A Hidden Gem in Crimea: Alma Valley Winter Red Wine

I'm not a big drinker, but when I do, I stick to wine. I'm a fan of sweet, smooth vintages, and even better if they're homemade. Last summer, my partner and I were on holiday in Crimea, and we stumbled upon a wine tasting event at a local store.

As we wandered through the rows of wine bottles, I was immediately drawn to the Alma Valley Winter Red Wine. The label caught my eye with its eye-catching design and premium feel. I was intrigued by the story behind this wine, so I decided to learn more.

The Alma Valley Winter Red Wine is a semi-sweet red wine created by the Alma Valley winemakers from Shiraz grapes grown in the Alma Valley, a unique terroir that allows for high-quality grapes. The region has a mild Mediterranean climate with moderate rainfall, and the sea breeze provides good ventilation. The soil is primarily dark brown clay, and along the river valleys, there are rich carbonate-rich chernozem soils. The subsoil has layers of limestone and dense marl. The grapes are hand-picked from 9-year-old vines.

The Alma Valley winemaking process for 'Winter Wine' involves a 48-hour cold maceration and a long fermentation in steel tanks under temperature control. Once the desired level of residual sugar is reached, fermentation is stopped by cooling.

A bit more background: Crimean wine enthusiasts can witness the birth of a new star in domestic winemaking - Alma Valley. On the territory of the Alma Valley, near the villages of Vilino and Pescanoe, there are 200 hectares of vineyards planted with many popular classical European grape varieties, brought from nurseries in Germany, France, Italy, and Austria in 2008. Led by chief agronomist Nikolai Klyuka, winemaker Thomas Döll, and a team of specialists from Switzerland, a thorough analysis of the soil, climate, and natural conditions was conducted to identify the most suitable areas for different varieties. The produced products are divided into three price segments: exclusive 'special cuvées', basic white and red wines 'Alma Valley', and top 'Alma Valley Reserve', as well as democratic, affordable table wines 'Vilino'.

Of course, you've got to taste it for yourself!

The Alma Valley Winter Red Wine has a dark garnet color, reminiscent of pomegranate juice. I highly recommend drinking it fresh, it's good for your health, especially during the autumn-winter period.

The aroma is a beautiful berry bouquet, with dark berries, specifically blackcurrant, blackberry, blackberry, blackberry, and black raspberry.

You can pair it with both meat snacks and cheeses, as well as desserts. It also pairs well with chocolate and ice cream.

If you don't drink often, not on all holidays, then the price of 800 rubles per bottle is probably okay, right?) You can afford it in a family circle.

They say it's represented in the 'Magnit' network, as well as in the Winestyle store, MegaMarket, Wine Cellar, and stores in Crimea.

I'm a fan of homemade wine, but I don't make it myself unless someone treats me. This luxury is rare, though. When I do buy wine for special occasions, it's usually Apsny or Lychyny, or sometimes Kindzmarauli. I'm a sucker for sweet wines that taste like a fruit compote.

This wine didn't quite live up to my expectations of sweetness, though. I tried it at a tasting and preferred another one. I wouldn't say it's an amazing wine. You can drink it, sure, but only if it's sitting at the table and I'm feeling generous. The flavor doesn't remind me of juice, and the aftertaste is a bit too tart for me. I'm not sure what all the fuss is about on Aireka, but it didn't do it for me.

There were just two of us at the table. We each had a glass and didn't feel like having more. We put it in the fridge and enjoyed it a bit at a time over the next few days.

The wine that really impressed me at the tasting in Crimea was Solnechnaya Dolina (Muscat Festival Wine). It's like drinking a compote and it's actually enjoyable.

Red Semi-Sweet Wine Alma Valley 'Winter Wine' Pros and Cons:

Pros:available in Crimea's storesmade in Russiaeye-catching labelCons:not sweet enough for my tasteno wow factorThanks for stopping by and checking out my favorite purchases, recipes, and inspiration!

Thanks for your attention!

Tvor4eskaya Anna

November 2025