BBC: Putin and Berlusconi in Crimea wine row
Ukrainian prosecutors say they are preparing charges against the head of a Crimean winery for allegedly opening a 240-year-old bottle for Vladimir Putin and Silvio Berlusconi.
The Russian president and former Italian premier spent last weekend in Crimea touring ancient ruins.
Prosecutors say they drank at Crimea's renowned Massandra winery.
Massandra was Ukrainian government property before Russia's annexation of Crimea in March 2014.
Any charges could not currently be pursued in Crimea, where Russia has full control.
Russian media cited by Radio Free Europe reported that Berlusconi asked if he could sample the wine during a tour of Massandra.
Update #1: Ukraine Outraged after Putin Allegedly Drank 240-Year-Old Crimean Wine -- AP
Update #2: Putin, Berlusconi and the 240-year-old bottle of wine -- Politico
WNU Editor: I have been to the Massandra winery (about 15 years ago) .... and I have seen its wine cellar (there are about one million bottles). As a wine drinker/collector/and wine maker .... words cannot describe how I felt when I was there for a wine testing event. It is impressive, and some of the vintages go back to the late 1700s. As to the wine itself .... if you like dessert or fortified wines, this place is for you. On a side note .... I am green with envy. Drinking a bottle of wine that was corked before the U.S. gained its independence .... priceless.
1 comment:
The dusty bottle had the Ottoman Sultan Abdülhamid I's fingerprints on it (would the Faithful understand?). Also I saw people stepping on the yellow lines!
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