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The Ukraine’s oldest winery Massandra has been producing
fine wines for more than 110 years and has won international acclaim
for their exceptional quality.
The winery was built in 1894 – 1897 near Yalta, Crimea. The subtropical
air climate of the region and the protective shields of mountain chains
create unique conditions for the production of high quality fortified
and dessert wines, which combined with the extraordinary architectural
merit of the cellars, have earned Massandra a position as one of Ukraine's
nationally important sites. |
In the late 19th century Prince Lev Golitzin was
appointed to manage the production process at the winery. An extremely
accomplished winemaker, Golitzin devoted himself to developing the wines
that suited the region best, and these wines define Massandra's output
today. The chief wine maker of Massandra had an extraordinary talent
for blending wines, and his "creations" became renowned.
Massandra’s fortified and dessert wines are described as legendary,
with a distinctive, full flavour that differentiates them from European
and New World wines of similar ilk. The winery is producing a wide range
of sweet and fortified wines.
Its Collection is one of the largest collections of fine and rare wines
in the world, estimated at over 1 million bottles, of various types
and vintages which are recorded into the Guinness Book of Records. Massandra
Collection comprises samples of every Massandra vintage, as well as
some magnificent European wines from the personal collection of Tsar
and Prince Golitzin including some extremely rare bottles incorporating
the Tsar's personal seal.
Massandra winery is successfully renewing and increasing its collection
with new unique samples that together with old and rare wines has gained
unparallel international reputation for its high product quality. |
| The Collection has had a remarkable history. During WWII the collection
was packed up and taken out of Yalta to three secret locations. It was
a monumental undertaking: each bottle of wine was marked with an evacuation
number and carefully crated before being transported to a safe place.
The only casualty in all of this was the 1941 vintage which could not
be crated out because it was still in vats at the time and Alexander
Yegorov, the director of the winery, ordered this vintage to be poured
into the sea. For the first time ever, the Black Sea turned red. The
collection remained hidden until 1944, when it was returned to its original
resting place. |
| Since 1991 the Massandra winery has gained tremendous
international recognition through participation in four auctions at
Sotheby’s and presented to the world its highlights, such as Chateau
d’Yquem 1840, Muscat Lunel 1848, Madeira Ribeiro Secco 1837 and the
unique Sherry de la Frontera 1775, a bottle of which was sold for 50
000 USD at Sotheby’s in 2001. |
| In October 2005, during the President of Ukraine
visit to the UK Massandra has made a gift of two wine barrels of Marsala,
a favourite tipple of Admiral Nelson, made exactly to the recipes laid
down by Prince Golitzin nearly 100 years ago for the bi-centenary celebrations
of the Trafalgar Battle. The wine was toasted by 400 guests at the Gala
dinner hosted by His Royal Highness the Duke of York. |
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Note: In accordance with the EC rules there are limitations on the sale of wines which are named after certain geographical regions (Sherry, Port, Madeira, and Tokay). The names of these brands made by Massandra will be changed by mutual agreement.
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