History of the Mons Albus winery
The history of the Mons Albus winery includes many fascinating events that give the project special depth and character. It all began in 2019, when a team of enthusiasts saw the huge potential of the foothills of central Crimea. White Rock, dominant over this region, became a symbol of their desire to reach new heights in winemaking. The team's inspiration came from the history of the region. At the beginning of the 20th century, White Rock was known as the starting point for the first hot air balloon flights. The contrast of white stone, blue sky and green plains served as a magnificent background for the hovering balloons. This symbol formed the basis of the concept of the Mons Albus label: the hot air balloon became a metaphor for moving forward, to new heights in winemaking.
The climate of the foothills – mild but with marked contrasts, dry winds and a long sunny season – proved ideal for growing grapes. But to create truly unique wines, the Mons Albus team began with an in-depth soil analysis. The region’s soils, which include carbonate chernozems and deluvial deposits, create extreme conditions for the vines, which makes the grapes rich and unique in flavour.
In 2020, after numerous tests and preparations, seedlings of the world's best varieties were purchased: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Chardonnay. In the spring of 2021, the first vines were planted on 14 hectares of land in the Belogorsk region. The process was accompanied by many natural challenges: droughts, floods, weeds - all this only strengthened the team's determination to continue the project. Despite all the difficulties, the first vineyards of Mons Albus began to develop successfully.
While clearing the soil for the vineyards, the Mons Albus team encountered an unexpected obstacle: the rock mass hidden beneath the topsoil was so dense and hard that conventional machinery couldn’t cope. The rock had to be literally crushed by hand, breaking it into pieces that were real boulders. This required not only enormous effort, but also faith in the ultimate goal. Each stone became a symbol of perseverance, and each broken boulder was a step towards realizing a dream.
The work progressed slowly, but no one gave up. The grape vines planted on this difficult site began to grow through the rocky soil, as if confirming that where there is desire and work, there is always a result.
The name Mons Albus, which translates from Latin as "White Mountain", is not accidental. It not only reflects the White Rock that towers over the region, but also recalls those very white stones that had to be broken to create something beautiful. This white stone became a symbol of struggle, overcoming obstacles and believing in a dream.
In 2024 the construction of our own wine factory began. The factory will open its doors in 2026.