Kyrgyzstan

Having lunch and sipping on a local red wine, whilst sitting in a yurt on the edge of Lake Issyk-Kul in Kyrgyzstan, helped us to appreciate that Kyrgyzstan has a rich cultural heritage and a long history of wine making. Although only about 4% of the land is suited to viticulture the country produces around 6.2 million gallons of wine annually. The grape varieties are primarily a mix of Soviet-era Georgian, Russian and international grape varieties including Saperavi, Rkatsiteli, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir and Riesling. (2025)