Wines of Ukraine: vineyards of the south and the Carpathian mountains

Our country has a rich history in the wine industry. Winemaking is a big part of Ukrainian heritage. In this article, I tried to cover the most famous brands that produce exceptional wines in the territory of Ukraine.

Leading producers of ukrainian winemaking

The unique climate of Ukraine allows to produce the wine in almost all regions of the country, but the modern leaders are the western and southern regions. There are wineries whose history dates back to the nineteenth century, as well as new brands that are rapidly conquering the market. The wineries here have such charm and quality that you should definitely discover the taste of these fine wines.

Now Ukraine consists of three main wine-growing regions. This is, by far, the largest territory in the south-west around the city of Odesa, accounting for almost 50% of the total area, the winery of the Transcarpathian region, as well as the territory south of the Dnieper River in the area of the cities of Kherson and Mykolaiv. In 2019, from 41.5 thousand hectares of Ukrainian vineyards, 133.4 million liters of wine were produced from 180 grape varieties, including local and autochthonous varieties.

Odessa - the capital of ukrainian winemaking

In the southernmost point of Ukraine, on the border with Moldova, the Kolonist vineyards are located. The key to the success of the Colonist brand is that its vineyards are located at the same latitude as the French Bordeaux region and the Italian Piedmont region. Kolonist is one of the most popular wine brands in Ukraine, producing 200,000 bottles a year. Colonist vineyards can boast of such popular European varieties as Chardonnay, Cabernet, Merlot, Riesling, and others. Cabernet Merlot "Vysokaia Gamma" is one of the best wines that the Colonist offers. This drink successfully conveys the finest shades of Cabernet, combining notes of blackberries, herbs, and grapes in the aroma. The wine goes well with lamb and other meat.

The history of another family business began near the village of Velikodolinskoye, Odesa region, known as the most successful wine-growing region of Ukraine. In 1998, Ruben and Robert Guliyev purchased grape seedlings from a French company. Currently, the winery owns almost 200 hectares of vineyards with numerous grape varieties, such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Chardonnay, Riesling, Traminer, and others. Dry white wine Chardonnay Select is considered the company's signature wine. This wine has a light pleasant aroma with notes of pineapple, bread crust, delicate citrus shades and a fruity taste.

One of the oldest terroirs in Europe — Chabot. The ancient Greeks are considered the progenitors of winemaking in this region. It was they who founded the settlement of Tira (later the city of Akkerman) on the Black Sea coast more than 2.5 thousand years ago and were the first to plant vineyards here. The centuries-old traditions of Shabo winemaking formed the basis for the creation of the Shabo company in 2003 - a Ukrainian wine complex with a full production cycle. Today, a wide range of Shabo products is presented in all regions of Ukraine, as well as in Europe and Asia.

Wines of the mykolaiv region

The best way to enjoy a glass of high-quality wine is to drink it while admiring the vineyards of more than 2,500 hectares. In Koblevo, you will have such an opportunity. Koblevo is certainly one of the most famous Ukrainian wine brands. The winery also has a fairly large-scale production, producing more than 45 million bottles a year. The pearl of the producer is a Cabernet Sauvignon with a well-balanced taste that combines ripe tannins and spicy notes.

Beikush brand winemakers mix wines from different varieties to show the style of their winery and the characteristics of the area where the grapes grow. The result is a bright and delicious wine that can not be copied in any other region. The vineyards of the brand grow in a unique place, on the Cape Beikush, the shores of which are washed on one side by the Berezansky Estuary, on the other by the Bay of Beikush. On a total area of 11 hectares, traditional French, Italian and Georgian varieties are planted, such as Chardonnay, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc from white and Pinot Noir, Merlot, Saperavi, and Cabernet Sauvignon from red.

The winery of Prince Trubetskoy is a unique object of wine tourism in Ukraine. The harvest attracts many tourists to the Trubetskoy winery, not only from all over Ukraine but also from Europe. The reconstruction of the historic building of the winery built in 1900 with a tower and a viewing platform, which is equipped with tasting rooms, was completed in 2013. The building has 8 galleries of wine cellars from the time of Trubetskoy, which are used for aging and storing wines. There is a 10-room hotel and an atmospheric banquet hall in the old wing of the winery. The range of this brand combines several collections of young and aged wines, vintage wines, and limited editions.

Transcarpathian wines

One of the largest wineries in the Transcarpathian region is Chizay. In the winery complex, guests can visit the wine cellar, explore the production process, and get acquainted with the products of the winery. The winery produces white, red, and rose wines in limited and original collections. Riesling has a rich aroma and taste bouquet, noted by many connoisseurs. The intense aroma of fruits and wildflowers is combined with light notes of spices and citrus. The wine has a refreshing and long delicate aftertaste. The winery also organizes guided tours of the valley and its vineyards.

Exclusive wine from the first racket of Ukraine — Ace by Stakhovsky. In 2015, the outstanding tennis player Sergey Stakhovsky leased 20 hectares of land in Transcarpathia and began to grow Merlot, Saperavi, and pink Traminer. For two years, the Stakhovsky wines team cultivated the soil, transplanted the grapes, and watered them. And only in 2018, the newly-made winemaker collected his first harvest. The wine of this brand is distinguished by its exquisite taste and luxurious bouquet.