OREANDA-NEWS. May 21, 2008. The Turkmen wine-makers achieved remarkable success at the Drink expo – 2008 International Exhibition held in St. Petersburg on May 13-15. Two grand prizes and seven gold medals awarded to the Turkmen wine-makers proved the high quality and competitiveness of the ‘sunny drinks’ made in Turkmenistan on the world strong drinks market.

The forum organised by the Ministry of Agriculture of the Russian Federation and the Committee for Economic Development, Industrial Policy and Trade of the St. Petersburg Government was held at Lenexpo – the largest exhibition complex in the city.

The Turkmen wine-makers competed with their counterparts from Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, Russia, Slovenia, Ukraine and other countries for the title. The well-known enterprises presented 140 samples of alcoholic beverages and wines at the prestige international contest. Though, the jury awarded each of the nine samples presented by Turkmenistan.

The grand prize was awarded to Yasman-Salyk dessert white vintage wine produced at the Geoktepe winery and Owadan-Depe strong white vintage wine made at the Ashgabat winery. The gold medals were awarded to dessert wines Bezmein and Aygul (Abadan), Sowgat and Gara Gozly (Ahal), Byasleshik (Yolotan), Altyn Hosha (Ashgabat) and Kara-Kum five-year-old cognac (Geoktepe).

According to the Food Industry Association of Turkmenistan, the samples of the Turkmen wine were of particular interest to the professional wine tasters as well as numerous visitors, who were eager to learn about the wineries in Turkmenistan and the domestic technologies of making wine, cognacs and other strong drinks from the fruits grown in Turkmenistan. The professional wine-makers noted that the Turkmen dessert wines with high sugar content were remarkable for the original taste and aroma. The laboratories of the Turkmen wineries work to create the recipes of ‘sunny drinks’, which will represent our country at the prestige international exhibitions and trade fairs.