Stalin's Favorite Wine: Myths and Reality

Big politics are incompatible with drunkenness. The leader of the party or the head of state must weigh every word said, always have a clear mind, and react quickly and correctly to any changes in the situation.

However, even the most experienced statesmen, both Soviet and foreign, were by no means teetotalers. According to the memories of Winston Churchill's grandson , his grandfather used to drink a glass of whiskey for his food. It should be noted that this measure of volume is about one hundred grams, while the sir of the prime minister has never been drunk.

Yu. V. Andropov had a weakness for the Scotch "White Horse". Illegal scouts knew that the best gift for the chef was a bottle of this noble drink, however, the state of health did not allow him to drink any significant amount.

Even the fighter for total sobriety, MS Gorbachev, nicknamed the "mineral secretary," was "noticed" in his Stavropol years, and more than once ...

There is an opinion that Iosif Vissarionovich was a great drink lover. This conclusion is drawn on the basis of numerous evidence that night gatherings at the Kuntsevo dacha were accompanied by abundant libations. Some biographers even list Stalin's favorite wines that sound like Rustaveli's verses in the original: Mukuzani, Khvanchkara, and Kindzmarauli. However, with the image of the leader, preoccupied with the fate of the world communist movement and merciless to his enemies, it is difficult to combine an unclear gaze and unsteady gait - the characteristic signs of Bacchus fans.

As evidenced by the veterans of the service of government protection, the Secretary of the CPSU (b) drank a little, treated more, watching the behavior of the drunk guest. To say that there was some special favorite wine of Stalin, "Khvanchkara" for example, is difficult. The leader's preferences changed with age. So, it is fixed that the last alcoholic drink that he used was a young "Madzhari". The alcohol content in it is extremely low, but it has an invigorating effect, raises blood pressure. It is possible that this, in the last few years, Stalin's favorite wine, provoked a stroke, and the failure to provide timely medical assistance was the main cause of his death.

The tastes of the Kremlin dictator are usually considered simple, and as a result, he is credited with modesty. Recipes of dishes cooked by Kremlin chefs, in fact, were not borrowed from the culinary dishes of the French court. The leader loved soup, borsch, dumplings. Even to his native Caucasian cuisine, he did not often turn to Russian. Drinks were also at first glance simple. There were not even labels on the bottles, just a piece of paper with a Georgian inscription with a chemical pencil. Stalin's favorite wine was homemade, he was made by Kakhetian brothers-collective farmers Nemtsetsviridze, most likely, not even knowing for whom. In addition to this security measure, the composition of the drink was checked by the special laboratory, and then the security was tried. This is simplicity and modesty ...

As a true Georgian, Iosif Vissarionovich understood not only the quality and quantity, but also the seasonality of use. In the summer hot months, Stalin's favorite wine is white dry. It quenches thirst, and drunk in a small amount improves mood and well-being. In winter, the General Secretary preferred to drink red, and also dry. Strong drinks he rarely consumed, cognac ("Yeniseli", "KS" or "OS") was more often offered to guests. He was, of course, very good, and also Georgian.

Important was the impact of the favorite wine of Stalin on the digestive system, with which the leader had certain problems, especially in recent years.

In general, in general, the leader of a "single socialist state" gave preference to quality, rather than prestigious brands with bright stickers. It concerned clothes, food, and, of course, wines, which, by the way, he drank very little.