I can't say that I tasted most vintages, but based on my Kazakhstan year, Moldova produced the only drinkable wines of the former Soviet Republics. Georgian wines might be more famous, but almost all of the ones I tried were much too sweet and syrupy. A friend who had lived in both Ukraine and Moldova suggested I try a few Moldovan wines. They turned out to be good enough for me, even if they weren't fantastic. Any former soviet wine was much much less expensive in Kazakhstan than an imported Western European bottle (which was available, but would cost 20-30 times more). I ended up being fairly loyal to Cricova.
In any event, I sympathize with cheapskate Russian wine drinkers.
In any event, I sympathize with cheapskate Russian wine drinkers.
