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RUSSIA: I VINI DEL FREDDO

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MAXIM TROYCHUKDirettore Vedernikov Winery

Viticulture in extreme cold habitat“Vedernikov Winery” - Vedernikov - Don Valley - Rostov region - Russia

Rostov region

● Rostov region is situated on the south of European part of Russia, having Ukraine at its western border and occupying the total area of 100 967 square kilometers

● The capital of the region is Rostov-on-Don (population over 1 million) founded in 1749

● Located in Pontian-Caspian steppe● The Don River, one of Europe's largest rivers (1870 km), flows through

the region for part of its course. The right bank is a traditional are for viticulture

● First mention of viticulture dates back to antic times (Strabo about the Greek colony Thanais in the mouth of Don)

Rostov region - Vedernikov

Vedernikov

● Founded in the middle of the XVII century by Don Cossacks● Is located in the middle of Rostov region at the high right bank of Don● First documental mention about developed viticulture and winemaking

in Vedernikov dates back to 1756. The tradition has been maintained eversince

● Wine regions located at the same latitude: Loire Valley, Chablis, Burgenland, Washington State

● The terroir is composed of depleted black soil layer, clay and sand layer, while the bedrock is presented by shell limestone

The climate

● Humid continental climate with hot summer● Dim, windy winter. Mean temperature of the coldest month (January) is

-5Co...-9Co, drops down to -20Co, rarely to -30Co

● Mean temperature of the hottest month (July) is +22Co…+24Co, rises up to +36Co…+38Co regularly

● Sunlight and warmth in abundance - average sum of effective temperatures during the vegetation period is 3700. Some years (2012, 2018) goes over 4000

● Average rainfall is 500 mm (normally peaking about June)

Don autochthonous grape varieties

● Apparently were brought to Don from Caucasus in the beginning of the second millennium

● Despite harsh winters, vines were able to survive even without man’s help. It is still possible to find some vines in the wild

● In XX century there were approximately 30 autochthonous varieties● Today “Vedernikov Winery” cultivates three autochthonous varieties:

Krasnostop Zolotovskiy, Tsimlyanskiy Cherniy and Sibirkoviy● The genetic authenticity of these varieties have been confirmed by a

research of a famous Swiss scientist Jose Vouillamoz

Krasnostop Zolotovskiy

● First described in 1814 with Zolotovskaya and Vedernikovskaya areas being the origin places

● Krasnostop literally means “piedirosso” in Russian, but the etymology and the grape itself are different

● Low yield grape producing concentrated red wines

Tsimlyanskiy Cherniy

● Historically the most widespread Don grape

● Name can be translated as “Nero di Tsimlyansk” -one of the historic centers of winemaking on the right bank of Don

● Extremely versatile allowing to produce wide range of different wines (from sparkling to reserve reds)

Sibirkoviy

● Typical white grape of Don area, meaty and pulpy

● Named after the blossom of a local bush “sibiryok”, not after Siberia :)

● Producing light-bodied white wines with herbal aromas. However, when treated right, can be very similar to Sauvignon Blanc in nose

Viticulture in winter-covering area

● The approach for industrial winter-covering was developed in the USSR in 1950-1960s. It is still used in Rostov region along with the new approach

● The winter-covering and spring-uncovering procedure is mainly mechanized, but some manual labour still required

● Nowadays “Vedernikov” vineyards are planted with two types of winter-covering training systems: “old” (oneway trunkless harp) and “new” (low trunk single cordon)

Oneway trunkless harp training

● Standard density - 2222 plants per hectar (distance between plants - 1.5 m, rows width - 3 m)

● The 1.5 m distance between plants allows to bend and cover the stiff vines of autochtonous and most international varieties. The vines are normally covered unpruned.

● The width between rows is required to get enough soil for proper covering of vines

Oneway trunkless harp training

Oneway trunkless harp training

Oneway trunkless harp training

Oneway trunkless harp training - operations

● Standard operations of spring and summer:a. tillingb. blowingc. pruningd. trellis’ repairinge. “dry” tying of vinesf. “green” tying of wines

● Standard operations of autumn:a. preparations for trellis’ removalb. trellis’ removalc. pruningd. covering

Oneway trunkless harp training - tilling

Oneway trunkless harp training - blowing

Oneway trunkless harp training - pruning

Oneway trunkless harp training - trellis’ repair

Oneway trunkless harp training - “dry” tying

Oneway trunkless harp training - trellis’ removal

Oneway trunkless harp training - covering

Low trunk single cordon

● Introduced in Vedernikov in 2017● Trunk’s height 20 cm● Density 2222 or 3333 plants per hectar● Numerous advantages comparing to the “old” system

Low trunk single cordon

Low trunk single cordon

Low trunk single cordon

Low trunk single cordon

Low trunk single cordon - advantages

● Vines are attached to wire, so no damage from tractor wheels and plows, no need to tear vines off wire. Vines are horizontally aligned and centered

● Pre-pruning is possible, while pruning is as easy as in normal regions● Safer use of weeder (between plants)● Vines are more evenly distributed and exposed to sunlight● “Dry” tying of vines only once in a lifetime. “Green” tying is replaced by

easier process of threading vines in double wire● Mechanized trimming optimised as the vines are of same length● Easier harvesting and defoliation as all clusters are at the same level● More even ripening of grapes and vines

Low trunk single cordon - operations

● Standard operations of spring and summer:a. tillingb. blowingc. pruningd. threading in

● Standard operations of autumn:a. covering

Low trunk single cordon - threading in

Low trunk single cordon - covering

Vino n. 4Cabernet Sauvignon

Reserve 2014Vedernikov Winery

Conduttori

Cabernet Sauvignon reserve 2014

● Ungrafted vines planted in 2008

● Winemaking: clusters’ sorting, two yeast strains, MLF co-inoculation, delestage-centric procedure

● Aging: 12 months in French oak barrels, new and used

● Bottled in the end of 2015

● Mundus Vini Gold - 91 points (February 2017)

● Arguably the best Cabernet Sauvignon of Russia

Vino n. 5

Fantom Krasnostop Zolotovskiy / Cabernet Sauvignon 2012

Vedernikov Winery

Conduttori

Fantom 50/50 - Krasnostop Zolotovskiy/Cabernet Sauvignon 2012

● Ungrafted vines planted in 2000 and 2008 (Krasnostop) and 2008 (Cab Sauv)

● Winemaking: clusters’ sorting, two yeast strains, MLF, delestage-centric procedure

● Aging: 12 months in French oak barrels, new and used● Bottled in the summer of 2014● Krasnostop wine from 2012 used in this blend became the most

wanted wine in Russia and can be now bought for > €1000 per bottle