ASSESSMENT OF OENOLOGICAL RESOURCES OF TRANSCARPATHIA

Abstract

Winemaking in Transcarpathia is one of the traditional occupations of the local population, which has an ancient historical basis, due to which the historical aspect plays a particularly important role in the structure of enological resources and forms their regional uniqueness. Viticulture and winemaking in Transcarpathia originated about 2,000 years ago. There is evidence that grapes were grown in this region as early as the 2nd century. This is due to the fact that the region was in contact with the ancient Roman provinces of Upper Dacia and Pannonia. After the invasion of Zakarpattia by the hordes of Batia, the vineyards were completely destroyed, and only in 1254, the Hungarian king Bela IV invited German and Italian winegrowers and winemakers (winzlers) to populate the devastated area. He granted colonists and the small population of the region the right to plant vineyards, make and sell wine, exempting them from taxes and church tithes for 10 years. In the 13th-15th centuries, a large part of the vineyards of Transcarpathia belonged to monasteries. The beginning of the 16th century was characterized by intensive development of viticulture and winemaking. Mukachevo and Berehiv wines go not only to meet the needs of local feudal lords and the population of the region, but also end up on the royal table. Keywords: grapes, cultivation, fruiting, resource