User:Алла Хаятова/Виноробня Шато Чизай

Winemaking Company Chateau Chizay was founded in 1995, located in Ukraine, Transcarpathian region in the town of Berehove (Beregovo). It owns 272 hectares of vineyards in three districts of the region and is a leading wine producer in the region and one of the most famous wine-makers in Ukraine.

Chateau Chizay Company is the successor to the ancient history of viticulture and winemaking in the region, creating a new story of this craft. Winery is a laureate of national and international wine contests and tastings. Chateau Chizay wines are exported to Europe, USA, Canada, Israel, Australia. The Company develops wine tourism industry, promotes a culture of wine consumption and quality local products.

As noted by the founder and owner of the winery Gennadiy Gutman, the modern production of Chateau Chizay is built from scratch, but with a focus on the local history of winemaking. Chateau Chizay combines long-standing traditions and the latest technology. The principles of the Company are hardworking and honesty, respect for nature and love for its business. And the philosophy is to create wine not just of exceptional quality, but also a special wine with its own character.

History of viticulture and winemaking of Transcarpathia
XIII century. Residents of Berehove County grew grapes and made exquisite wine. Chronicles indicate: Hungarian kings Bela IV, Louis the Great and Louis II ordered the wine for their tables.

XVI-XVII centuries. The area of Transcarpathian vineyards is about 7000 hectares.

The beginning of XVIII century. In Hungary, the rule of the Turks ended, in Transcarpathia it was a new era in the development of viticulture.

XVIII and XIX centuries. The time of Austria-Hungary ruling was the time of heyday. Local wine makers improved their skills, the region's wine was known in Europe.

1870s. Grape phylloxera came to Transcarpathia with new vines. The pest destroyed more than half of the vineyards in Europe. Only the breeding of hybrid vines that could resist phylloxera rescued the situation. In 1885 the plants restoration began.

The end of XIX – beginning of XX centuries. Technologies of viticulture and winemaking were developing. Plants of European and local varieties were planted in Transcarpathia.

In 1919 Berehove, which had been under Romanian rule for not a long time was withdrawn to Czechoslovakia.

From 1938 to 1944 Hungarian era continued, and with it the winemaking tradition developed. 1945. Transcarpathia was annexed to the Soviet Union. The new system destroyed usual economy, but the traditions were not lost. Establishment of agricultural enterprises contributed to the expansion of vineyard areas, however, the varietal composition suffered a lot. The state farms were focused on the production of a large quantity of wine materials, the quality of wine was not a priority.

1950s-60s. The industrial area of grapes in the region amounted to 14,000 hectares.

1985-1988. "Anti-Alcohol Campaign". Most of the vineyards were destroyed in Transcarpathia, European varieties were cut down, Isabella took their place. Transcarpathia still has not recovered the loss.

1990s. Beginning of the restoration and development of modern viticulture and winemaking.

The beginning of XIII century. King of Hungary, István II gave the land to his subordinate named Csepán. In 1230 his son Csiz (Chiz) became the heir of this land. Ownership was called Chiz Thai, "the estate of Chiz". Subsequently, the area was called "Chizay".

XV century. The wine manor in the natural area of Chizay appeared on Hungarian maps. It was wine supplier to the rulers of Mukachevo castle, the royal courts of Europe and kings of the northern lands.

1995.  A new enterprise was built on the site of the old winemaking manor Chizay.

2000. The Company produced a million bottles of wine in a month.

2005. The building was turned into a country palace. Chateau Chizay got the status of a tourist attraction. 2006. Chateau Chizay planted its own grape plantations with the participation of Austrian specialists. Since then, the Company has continued to develop the direction of viticulture and planted varieties of wine grapevines.

2007. The vineyard area of Chateau Chizay amounted to 272 hectares.

2012. The Company started to produce wines exclusively from its own harvest.

2016. The best red wines were laid in barriques made of French oak. The Company continued to produce a premium collection of seasoned wines, expanding the palette with white varieties.

2017. At the 25th International Wine Competition «Bukkaljai Borfesztival» in Eger (Hungary) 7 wines of Chateau Chizay received gold medals. Hungarian Secretary of State András Tállai presented Chateau Chizay a commemorative award as the Best European Winery-2017.

2018. Launching of educational project «Chateau Chizay Academy». At the international exhibition with the tasting contest «Wine & Spirits Ukraine Awards» in Kyiv, all 9 wines that the Company provided for evaluation, received honors which was the best result among Ukrainian winemakers.

The Company, depending on the season, collects about 1500 tons of grapes, from which it produces up to 980 thousand liters, or 1.3 million bottles of wine. About 3 million liters of wine are stored in wine depositories including more than 20 thousand liters in barriques in order to become distinguished.

2019. Chateau Chizay develops the brand "Transcarpathian Wine". Its goal is prosperity of Transcarpathia as a wine-growing and wine-making region.

Chateau Chizay vineyards
Chateau Chizay vineyards are a man-made marvel of Ukraine. The best soils, mostly of volcanic origin, southern hillsides and mild climate, which allows not to use artificial watering - the locations of vineyards have the status of unique Carpathian terroir. Chateau Chizay vineyard planting in 2006 became a special event in Ukraine.

The plantations were laid under new technology with the help of the best Austrian specialists and seedlings. The following season, the Company shared its experience and helped to plant vineyards its colleagues from other regions of Ukraine: Odessa region and Crimea.

272 hectares measure up 1 million 88 thousand grape bushes, one vine per each Transcarpathian inhabitant. These are white and red European varieties of grapes. Pink Traminer, Rhine Riesling, Irsai Olivér, Chersegi, Muscat Ottonel, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir and Pinot Blanc and it is not a complete list of varieties. The Company improves and expands the varietal composition of plantations, paying attention to classical and local grapes. The leading winegrower of the Company is agrarian of the wine-making region Tokaj (Hungary) György Rózsa.

Vineyards are not just plantations, where raw materials for wine grow. This is a tourist attraction and a place for photo and video sessions and solemn events. It is also the location of meetings of experts in the field of viticulture and winemaking, such as excursions, seminars, master classes, professional tastings.

Chateau Chizay creates a new history of viticulture and winemaking in Transcarpathia and Europe.

Chateau Chizay wines
Chateau Chizay Company produces natural grape wines of several lines, including premium ones.

There are brands that are exclusive to Ukraine.

Chersegi Fueseres wine in Ukraine is produced only by Chateau Chizay.

The wines of the mini-series "Sakura of Transcarpathia" are bottled only in the weeks when a Japanese cherry trees bloom in Transcarpathia.

In partnership with a musician and cultural figure Oleg Skrypka, Chateau Chizay produces an author's wine «Kraina Mriy» («Dreamland») -- white dry wine Traminer and pink wine Pinot Noir.

Especially for Churches and Monasteries of Ukraine, Chateau Chizay produces "Transcarathian Cahors".

In 2018 the Company began manufacturing of Ice Wine of the Riesling variety.

In 2018 Chateau Chizay presented to the market and international competitions Merlot, Pinot Noir and Furmint wine seasoned in French oak barriques.

Continuing the history of Transcarpathian winemaking, the Company patented and produced the legendary white brandy sweet wine of Pink Traminer variety – «Troianda Karpat» (The Rose of the Carpathians). In 2018, it received the Platinum Medal and was recognized as the best wine at the International Tasting Contest «Wine & Spirits Ukraine Awards».

The winery is consulted by Zoltán Schlezák, chairman of the Hungarian Sommelier Association, the founder and general manager of the Hungarian Academy of Gastronomy and Sommelier. Wine Tourism is also a direction of Chateau Chizay Company. The mission of the Company is to contribute to the development of the culture of wine consumption and tourist attractiveness of Transcarpathia. Among the proposals in the tourist sector are tastings, excursions to the production facilities and wine depositories, vineyard tours, gastronomic attractions.

The Company cooperates with Uzhhorod National University, its Department of Tourism, the Association of Tourists of Transcarpathia and other specialized institutions and organizations, as well as producers of local products. Chateau Chizay combines tourism and education, holding Welcome Days, the Harvest Festival, and seminars for colleagues and partners on viticulture, winemaking and the culture of wine consumption.

Chateau Chizay website [[Category: Winemaking, Viticulture, Winemaking in Ukraine, Viticulture in Ukraine, Transcarpathian wine, Transcarpathia, Wine of Ukraine, Ukrainian wine, History of winemaking, History of viticulture, Winemaking in Europe, Transcarpathian culture, Wine Tourism in Ukraine, Wine Tourism of Transcarpathia ]]