Wine at the Feasts of Moscow Sovereigns in the 16th–17th Centuries

Abstract

The extent of wine in Muscovy, primarily in the palace economy, is considered. On the basis of a comparison of materials from Russian records management and notes of foreigners, the use of wine in the embassy ceremonies (primarily at the reception of the ambassadors of the King of England in 1664) and in the celebration of important events in the life of the Russian society elite is elucidated. The problem of centralized importation, internal trade, and storage of wine is touched upon. The varieties of alcoholic beverages common in Russia are studied separately. The author comes to the conclusion that there had been a fairly wide range of wine varieties in Russia, despite the fact that tastes did not fundamentally change and the wine menu had been relatively stable for many decades.