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| source:highresolution.ru |
Samarkand is surprising not only for its ancient mosques, mausoleums and madrassas. On this blessed land under the scorching rays of the sun grow different varieties of grapes, which in their sweetness surpass all the world analogues. Just imagine, in Europe, the sweetness of grapes is on average 14-18%, and grown in the Samarkand region in the middle class are at 24-26% of sugar (fructose), sometimes reaching a maximum of 35%. These indicators allow for excellent wines.
All this contributed to the fact that in the distant 1868 there was opened the first winery in Uzbekistan. It was founded by Russian businessman, D.M. Filatov, who discovered these sweet grapes, imported and adapted them into classes. At that time, in Uzbekistan there was not an established wine production, and before the wine maker there was a difficult task to develop new varieties of wines and their distribution. For 15 years he has achieved tremendous results - in 1883 at the International exhibition of wines and brandies in Paris, they derived variety "Biishty" (translated means "paradise") which received a gold medal. As a result, the French winemakers started to travel to Uzbekistan and brought Filatovskaja wine from Samarkand to Paris.
In the period of Soviet power Filatov had to leave his offspring, as private entrepreneurs he had no place in the new state. But leaving his plant, he hid and bricked a collection of their best wines to keep it from being looted.
The place of founder of Samarkand winery was taken not less talented MA Hovrenko, the first professor of viticulture Russia. During his tenure in Samarkand, he has tested and introduced new technology of wine production, systematized the composition of various varieties of wine, became the creator of new varieties of wine. Being a sophisticated taster, he made an enormous contribution to the development of winemaking in Uzbekistan.
Meanwhile, during the reconstruction works in the 30-ies of XX century there have been discovered some Filatovskaja caches. A little later, on the eve of the centennial of the plant, one of the oldest workers exposed places of all Filatov caches, opening a huge collection of the best wines of the founder of the plant. Even after half a century they have not lost their taste, and become calm and bright tart flavor.
Today the plant continues to work, producing several types of wines, brandies and vodkas. In addition, there are collections that are placed in special cellars for long-term exposure, and some collectible wines put up for auction. Finally, it should be noted that during its existence the plant received more than 80 international awards for the many varieties of wine.
The winery has a museum of wine in Uzbekistan, which stores collection of the best wines plant’s entire XX century. And these sorts can not only be seen but also tasted, for a fee, of course.