Lithuania is a country in Northern Europe between Belarus and the Baltic Sea, bordered by Latvia to the north and Poland to the south. Situated between the latitudes of 53 and 56 degrees north, it lies just north of the 'Wine Belt', the theoretical band between 32 and 51 degrees in which effective viticulture is practicable.
As the southernmost of the three Baltic states (the territories that gained independence from Russia after WW1), Lithuania is closest to the influences of Western Europe. It also enjoys the added ease of trade brought about by its proximity to Germany, Poland and Russia, and its access to Sweden just across the Baltic Sea.
Most wine produced in Lithuania is made from fruits other than grapes, as the climate here is simply too cold to support quality viticulture. Apples, pears and particularly berries are used to make alcoholic beverages in Lithuania, and honey is used to make mead-like drinks. The country's finest produce, however, is its vodka – a hangover from its time under the Russian Empire. Lithuania doesn't produce anywhere near as much vodka as some of its neighbors, but there is a healthy domestic market for it, and a small number of brands are exported.
Although Lithuanians consume more vodka and beer than they do wine, there is a growing interest in the subject among the affluent, particularly the younger generations. As Lithuania takes an increasingly global and outward-looking perspective (the capital Vilnius was named European Capital of Culture in 2009), wine is gradually becoming an accepted, if small, part of the country's culture.
