OREANDA-NEWS. On 10 August 2009 was announced, that Turkmen wine-makers won 2 grand gold medals and 7 gold medals at the International Competition of wine and spirits "Yalta. Gold Gryphon - 2009" which took place in Ukraine from 27 July to 5 August. White dessert wine "Black Raisins" by the Geoktepe Winery was awarded the honorary title "The best wine of 2009". 65 wineries and companies from 17 countries around the world that brought with them more than 200 varieties of wine products competed for high awards in the Crimea this year.

Grand gold medals went to high-quality cognac "Beyik Galkynysh" by the Ashgabat winery and vintage white dessert wine "Yasman Salyk" by the Geoktepe winery. Gold medals were awarded to white vintage dessert wine "Terbash" by the Ashgabat winery, red dry wine "Oguzkent" by the Geoktepe winery, white dessert wine "Byuzmeyin" and "Aigul" by the winery of Abadan city, strong white vintage wine "Kopetdag" and white dessert wine "Sovgat" by the Akhal primary wine-making plant, white dessert wine "Byasleshik" by the Yolotan winery. Other than that, red dry wine "Oguzkent" won an honorary diploma for design.

The international competition "Yalta. Golden Gryphon" is held under the auspices of the International Organization of Vine and Wine (Paris) established in 1924. It unites 43 countries from around the world. Its organizers are the National Institute of Vine and Wine "Magarach"(Yalta), the Ukrainian Academy of Agrarian Sciences, the International Federation "Unions husbandmen and winemakers of CIS countries" and the Union of Crimean wine-makers. Turkmenistan wine receives the competition's highest awards annually.