Wines from Ukraine/Georgia

[cabrales]

Below is a description of an event relating to the tastings of wines from Ukraine and Georgia. Note that I received the information from a group with a certain number of people participating, and I am unsure whether the event is available generally.

Have members sampled wines from those regions before? Might the event be worth attending?

"... Lincoln Center on Friday, January 24, 2003 at 7:30pm for a very special Lincoln Center inaugural chamber concert Masterpieces of the Russia Underground ­ preceded by a **tasting of wines at 6:30 PM from the Republics of Ukraine, Georgia and the sweet wines of Massandra.*** The concert begins with a panel discussion led by ABC News anchor Peter Jennings.

The distinguished Russian Pianist Vladimir Feltsman, who defected to the West many years ago, and Artist Members of the Chamber Music Society perform works of Shostakovich, Schnittke and other composers who kept artistic integrity alive despite Soviet political oppression of the arts. Many of these musical masterpieces reflecting the complex relationship between art and politics in the former Soviet Union have never been heard in the West. $40 tickets [this is part of a group rate; may not be available to members, who should verify] include the wine tasting, illuminating panel discussion and concert. Best bargain in town (below retail). Tickets are selling out fast. Please call Cathy Levin at Lincoln Center (212-875-5787) ..."

[helenas]

I am unsure whether the event is available generally.

yes, it's generally available, and the tickets (for event itself, with optional wine tasting) can be order online, which i did, thank you very much.

Have members sampled wines from those regions before? Might the event be worth attending?

This is what i more than sampled for the best part of my life.

Massandra is famous for its muscat wines. And Georgian wines can be very good (it's a known fact that Pushkin preferred Kakhetian wines to burgundy). Most of the wines are made from local grape varieties.

[helenas]

Just to please Cabby, i underwent the extensive tasting of Georgian wines yesterday and today. And as much as it hurts to admit, my general impression was negative. Way too sweet, whatever flavor was there it was masked by sugar, and one should be in the very nostalgic mode to feel any of this famous Saperavi aroma.

Sorry, Alexander Sergeevich (and Cabby)... but on the other hand, one can always trust Shostakovich and Schnittke.

[cabrales]

Helena -- Thank-you

[helenas]

Parker on Massandra Muscat Livadia: "Could the reason why the Allies (Roosevelt, Churchill, et. al.) capitulated to Stalin, essentially conceding one-half of Europe to him at the 1943 Yalta Conference, have been because they had drunk too much of these wines while holding the conference at the Tsar's former summer palace at Livadia?"