The Russian President Vladimir Putin together With the former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi visited the "headquarters" of the Crimean wine-making Association "Massandra" And descended into the main basement With the largest "library wines" in the world.

on the way From the mountain Gasfort in Yalta, Putin And Berlusconi traveling in one car, made a stop at Massandra Palace. Then they went to the industrial and agricultural Association " Massandra ", which currently is administered by the office of the head of the Russian Federation.

As told to the guests, the CEO of the Association Yanina Pavlenko, wine production in Crimea began in 1894, Prince Lev Golitsyn." The Prince searched in Russia, where are represented All climatic zones, And found him in the Crimea ", - said Pavlenko. She drew the attention of Putin And Berlusconi at the photos of the construction of the winery, when " for 3 years and 10 thousand workers with pick And shovel fought every foot of the mountain "." Everything built during the reign of Golitsyn stored in our days ", - assured the Director-General.

She invited the guests into the tunnel economy, where a user have the opportunity to spend 9 million decaliters." Today our barrels full only thirty percent, but this is only the beginning, begins the season of grape harvesting, we plan to collect 20 thousand tons, of which will turn out 1 million 800 thousand decalitres of wine, " - said Pavlenko.

in her expressions, the collection of "Massandra" there are many legends, but the main States that the collection will remain as long as long as citizens working here will be carefully And lovingly relate to their work." What can be said about the recent past: over the last 10 years from a collection of "Massandra" was removed quite a lot of rare wines, for example, the Investigative Committee of Russia has stopped attempt of export to Ukraine 4 thousand 600 unique bottles ", - said General Director of " Massandra ".

Putin And Berlusconi were in the main of nine galleries " library wines ", which contains five hundred thousand bottles." The main rule of the wine - how much to take, so many lay, now we are starting a new bookmark from the first 5 thousand bottles of sherry 2012, " - said Pavlenko.

Putin And Berlusconi stopped at the racks, where the wine is stored during the Second world war." From 1941 to 1945 no matter What wines were born And laid in the collection, " - said General Director. However, this was not in the Crimea, and in Central Russia, where in July 1941, Joseph Stalin issued an order to evacuate the collection.

General Director of "Massandra" submitted to the Russian President And former Prime Minister of Italy most valuable exhibits of the collection - a wine whose age is close to two centuries." And is it safe to drink?" - surprised Berlusconi. Receiving an affirmative answer, he also heard the story about How the world exhibition in Paris in 1900, one of Golitsyn wines was recognized as the winner during the " blind tasting ".

"I Want to drink!" - said Berlusconi. And accepted the invitation Pavlenko in the tasting room.

sections: Politics