Wine of Uzbekistan

Wine of Uzbekistan

Geographical situation of Uzbekistan, favorable climatic conditions, i.e. plenty of sun shine (the sum of active temperatures 4000-5000 °С) and availability of fruitful irrigated lands created conditions for large development of wine industry in Uzbekistan.

Uzbekistan rightly takes a worthy place in production of excellent sweet wine, which is filled up with hot Asian Sun.

Wine industry of Uzbekistan traces its roots deeply back to history. Till the end of VII century wine-growing was very developed in this fruitful soil. Substantial changes to wine making industry were made after Arabian conquests and expansion of Islam religion.   

However, annexation of Central Asia to Russia in the XIX century again regenerated development of wine industry and this sphere of economy.

In 1868, trader known as Dmitriy Filatov founded in Samarkand a small manufacture of wine production. At first, it was a small factory, but in 4 years Samarkand wine of Filatov was awarded gold and silver medals in world competitions in Paris and Antwerp.

Considerable funds were allocated by the government for the reconstruction of the factory after October Revolution. The enterprise was nationalized and became a part of the state committee of wine-growing and production, and the active modernization of the factory had begun. For the first time here in Uzbekistan the monolithic reinforced concrete cellars were built for aging of vintage wine, modern equipment and oak barrels were bought from France.

In 1927, with arrival of a Russian chemist, Professor Mikhail Khovrenko, in Samarkand, the factory experienced considerable changes. This specialist put wine production on scientific-research basis and this action gave its positive results. The cultivation of such grape sorts as furmint, turiga began, and they gave very good results in making wonderful wine known as “Gulyakandoz”, “Shirin”, “Liquor Cabernet”, “Aleatico”, “Uzbekistan”, “Farkhad”, produced first at the Samarkand wine factory. Gold and silver medals from International wine tasting were awarded to them.

In 30-s of XX century the factory already produced more than 200 thousand deciliters of perfect uzbek wine. In 1938 a fund of longstanding wine was founded in the factory – the best sorts of wine in quantities have been stored in the cellars.

During the WW2 the factory was re-profiled for production of technical spirits for front’s needs. The factory returned to its traditional production only in 1946.  

After the WW2, the factory was constantly modernized. Hand work was replaced by automatic and half- automatic maintenance.

By its centenary the factory was able to produce more than 20 different wine, 5 brands of cognacs and 11 titles of distillery wine wares.  

At present time, this wine factory is one of the highly-mechanized enterprises of Samarkand, where the hand- work is minimized. The factory processes nearly 16 thousands of tons of high-quality grape per year.

Wines of Uzbekistan are famous all around the world and always highly evaluated at exhibitions, and wine-testing contests, including 120 gold, silver and bronze medals.