Russia: Putin & Berlusconi visit Crimea's Massandra Palace wine collection

Former Prime Minister of Italy Silvio Berlusconi was shown around one of the world's biggest wine collections with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Massandra Palace in Crimea, Friday. Accompanied by the Russian leader, Berlusconi walked through the cellars of the palace, looking at and even tasting some of the produce. The two also observed the palace's art gallery and examined a series of items dating from World War II as well as bottles of wine almost 200 years old. Berlusconi was reportedly impressed at the collection and later received an invitation to the wine cellar's tasting hall. Massandra is an industrial and agricultural association which consists of several brances and wineries situated in Crimea. An estimated 3.3 million decalitres of raw wine materials are currently maintained in the organisation's factories.