The Stavropol wine region is located in the northernmost part of the Caucasus. The region stretches for 500 km in length and 300 km wide. The relief of the area is mountainous with lowlands and foothills.
In the north, there are mountains up to 4,000 meters high; in the south, 400 meters.
There are many rivers and lakes here, as well as a dry subtropical climate. You can also find many soils here: gray forest soils and different types of chernozems (black soils). These conditions make it possible to grow various varieties of grapes.
Wine making history
The wine making tradition in Stavropol dates back to the antiquity. It was a tribal centre, and the warriors brewed koumiss here. The region is located in the northern most part of the Caucasus. From north to south, it stretches for more than 200 kilometres, from east to west – for about 430 kilometres. Most of the territory is occupied by steppes with mixed forests on their edges and mountainous terrain in their southern part.
These factors create a unique natural terroir for wine growing: winters are cold and dry, summers are warm and dry (with few precipitation), strong winds blow constantly from both directions (from north or from south). The soil is very diverse: there are sandy soils in some places, volcanic soils in others, and limestone-clay sediments overgrown with grasslands in yet others: these are perfect conditions for grapevines to thrive!
A unique terroir
You may have heard the term “terroir” in wine-related conversations, but what does it mean? Terroir is a combination of geography and climate that affects viticulture (the cultivation of grapes). In winemaking, how the grapes are grown and processed is essential to the taste of wine. The unique terroir of Stavropol includes elevation from sea level, proximity to a large body of water and soil composition.
Stavropol is located within the northernmost part of the Caucasus region. The Caucasus mountains are about 1,000 miles long and 120 miles wide at their widest point. The landscape contains mountain peaks over 14,000 feet tall with lush valleys containing rivers and lakes surrounded by forests. This topography creates an ideal environment for grape growing because many vineyards are planted on sloped hillsides facing south to maximize sun exposure. However, these hillside vineyards also benefit from cool air that flows over them from nearby valleys and bodies of water such as the Kuban River which provides irrigation for vines during hot summers.
This area has served as a major center for wine production in Russia since Greek settlers first arrived around 100 B.C.. Stavropol’s agricultural industry has benefited greatly over time thanks to its terroir which produces high quality grapes including those used for winemaking such as Rkatsiteli (white) and Saperavi (red).
Climate
You are probably wondering about the growing season in a wine region – after all, grapevines need a specific temperature range to grow and ripen. Stavropol has warm, dry summers and cold winters that are ideal for viticulture. In fact, the climate of Stavropol is similar to Northern Italy’s Piedmont or Valle d’Aosta regions. The dryness of the climate is due to its location on the edge of a rain shadow created by the Caucasus Mountains.
Varieties of grapes
Stavropol region grows a lot of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Pinot Noir grapes. Chardonnay is also widely grown and very successful. The list of varieties also includes Rkatsiteli, Aligote, Zinfandel, Saperavi and other varietals that are less known outside Russia.
The industry’s future
The other good news is that the industry’s future looks very promising. The Stavropol region has a microclimate that’s similar to many successful wine regions. It also has plenty of space to grow, especially in its natural valley where vineyards are already being planted. With the right investment and focus on developing local varieties instead of foreign ones, there’s potential for incredible growth in this area.
So if you want to get ahead of the curve and support an emerging region, consider visiting Stavropol when you plan your next trip to Russia!
Other Russian wine growing regions
St. Petersburg
Known as the “City of White Nights,” St. Petersburg is famous for its cultural attractions, historical architecture and grand museums. However, the region around St. Petersburg is also an important wine region in Russia. In fact, it is responsible for about half of all Russian wine production! Why is that? Well, the soil and climate conditions are perfect for growing vineyards.
The St. Petersburg Region has a humid continental climate with fairly mild summers and cold winters with temperatures below zero degrees Celsius from October through April (and sometimes even into May). Some vineyards grow grapes with special insulating covers to prevent them from freezing during the winter months, although this method can be quite costly.
Krasnodar
Krasnodar Region is one of the largest wine regions in Russia and the most important in the country. It is also located in the North Caucasus so there is a lot of warm sunshine, which impacts grape growing. The region has a number of microclimates and produces many different kinds of wines from dry to sweet.
Krasnodar Province
Stavropol isn’t too far from Krasnodar, Russia’s southernmost city. The region is known to produce the most acidic wines in the country. Though the region is not well-known for its wine, it does hold a few interesting things going for it today. It is also home of the oldest winery in Russia, Stavropol Winery (founded centuries ago).
Adygea
Adygea, a federal subject of Russia, is an autonomous republic located in the North Caucasus region. Its capital city is Maykop. You’ll find some of the world’s most famous wineries here: Massandra Winery and Abrau-Dyurso. The main wine regions are the Caucasus and North Caucasus.