Joint Stock Company "Sparkling Wines" is one of the oldest functioning factories in Saint-Petersburg. For its long history it has produced a number of drinks with a unique technology and history. It was founded in 1876. That time it was called "Slavic Brewery".
   Among its founders were well-known and respected merchants - Gustav Andreevich Gauf and Karl Avgustovich Kenigsberg. That time the factory produced beer, kvass, malt liquor and mead.
   This drinks became the elite products. A little bit later it was given another name "New Bavaria".
   At the end of XIX century the factory was bought by Russian businessmen I.A.Durdin and G.G.Eliseev. New equipment and technology made it the leading factory of that time. In 1896 the factory was awarded with a right to put State Emblem on its products. In 1897 it was awarded with big gold medal in Stockholm. In 1900 4 Russian breweries showed their products on World Fair in Paris. The only Saint-Petersburg brewery was 'Sparkling wines'. And again it was awarded with gold medal.
   After the revolution trying to avoid economic collapse the factory changed its assortment, but not the quality.
   The history of champagne began in 1947 when the first bottle of drink was produced.
   This was the first factory in Saint-Petersburg which revived the production of champagne lost after 1917.
   Preserved and well-groomed buildings, huge wine-cellars and faithful specialists - all these factors promoted Leningrad champagne and the factory fame.
   !952 was an important milestone in the history of the factory. This time production of wine and cognac begins. In March, 1959 "The Leningrad Factory of Champagne" was reorganized to "The Leningrad Factory of Champagne and Sweet Wines". For 50 years its wines has become popular among several generations. The complex produced champagne, fruit and berry drinks and carbon dioxide.
   Leningrad 'Soviet' champagne was the leader of the best wine-makers. Its champagne was very popular in the former-USSR. Since 1960s the factory has broadened its assortment - the factory began dry wines and sweet wines production.
   In 1992 the factory was privatized and registered as Joint Stock Company "Sparkling Wines". Now this is the only champagne factory in the North-West region of Russia. It preserves old traditions of wine-making and develops the technology of its production. It is equipped with the latest equipment. At the moment JSC 'Sparkling Wines' produces 19 sorts of champagne and more than 40 sorts of wine. In addition to traditional 'Soviet' champagne, 'Russian' champagne, 'Saint-Petersburg', 'Carmen' and 'Prince Leo Golitsin' is produced. The production of elite champagne 'Rio-Rita' has been begun. It is sold not only in Russia, but in Latin America. Soon it will be exported to Finland and other countries. July, 2000 the production of non-sparkling wines was resumed. In spring, 2001 the assortment was broadened - new red and white wines 'Ekaterina's necklace', 'The pearl of the world', 'Kontar' and Cahor wines were released.
   3 thousand bottles are produced per hour, 500-600 thousand bottles a month. Mainly, wine materials come from Moldavia, which has good climate for vine-growing.
   Increasing its sales JSC 'Sparkling wines' increased its output up to 8200 million mottles a year. In 2001 there are plans to increase the output up to 12 million bottles and next year up to 15 million. Moreover the wine is sold not only in bottles, but in 50-liter fudders. In autumn the production of cognac will begin. There is active work on market development.
   Today JSC sells its wine and champagne in Murmansk, Novgorod, Petrozavodsk, Arkhangelsk, Cherepovets, Omsk, Novosibirsk, Krasnoyarsk, Abakan, Irkutsk, Vladivostok and Moscow. For the last year more than 1 million bottles were sold in this regions.
   There is big selection of wines in Saint-Petersburg. Nevertheless, wines produced by JSC 'Sparkling Wines' are very popular among people of Saint-Petersburg. Mainly it is due to the unique combination of high quality and reasonable price. Not only ordinary customers, but even specialists appreciate the high quality of its products.
   JSC has more than 60 medals of the prestigious exhibitions and competitions.
   Among them:

• Soviet brut champagne: 2 - gold, 3 - silver, 2 - bronze medals;
• Soviet dry champagne - 2 - gold, 6 - silver, 2 - bronze medals;
• Soviet medium-dry champagne - 3 - gold, 5 - silver, 2 - bronze medals;
• Soviet semi-sweet champagne 4 - gold, 2 - bronze medals;
• Russian semi-sweet champagne 'Prince Leo Golitsin' - 1 - gold, 3 - silver, 2 - bronze medals;
• Russian medium-dry champagne 'Prince Leo Golitsin' - 1 - silver, 1 - bronze medals;
• Sparkling wine 'Saint-Petersburg' - 2 - gold, 1 - silver, 2 - bronze medals; Special 'Grand-prize-98';
• 'Cabernet' red dry wine - 3 gold medals;
• 'Cahor' - 1 gold, 2 silver medals;
• 'Sauvignon' white semi-sweet wine - 1 silver.

   November, 2001 JSC 'Sparkling wines' will celebrate its 125 birthday. For this period our factory has preserved its best traditions and has become the biggest wine-producer in Russia.
   Dragan Vasiliy Mikhailovich is the General Director of Joint Stock Company "Sparkling Wines" now.

   Corporative site: http://www.spbvino.ru

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