Kazakh Wine

Fact: Arba Wine from Kazakhstan has won many awards, like a bronze medal at the Saperavi World Prize 2017 Awards.

Kazakh Wine: Basic Information

Pronunciation

No

Alternative Name(s)

No

Drink Type

Fermented alcoholic beverages

Mealtime

Anytime

Popular Variations

Mainly table wine and dessert wine

Kazakh Wine: Origin and Region

Origin

Kazakhstan

Continent’s Region

Central Asia

Country’s Region

Almaty Region

Associated Region

Unspecified

Kazakh wine refers to wines produced in Kazakhstan, with sweet red wines as local favorites. Table wine and dessert wine account for the largest proportion.

The Central Asian country has a long wine-making tradition that has been through many ups and downs.

Kazakh wine was first mentioned in the 7th century, produced based on techniques from Europe and neighboring countries in Central Asia. By the 13th century, however, Kazakh wine production stopped for many reasons.

The local wine industry was revived in the 1940s but went downhill after the breakup of the Soviet Union.
Now, Kazakh wine is making a comeback, taking advantage of its excellent location. The country’s major wineries lie in the southern half, especially in the Almaty region.

This place has a continental climate with a significant disparity between daytime and nighttime temperatures, producing superior grapes and killing off harmful fungi.

While Kazakh wine is often enjoyed domestically or exported to Russia, many countries like the UK, the US, and Japan are developing a taste for it.

Stay tuned, and I will tell you everything there is to know about wine in Kazakhstan, such as the main grape varieties, the best wine brand in the country, the pros and cons of Kazakh wine, and answers to frequently asked questions about local wine.

What Are the Main Grape Varieties in Kazakhstan?

Kazakh vineyards cultivate more than 40 grape varieties, with saperavi and rkatsiteli as the most popular options.

Other common varieties in Kazakhstan are bayan shirey, muscat ottonel, cabernet franc, cabernet sauvignon, aligote, aleatico, pinot noir, riesling, etc.

Saperavi is a red grape variety resulting in medium to full-bodied wine with high acidity and high tannin, with the subtle aromas of tobacco and blackberries.

Meanwhile, the white grape rkatsiteli produces light-bodied, high-acidity wine with little tannin and herbaceous notes.

Those two local grape varieties are used extensively in many products from Kazakhstan’s most famous wine brand.

What Is the Best Wine Brand in Kazakhstan?

The best wine brand in Kazakhstan is Arba Wine, headed by Zeinulla Kakimzhanov, who plays an important role in revitalizing the country’s wine scene.

The winery is located at Assa Valley, east of Almaty. Below are some recommended Kazakh wines.

• Arba Wine ‘Lagyl Arba’ Saperavi Reserve
• Arba Wine ‘Sary Arba’ Rkatsiteli
• Arba Wine Kyzyl Bastau
• Arba Wine Kyzyl Arba Cabernet Franc
• Arba Wine ‘Ak Arba’ Riesling

Do you want to try those wines? But before doing so, let’s check out the advantages and disadvantages of Kazakh wine.

Pros and Cons of Drinking Kazakh Wine

Here is a brief list of the strengths and weaknesses of Kazakh wine:

After learning about these pros and cons, you can deepen your understanding of Kazakh wine by reading on to discover the answers to common queries about local wine.

Kazakh Wine FAQs