Kazakhstan's Almaty region, at the foot of the Tian Shan mountains near the former capital, has a winemaking history stretching back to the Soviet era when it supplied the Kremlin with premium wine. Today a small number of serious producers are reviving the ancient tradition at 800–1,200m altitude using indigenous Central Asian varieties alongside Rkatsiteli and Saperavi. The extreme continental climate — brutal winters, hot summers, dramatic diurnal swings — produces concentrated, structured wines.
| Year | Rating | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | — | Tian Shan altitude moderated summer heat; balanced harvest with characteristic freshness and concentration. |
| 2022 | — | Outstanding Central Asian vintage; warm dry summer at high altitude produced Saperavi of exceptional depth. |
| 2021 | — | Late spring frost damage and uneven summer; high-altitude sites (1000m+) performed better than the valley floor. |
| 2020 | — | Solid Almaty vintage; classic diurnal swing preserved aromatics while sun accumulation achieved full tannin ripeness. |
| 2019 | — | A reliable continental vintage; Arba's mountain sites produced characterful wines of consistent quality. |