizzy. Full, well balanced soft palate. After long term of bottle aging the wine acquires a fabulous aging flavour, typical for Muscat wines. Internationally awarded nine gold and two silver medals.
Dessert White Muscat a liqueur wine is produced since 1944. Vineyards of the White Muscat grape variety, used fro production of the wine, are scattering along the sunlit Black Sea coastal line from the village of Opolznevoye to Cape Pluck. The Grape is harvested when grape natural suger content has reached no less than 29%. The wine is aged in oak casks in the Massandra cellars for 2 years. The resultant wine has suger level - 23%, alcohol - 13. Deep golden color, sparkling in the glass. Delicate, oily, with fine natural Muscat nose when young, and a flowery bouquet with resinous tinges of Alpine meadows after long bottle aging.
At international contests this wine has been awarded Grand Prix, five gold and three silver medals.
Livadia Whte Muscat is unique chateau liqueur wine, produced since 1892. The White Muscat grape variety grows on the slate slopes of the Crimean Mountains all along from the resort settlement of Foros to the village of Nikita. The grapes are harvested as late as possible, when they become shrivelled, raisined and grape natural suger content is no less than 33%. Classical Muscat Flowery - honeyed bouquet with raisin flavor. Full, oily, harmonious palate with the taste of raisins. A wonderful aging bouquet. The wine enraptures like a divine nectar.
At international contests this wine has been awarded Super Grand Prix, one gold and one silver medals. The masterpiece of winemaking, the king of wines is considered to be chateau liqueur wine.
White Muscat of Red Stone. This unique wine is produced from the White Muscat grape variety, growing in the sunlit vineyards around Red Stone Rock above the resort of Gurzuf. The Grapes are harvested when grape natural sugar content has reached no less than 29%. For two years young wine is aged in oak casks in the Massandra cellars.
Fascinating light amber color with a unique delicate bouquet, full of classical Muscat aroma. It has inhaled a charm of the south, heat of Red Rock, honey of orange crisp. Light citron makes palate especially delicate and soft. After long term bottle aging the wine becomes noble with an outstanding bouquet of old wine. An unusual, tremendous impression. Unforgettable experience! There are no words to depict this wine, the only way to learn about it is to taste!
Well-deservedly famous, at international contests this wine has been awarded Super grand Prix , two Grand Prix cups, twenty one gold and one silver medals.
Massandra Rose Muscat is made from the Rose Muscat grape variety that grows in the state farms since 1955. The grapes are harvested when grape natural suger content has reached no less than 22%. The wine is aged in oak casks in the Massandra cellars for two years. The wine suger level -20%, alcohol -16. Color varies from light to tawny brown with red hints. Deep rich, classical bouquet, entracing rose petals and rich honeyed hues. Fine, fresh, welll balanced palate.
South Coast Rose Muscat is dessert wine, made from the Rose Muscat grape variety that grows on the southern plots of land with slate soil.The grape is harvested when grape natural suger content has reached no less than 26%. For two years the young wine has suger level 20%, alcohol 16. Intensive rosy color. Bright, calssical Muscat bouquet, suggesting rose petals. Full, harmonious palate. A happy combination of flavour and palate makes the wine unique; it becomes more evedent while the wine is maturing.
Internationally awarded four gold and six silver medals.
Dessert Rose Muscat is liqueur wine, made from the Rose Muscat grape variety, growing on sunlit terraces of the mountainous slopes from Foros to Mount Castel, since 1945. The grapes are harvested when suger content has reached no less than 29%. For two years young wine is aged in oak barrels in cool tunnels at 10-15. The resultant wine has suger level - 23%, alcohol - 13. Beautiful rosy color. Fine, mouth-filling Muscat bouquet with tea-rose hints. The wine will impart lustre and noble style to any home bar even that of a prim house. Internationally awarded four gold medals.
Massandra Black Muscat is unique liqueur wine, produced from 1913 through 1975 and also known under the names Kutchuk-Lambat Back Muscat or Tavzida Balck Muscat in defferent years. At present it can be found only in the collection. It was made from the Kalyaba Muscat grape variety that used to grow in the Crimean South Coast vineyards on the territory from Simeiz to Mount Castel. The grapes were harvested when thet became shrivelled and raisined and their suger natural content reached 30% or even more. The young wine was aged in oak casks in cool cellars for two years. The resultant wine contains suger level - 24% and alcohol -13. Deep ruby color with soft play. After long bottle aging it becomes lighter, deep apricot. Fine, compound Muscat Flavor with a tint of prunes. Unique aging tints. Palate is delicate, velvety, with a light chocolate hint. This fascinating wine could be served as a desserd itself.
Internationally awarded Super Grand Prix with three gold and one silver medals.
Prince Galitsin's Seventh Heaven a white dessert wine is named after the founder of the country's wine making industry Lev Sergeevich Golitsin and in remembrance of a similar wine produced since 1880. The production of this original wine was restored in 1996. Now it is made, based on the classic technology, only at the Massandra association's member plants. The finished wine, in its golden-amber tones contains 18% of suger and 16 alcohol
This refined and delicate wine has a compound honey aroma with a predominance of quince, peach and medlar.
At an iternational contest the wine was awarded a gold medal.
Ai-Daniel Pilot-Griz is another masterpiece of Massandra. This chateau liqueur wine was firstly created in 1888 and is still being produced. To make this wine the Pinot Gris grape variety is used that grows in the vicinity of Gurzuf and Ai-Daniel. Only here rosy smoke-colored grape clusters accumulate more than 30% of suger and grant the most delicate dessert wine. After two years aging in oak casks in the coolness of deep mountainous tunnels the resultant wine has sugar level 24%, alcohol - 13. The color of the wine is marvelous dark amber with rosy-golden gleam. Typical bouquet with an aroma of newly baked rye bread and a delicate hue of sweet-scented quince. Fullness and oilness in palate are in harmony. Long bottle aging only stresses its unique and remarkable notes, charms by softness and solemnity.
Internationally honored with ten gold and four silver medals. It also wom a gold medal and First Grade Diploma at the Crimea Wine -95.
Our short Massandra tour has come to the end. There has been mentioned only few important facts about a fabulous creation of a man-wine.
The writer P.Pavlenko once said: 'Wine was created to arous joy and good spirits in a man, to grant him with good mood, energy and inspiration. If only we could savor it with the same delight, like a wine-maker had experienced when producing it, then the poetry of this divine drink would have been open to us in all its glory'.
We would like to remind you that Ukrainian Ministry of Health Protection warns: an excessive usage of alcohol is dangerous for your health.
