Poland has a long history of winemaking, dating back to the 9th century when Benedictine and Cistercian monks controlled production (and most of consumption, too). Climate changes in the mid 16th century forced a switch from wine to beer and vodka and seemingly constant wars devastated wine production until the fall of communism in Europe.

Recently, the country's wine industry trajectory has turned a one-eighty. Wine sales have increased almost 60 percent in the past decade and local production has increased as well. Without government subsidies, winemaking in Poland has proved very expensive, though many efforts are being made to set the stage for the commercial success of Polish wine. (Wine/Appellations)