History of Wine - Other Eastern European Countries
During the Soviet Union era, a sparkling wine known as “Soviet Champagne” or “Sovetskoye Shampanskoye” was produced and known for being sweet. Today, this name is still used for sparkling wines produced in countries that were part of the Soviet Union, such as Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova, Armenia, and Georgia. The name was kept because Sovetskoye Shampanskoye was considered one of the few luxury products of the Soviet era.
Sometimes, the name was modified to match the exact country where the wine was produced, such as “Georgian Champagne”. Currently, it is more common to find Sovetskoye Shampanskoye produced in a dry or semi-dry style. These products have gained international recognition, and European markets offer dry and semi-dry varieties of Russian production. In addition, a semi-sweet variety made with Moscatel grapes from Moldova is commonly found in the United States.
Although Sovetskoye Shampanskoye used to be known for being sweet, it has now adapted to modern preferences. Dry and semi-dry versions of the sparkling wine are now available and have gained popularity worldwide. The name Sovetskoye Shampanskoye has become synonymous with quality and luxury in the production of sparkling wines in the countries that were once part of the Soviet Union.