Siberia
Siberia, a vast region located in Russia, stretches across the Urals in the west to the Pacific Ocean in the east. Its northern border meets the Arctic Ocean, while its southern limit extends towards Kazakhstan, Mongolia, China, and parts of North Korea. Spanning across 130° longitude, the most easterly point, Cape Dezhnev, lies beyond the Greenwich antimeridian, looking towards Alaska. Wine production in this region is a unique challenge due to its extreme climate conditions. The grapes grown here are primarily of a resilient, cold-tolerant variety, resulting in distinctive types of wine that are robust and full-bodied.
As for the vineyard land, it's dispersed across various parts of Siberia, with a concentration in areas where weather conditions are more favorable. The annual production of wine in hectoliters is modest given the challenging climate. However, the region's winemakers are ambitious, focusing on quality over quantity, and they have managed to produce a few notable DOC and DOCG wines which are gaining recognition in the international wine community.
| Region | Siberia |
|---|---|
| Country | Russia |
| Climate and soil | Siberia is known for its extreme continental climate, characterized by bitterly cold winters and short, hot summers. This results in a significant annual temperature range. In western Siberia, winter temperatures and the annual range are less pronounced than in central Siberia. For instance, in Novosibirsk, the average temperature in January is -20 °C and in July it's 20 °C, making for an annual range of 40 degrees. Despite the predominance of summer rainfall, snowfall is substantial and lasts throughout winter. The transition from winter to summer is swift and often marked by severe thunderstorms and melting snow. In contrast, eastern Siberia experiences longer, harsher winters with lower January averages. For example, Irkutsk has an average of -20 °C, Chita -27.6 °C, and Aldan -40 °C. Summer averages are 12 °C, 15 °C, and 14 °C respectively. Rainfall is considerably less than in western Siberia, ranging from 300 mm in the south to 150 mm in the Lena basin. Precipitation is mainly in the summer, with limited snowfall and a layer of frozen soil at the surface. The soil in Siberia is diverse, with the majority being podzolic (acidic) and less fertile due to the harsh climate. However, the areas where vineyards are located usually have a higher concentration of organic matter, helping the vines to survive and produce grapes despite the challenging conditions. |