Fanagoria Estate Winery

High Quality Is Our Everlasting Priority

Our corporate slogan Noblesse oblige, according to the Oxford English Dictionary, "suggests noble ancestry constrains to honorable behavior; privilege entails to responsibility." It implies that with wealth, power and prestige come responsibilities. We consider that this phrase really do reflect our mission. The first grape vine in the Taman Peninsula is believed to have been planted by the ancient Greeks. Fanagoria Estate Winery, named after the Greek polis of Phanagoria, considers itself the successor to the traditions of the ancient Greeks who were known to be skilful winegrowers. The phrase also refers to our current position as Russia's wine capital, for the Taman Peninsula nowadays provides for over a half of the national yield of the grapes. The nobility of being the leader of the national wine market obliges us by many responsibilities, like exemplary viticulture and constant perfection of the wines' quality standards. Fanagoria Estate Winery's corporate history also obliges a lot. Its story began in 1957, and since then it has been rich in numerous achievements proving our strong position at the top of the Russian wine market.

Fanagoria's still, sparkling wines, brandies and bitter liqueur have over the years gained 7 grand prix and over 200 medals at international and national wine tasting competitions.

Fanagoria Terroirs: unique climatic and geographical conditions, and over 2,000 years of winemaking in the Taman Peninsula where Fanagoria vineyards are now located. The quality of Fanagoria terroir wines is supervised by John Worontschak, a London-based international wine consultant.

Fanagoria Estate has of late developed its own style of Russian premium wine based on combination of the traditions of classical European winemaking with innovations and peculiarities of Fanagoria terroirs. Our mission, as we see it, is to bring up the wine consumption culture in Russia and to shape the international reputation for Russian winemaking.

Fanagoria terroirs

Fanagoria vineyards are located in the Taman Peninsula almost totally surrounded by the Black Sea (on the west and south), the Sea of Azov (on the north), and the Strait of Kerch (on the north-west) connecting the former two. The proximity of the two seas is a decisive softening factor in the peninsula's microclimate. However, apart from the easing impact of the neighbouring seas, the Taman Peninsula is also exposed to the harsh continental impact from the Eurasian steppes (unlike the Black Sea coastline just a bit southward shielded by the Caucasian), and this double-effect does add uniqueness to the peninsula's microclimate. Its winters are mild, with just a few snowy and frosty days in January - February, and the soil freezing through only to 5 cm maximum and not damaging the vine's roots. The spring weather is windy and cloudy, but with few really rainy days. The chernozems have been formed in low-lying valleys, along the slopes and at the foothills. Their exposition is rather flat, with just a subtle microrelief, usually with a slight bias north- or southwards. The chestnut soils, on the contrary, are to be found on elevations that in fact appear to be extinct mud volcanoes. These are rather peculiar, for they contain rock fragments ejected during mud eruptions. It must very likely be the mud volcanoes - the main natural phenomenon of the Taman Peninsula, that add uniqueness and special mineralization to the local soils.

Wine, an art in the goblet

Wine, the salt of the Earth, a noble, unique and very interesting beverage... What joy it is to understand it, and what a pleasure to make it! Winemaking is an ancient craft. To make decent wine, one has to respect nature, love the earth and the sun, and value every grape cluster. This is how we feel the winemaking art. We are encouraging our people to comprehend their personal involvement in the process of rebirth of Russian winemaking.

Wine is a live product. We have a strong belief that its quality reflects everything, even such subtle nuances as the winemaker's mood and ambience. That is why in our cellars classical pieces by great russian composers are played. It really helps us craft the wines equally appreciated by the wine enthusiasts and the world's leading wine critics.

Vine is the staff of life

The area of Fanagoria vineyards exceeds 2,500 hectares. It is our vineyards that are the main guarantee of the quality of our wines, for the wine in fact starts with the plant, at the nursery. Fanagoria encompasses the whole production cycle: from production of rootstock and grafts to the manufacture and distribution of bottled wines. Our brand portfolio consists of premium oaked wines, dry varietals, medium sweet and fortified wines, sparkling wines, brandies and bitter liqueurs. Our wines have been highly esteemed by the world's leading wine experts, including Jancis Robinson and Robert Joseph who recently visited Fanagoria. Some of the Fanagoria wines are really unique. For instance, only Fanagoria crafts 4 varietal brands of ice wine: the white Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Muscat and the red Saperavi (the latter being a rarity elsewhere). Cabernet Sauvignon Cru Lermont, our most titled wine, recently got a new distinction: this was the first Russian wine to bear the «Kuban Wines Are a Pride of Russia» logo.

For the last five years, over 1 billion rubles have been invested in viticulture and winemaking! We have increased the acreage of vineyards and modernized the winemaking equipment and technologies.

The annual fanagoria art prize is presented in the following three rewards: grand prix, the young talent, and the viewers' choice. In 2010, each nomination had 2 winners, plus two encouraging prizes. The total prize money equaled to 320,000 rubles (us $ 10,800).

In 2010, 62 artists from Krasnodar and other South Russian cities took part in the competition. Their works were shown at two exhibitions - at Kovalenko Arts Museum in Krasnodar, and at the writer Ostrovsky's Literary Museum in Sochi. The judge panel for the contest included popular artists and public figures. Since its launch, the project has been considered a continuous process of promotion of contemporary arts. In 2011, the project is to be extended to the national level. The art gallery opened in the Company's head office will also exhibit the works by the Fanagoria Art winners.

The curriculum includes theoretical seminars in winemaking history, grape varieties, wine diseases, wine classifications and styles. The students learn how to 'read' the labels, assimilate the rules and terms used in tastings. This knowledge will let them fully enjoy the wine bouquet, distinguishing its minute nuances and tones, rather than simply drink the wine.

The course consists of 4 lessons. The first is devoted to winemaking history and technology, grape varieties and wine diversity. The students learn of food and wine matches, how a goblet may affect wine perception. They are introduced to the notion of terroir and learn to taste. The second lesson deals with European traditions of winemaking. The third lesson is devoted to New World winemaking. The last lesson takes up Russian and Soviet winemaking; the CIS winemaking regions, particularly, Kuban; aboriginal (heritage, local) varieties in Russia and the Caucasus, and Fanagoria winemaking.

Our trainers are skilful sommeliers with extensive practical experience. Upon completion, the students get a Graduation Diploma.