When he is not focusing his attention on his invasion of Ukraine, the Russian president and his entourage take a particular interest in wine. Last year, laws allowing domestic wine to be described as shampanskoe on official labels while Champagne could only be called ‘sparkling wine’ hit the headlines. But, as Sergey Panov reveals, other moves have been far more significant.
Despite the constraints of the war with Russia, Drinks+ is helping to shine a spotlight on the best wine tourism initiatives in East Europe and beyond.
While Russian and Ukrainian troops bombard each other with heavy artillery, Kiev's IT specialists are quietly using their computer skills to undermine Russian daily life.
Vladimir Putin’s decision to invade Ukraine raises unhappy memories in Georgia which suffered a similar fate in 2008 - as well as current fears there and in Moldova which will also have to provide sanctuary to Ukrainians who flee across its border
When Ukraine moved closer to the EU, Russia annexed Crimea, where much Ukrainian wine was produced. This action may open doors to EU wine imports and improve local wine quality. Panos Kakaviatos explains a complex situation.
Tradition demands the participation of individuals who are dedicated to preserving it. For the Trentino winegrowers’ cooperative Mezzacorona, this involves safeguarding the indigenous grape varieties Teroldego and Marzemino, showcasing their qualities both as monovarietal wines and in blends.
