Abkhazia is a picturesque corner on the Black Sea coast. In this country, all the beauties of nature are inspired by the sea, mountains, climate. The southern warm country at the foot of the Caucasus is famous for the abundance of tourists and the unique identity of the population.
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Winemaking in Abkhazia
The history of winemaking in Abkhazia began many centuries ago. This is confirmed by archaeological excavations. In Abkhazia, a bronze figurine of the “Bombor wine-drinker” was found, representing a man with a large wine horn in his hands. This figurine is depicted on the label of our “guest of the program” – red semi-sweet wine Apsny.
Although the established time for the appearance of the figurine of a man with a horn is four thousand years ago, wine appeared in Abkhazia even earlier. Archaeologists have discovered large earthenware jars with grape seeds petrified inside, wine goblets and other earthenware for storing wine, dated to the sixth millennium BC.
The climate of Abkhazia is perfect for winemaking. There are a huge number of vineyards here. For Apsna, three varieties of grapes are used: saperavi, merlot and cabernet sauvignon.
Production technology of wines of Abkhazia
It is noteworthy that the technology of making wine in Abkhazia has not undergone major changes. It is possible that wine would also be produced in clay jugs, which were buried by winemakers under the ground for aging – this method, by the way, can still be found in Abkhazia. But Abkhazian wines gained great popularity in Europe and in Russia, so the production still became automated.
The method by which wines are produced in the Abkhazian region is similar to the reservoir method. The vine is grown under the warm southern sun in complete freedom – it has the right to grow unlimitedly in order to absorb all the energy and warmth of the luminary. The collected berries are crushed and placed in a tank with a hole at the bottom, which is closed during fermentation. After the juice is fermented, it is placed without any additives in earthenware jugs and oak barrels for maturation. The strength of this wine is from 9% to 11%.
How to drink properly
Wine is served chilled. Chocolate desserts, grilled fruits and vegetables, meat and even hot dishes are suitable for tart, aromatic red wine – the drink is used as an aperitif. In Abkhazia, it is believed that if you want to feel all the brightness and uniqueness of the Caucasian feast, then the main drink on it should be Apsny wine.
An interesting fact – Apsny in the Russian way is the “country of the soul” – the self-name of Abkhazia!
The wine has a rich red color, unique taste and unique aroma. It is noteworthy that the drink has a low cost, and in the home country of this wine it can be found for a very ridiculous price. Moreover, tourists who have visited Abkhazia say that the wine there tastes completely different – well, maybe it is!
Relevance: 03.07.2018
Tags: Wine and vermouth, Wine brands