Russia, or now more commonly known as Russian Federation, can be found in Eastern Europe. If there is one thing that Russia can offer to the world, it is a long and rich history full of excitement, political intrigue, colorful culture, and a people with an indomitable spirit. All of these elements can be found in even the quickest lesson about the history of wines from Russia.

First off, remember that there is a difference between Russia and the Soviet Union, a fact that many people from outside of that area often forget, thinking that they’re the same thing. In reality, the regulation of the making of Russian wines has had its own ups and downs, following the history of Russia’s being a part of the Soviet Union. During the time of the Soviet Union, wines from Russia were often bottled and packaged under strict supervision of the government, causing many vineyard owners to send their product to other areas of the country for bottling. This of course would interrupt the wine’s natural fermentation process; many wine connoisseurs know that a true winemaker looks over his product from the planting of the grapes until the filled bottles are sent away for others to enjoy.

There is no part of the winemaking process that is less important than another, and for a vineyard owner to have to send his product to someone else to bottle was just a slap in the face for many!After the end of the Soviet era, this meant that many who produced Russian wines were without bottling equipment and the like. Also, because supplies were so difficult to get, many winemakers made their product from imported concentrates and juices, and the end result was by far some of the most inferior wine that anyone could ever taste, if they could even be called wines!

However, today Russian wines are enjoying a newfound popularity. As merchants are becoming more readily established, vineyard owners are once again finding their crops to be plentiful and bottling facilities readily available. Also, because of the tough economic times in years past, many of the wines from Russia are made without chemical and pesticides. As the growers could not afford these things, they learned how to care for their crops without them. There are also virtually no chemicals or enzymes used in the fermentation or bottling process either; from start to finish, these wines are pretty much tended and harvested without any outside interference.

Russia is the largest country in the world spanning 11 time zones and covering more than one eighth of the Earth’s land surface. Russia has become a popular tourist destination and this will continue as it is now a main target for the low cost airlines.

Bad points may include some of the following. Throughout Russia there is risk of terrorism linked to Chechnya and other extremists from the Northern Caucasuses. These threats include bombings, hostage taking and suicide attacks in public places. Moscow is often a primary target. Recently a passenger train from Chechnya to Moscow was derailed by an explosion, a bomb was left on the metro in Moscow, another blew up at a Moscow bus stop and two Russian airliners on internal flights were destroyed by suicide bombers. In the past Moscow has seen other terrorist acts on metro trains, in a hotel, market and a theatre.

Moscow is the Capital of the largest geographical country in the world which has a population of over 145 million living in eleven time zones. 82 percent of the population are Russian with the other 18 percent being made up of more than one hundred nationalities. The official currency is the rouble, but American dollars are widely accepted.

The leading religions are Orthodox Christian, Muslim, Jewish and Buddist.

Climate is moderate. The average temperature in July and August is 20 in December and January 10. The humidity is moderate. The Moscows winters are, as a rule, cold and snowy. Moscow is conveniently sited in the centre of Russias European part where the rivers Moskva and Yauza cross the Central Russian Plateau.

Moscow is one of the biggest cities in the world. It occupies the area of 1035 square kilometres. Moscow has more than 5000 streets. The population is about 9 million people, plus more than three million tourists and guests coming annually.

Russia today is a nation of enormous diversity and tremendous vitality. It is as if the cultural traditions of a century ago have re awakened with a newfound strength ancient cathedrals are being rebuilt and restored, colourful markets hum with activity once again and literature and the arts are quickly regaining the creative renown they enjoyed decades ago.