OREANDA-NEWS The area of vineyards planting in the Crimea has almost tripled during last five years. The information was reported by the press service of the Ministry of agriculture with reference to its head Andrei Ryumshin.

According to this information, only this year to bookmark and care for new vineyards was allocated 400 million rubles of subsidies from the state budget.  There have been spent 150 million rubles (37%), which were received by seven Crimean companies. In total, over the previous four years, the Crimea was allocated 787 million rubles to support viticulture. 

"Crimea is one of the three leaders of Russia in the production of grapes. The area more than 18 thousand hectares of vineyards in the Republic of Crimea in 2017. Planting of vineyards has increased from 250 hectares in 2014, up to 674 hectares in 2017. In 2018, it is planned to lay 1022 hectares, of which 718 hectares have already been planted in the first half of the year," said the head of the Republican Ministry of Agriculture.

 The Minister also congratulated the winegrowers on their professional holiday, noting that their work "is highly appreciated at the most prestigious competitions and exhibitions." According to the decree of the head of the Republic Sergey Aksenov, the day of viticulture and winemaking is celebrated every fourth Sunday of August.

August, 16 wine season started in two branches of " Massandra" company, the other six divisions of the company will join the work in the end of month.

Grape harvest begins with the varieties "white Muscat" and "pink Muscat", "Aligote"and " Chardonnay". The first harvest goes to the production of dry wines. From mid-September berries will be selected for the production of strong and dessert wines.

Harvesting of grapes in 2018 will be carried out not only by regular specialists of the Association, but also seasonal workers who will come to the Crimea from Moscow, St. Petersburg, Voronezh, Chelyabinsk, Novosibirsk, Yekaterinburg and other Russian cities. In total, 700 people will harvest in the fields of "Massandra".

In 2017, about 120 farms were engaged in viticulture in Crimea. The average annual production of grapes in the region is 80-85 thousand tons, in favorable years-more than 90 thousand tons with an average yield of 5 tons per hectare.