The culture of wine making had a long and rich history in the Soviet Union, and its high profitability always ensured an incredible deal of governmental support. Due to the climate restrictions grapes suitable for wine-making grew in the Southern areas of the country: Crimea in the Ukraine, the valley of Ararat in Armenia, as well as the republics of Moldova, Georgia and Azerbaijan.
After the war there was a special development plan of getting the country to the top of the world wine leaders — which was a success. By 1969 the USSR was on the fourth place in Europe by the amount of wine produced (right after France, Italy and Spain). The vast territories of the country’s South allowed for almost 10% of the total amount of wine produced in the world around that time. This was the Golden Era of the Soviet viticulture: the assortment of wines went up to 700, with about 37 types of sparkling wines and 88 of cognac-type drinks. Many wines were of excellent, prize-winning quality.
Sadly, starting from the 1970s, the quality was to be sacrificed for quantity: the priority to grow was given to higher-yielding sorts of grapes and not the rare, more valuable ones. The production lines were gradually being switched to cheaper, stronger, more generic ranges of wines made from low in sugar but more enduring sorts of grape varieties. The Prohibition bylaw of 1985 aiming at eliminating the drinking problem was the last straw: the grapes and raisins were to be used for making juices, which led to a eventual skill shortage and overall industry recession.
Noetheless, we have found a few old commercial posters picturing the range of wines of 1950s. Despite the plain bottles, this is a neat collection of vintage posters for you to enjoy. Click on the picture to see it in detail. Let us know how you like it — we value your feedback. Thanks!
Starting from the right: Soviet Champagne, a trademark for many years and an iconic drink; table Georgian wine (batch 19, whatever that means for the Soviet winemakers); two bottles of whine port.
The Wines of the USSR. Unfortunately, year unknown.
Pinot Gris. 1955.
Aligote grape variety. 1954.
Madeira. Crimean wine, harvest of 1954.
Tokaj, Crimean winemaker Massandra, Ukraine.
Muscat. Was probably a dessert grape variety.
Red Muscat.
The Sun valley, vintage of 1954. No grape variety on the label.
Muscat Rose. A favourite wine of my babushka. 1953.
Port. 1954.
Bastardo, by Magarach wines — a winemaker still active. Possibly 1933.
The liquors Benedictine (left) and Chartreuse. Were very rare and almost impossible to buy –were probably sold in Moscow only.
