The best Ukrainian wines: choosing sommeliers

“Wine Guide of Ukraine 2019” was presented at the last wine forum. Which Ukrainian wines does the guide recommend and which of them did you like?

The Ukrainian wine industry has experienced a huge decline since the 1980s.

However, in recent years, many winemakers, persistent and obsessed, have fallen in love with their own country, which makes the industry start to shade and make itself increasingly loud.

This was made possible by the emergence of a new layer of craft winemakers.

However, little is known about Ukrainian winemakers in their own country. To the general public, their achievements are unknown. When a consumer comes to buy Ukrainian wine in a store or orders a glass of wine in a restaurant, he often prefers world producers.

However, we see that some Ukrainian winemakers are inferior to their European counterparts. Yes, there are very few of them, thousands of times smaller than the same France, for example, but every year it gets more

What does the statistics say? Wine in Ukraine is officially produced by about 75 companies. The total area of vineyards today is 40.7 thousand hectares, of which those used for wine production – 25.6 thousand hectares.

The “Wine Guide of Ukraine 2019” was presented at the annual winemaking forum , co-organized by “Ukrainian Truth”. The publication includes 48 wineries and 183 positions of the best Ukrainian wines.

All wines were rated on an international 100-point blind-tasting scale. For this purpose the best experts of the Association of Sommeliers of Ukraine were involved. The EP asked the guide to provide a list of 20 red and white dry wines that received the highest sommelier points.

In fact, this list is much broader, and each of the wines that went to the publication deserves special attention. The full list can be found below.

Ukrainian red wines

Artany is red

Dry, red
**Manufacturer:** Beykush winery (Black Sea: between the Buz and Berezan estuaries of the Southern Steppe. Landmark –
Chernomorka village, Mykolaiv region)
**Harvest year** : 2015
**Grape varieties:** Saperavi, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir.
Fermentation and holding in neutral containers, year of aging in a barrel.
The wine is deep purple.
The aroma of black currant, blackberry, ripe cherry, combined with the aroma of leather and tobacco.
The body is medium.
The taste is rich and juicy.
**Recommendations:** meat dishes, grilled meat, meat delicacies, cheese.
**Temperature** :
14-16 degrees.
Guide score: 88 points

Merlot Reserve

Dry, red
**Manufacturer:** Shabo (Bessarabia, between the Dniester estuary and the Black Sea, Landmark – Shabo village, Odessa region)
**Harvest year:** 2017
**Grape variety:** Merlot.
Fermentation in neutral containers.
Exposure in barracks 6 months.
Extra bottles
Ruby wine.
The aroma of dried cherries and raspberries is pronounced, with notes of cinnamon, licorice, and tobacco.
The body is medium.
Fruit refreshing taste.
**Recommendations:** Grilled meat, meat dishes, meat delicacies.
**Temperature** :
14-15 degrees.
Guide score: 88 points

Artania reserve

Saperavi Reserve

Dry, red
**Manufacturer:** Inkerman (Black Sea: now Nova Kakhovka, Kherson region and Dolynske, Odessa region)
**Crop year:** 2014
**Grape variety:** Saperavi.
Fermentation in neutral containers.
Exposure in a barrel.
18 months of Slavonian oak, without firing, 350 and 500 liters.
Additional bottle endurance for 12 months.
Deep ruby color.
Average berry aroma of cherries, raspberries with plum.
The aroma harmoniously complements the sweet and black pepper.
The berry taste is balanced with bitterness in the aftertaste.
**Recommendations:** Game, meat delicacies, meat dishes.
**Temperature:** 13-15 degrees.
Guide score: 87 points

Velvet of Ukraine Vintage

Dry, red
**Producer:** Prince Trubetskoy Winery (Black Sea: on the slope of the Kakhovka reservoir. Landmark – Vesele village, Kherson region)
**Harvest year:** 2015
**Grape variety:** Cabernet Sauvignon.
Fermentation in neutral containers, aging in barrels for at least two years.
During exposure, two open and two closed transitions are performed.
Ruby wine.
The average aroma of dried berries, jam, tobacco, skin and vanilla.
Medium body.
Juicy berry taste.
**Recommendations:** Grilled meat, meat dishes, cheese, meat delicacies.
**Temperature:** 15-17 degrees.
Guide score: 86 points

Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve

Cabernet

Cabernet Villa Tinta

Dry, red
**Manufacturer:** Vinhol Oksamitne (Bessarabia: on the shore of Lake Yalpug. Landmark – Oksamitne village, Odessa region)
**Harvest year:** 2017
**Grape variety:** Cabernet Sauvignon.
Fermentation in neutral containers.
Hold in a barrel for 3 months.
The wine is intense pomegranate color.
The aroma is medium in which you feel cherry, plum, tobacco, leather and chocolate.
The body is medium.
The taste is round and balanced.
**Recommendations:** Meat delicacies, meat dishes, cheese.
**Temperature:** 15-16 degrees.
Guide score: 86 points

Ukrainian white wines

Beikus Chardonnay

Dry, white
**Manufacturer:** Beykush winery (Black Sea: between the Buz and Berezan estuaries of the Southern Steppe. Landmark – Chernomorka village, Mykolaiv region)
**Harvest year:** 2017
**Grape variety:** Chardonnay.
Fermentation in neutral containers.
Excerpt from American and French oak barrels for 12 months, followed by a two-barrel assembly to emphasize the taste and harmonious aroma.
The wine is golden in color.
The aroma of cream, nuts and honey, apricot, pineapple and toast are well expressed.
The body is medium.
The taste is complex with bread nuance.
**Recommendations:** Fish, seafood, oysters, white meat.
**Temperature:** 10-13 degrees.
Guide score: 90 points

Chardonnay Villa Tinta

Dry, white
**Manufacturer:** Vinhol Oksamitne (Bessarabia: on the shore of Lake Yalpug. Landmark – Oksamitne village, Odessa region)
**Harvest year:** 2017
**Grape variety:** Chardonnay.
Fermentation in neutral containers.
Hold in a barrel for 3 months.
Lemon color wine.
The expressed fruity aroma of apples, mangoes, lychee with vanilla pastries.
The body is medium.
The taste is balanced with bread nuance.
**Recommendations:** Seafood, fish, grilled fish, oysters.
**Temperature:** 10-13 degrees.
Guide score: 89 points

Chardonnay Reserve

Dry, white
**Producer:** Guliyev Wines (Black Sea: between the Black Sea coast and the Dniester estuary. Landmark – Velikodolynske, Odessa region)
**Harvest Year:** 2016
**Grape variety:** Chardonnay.
Fermentation in neutral containers.
Exposure in a barrel of 6 months.
The wine is golden in color.
The aroma of butter and nuts is combined with the fruity aroma of apple, apricot and banana.
The body is medium.
The taste is complex with bread nuance.
**Recommendations:** Seafood, fish, oysters, white meat.
**Temperature:** 9-11 degrees.
Guide score: 88 points

Chardonnay Reserve Shabo

Dry, white
**Manufacturer:** Shabo
(Bessarabia, between the Dniester estuary and the Black Sea, Landmark – Shabo village, Odessa region )
**Harvest Year:** 2016
**Grape variety:** Chardonnay
Fermentation in neutral containers.
Exposure in barracks 6 months.
Extra bottles.
Lemon color wine.
The pronounced citrus aroma is combined with white flowers, vanilla and butter.
The body is medium.
Rich citrus taste.
**Recommendations:** Grilled meat, meat dishes, cheese.
**Temperature:** 10-13 degrees.
Guide score: 87 points

Johann

Pearl

Dry, white
**Producer:** “V.Petrov” winery (Bessarabia. Landmark
– Strumok village, Odessa region )
**Harvest year:** 2017
**Grape variety:** Blend of 12 white grape varieties.
Maceration in neutral containers for 2-8 days with irrigation of the cap surface.
Exposure to a fine precipitate in neutral containers.
The wine is golden in color.
A pronounced aroma of dried melon fruit with yellow flowers, honey and caramel.
Medium body.
Taste with honey nuance.
**Recommendations:** Grilled fish, fish, fruits.
**Temperature:** 10-13 degrees.
Guide score: 87 points

Chardonnay

Fantasy Timorasso

Telti-Kuruk Reserve

What else did the editorial staff like?

Riesling

Dry, white
**Producer:** Colonist Family Winery (Bessarabia: on the shore of Lake Yalpug. Landmark – Krynychne Village, Odessa region)
**Harvest year:** 2018
**Grape variety:** Riesling.
Fermentation and holding in neutral containers.
The wine is pale lemon color.
Medium floral aroma with baked fruits, honey and lemon.
The body is medium.
The taste is light with the taste of a yellow apple.
**Recommendations:** Grilled meat, cheese, meat dishes, meat delicacies.
**Temperature:** 10-12 degrees.
Guide score: 86 points

Pinot Noir Withstood

High range

Dry, red
**Producer:** Colonist Family Winery (Bessarabia: on the shore of Lake Yalpug. Landmark – Krynychne Village, Odessa region)
**Harvest Year:** 2016
**Grape variety:** Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot.
Fermentation in neutral containers.
Long-lasting maceration and fermentation of whole berries in oak containers.
Exposure to new French barracks with unique ceramic firing for 14 months.
Pomegranate wine.
A pronounced aroma dominated by spicy berries with prunes, peppers, tobacco and farmyard.
The body is medium.
The taste is rich with tartness and berry flavor.
**Recommendations:** Grilled meat, meat dishes, cheese.
**Temperature:** 15-16 degrees.
Guide score: 84 points

Rose of the Carpathians

Dessert, white
**Producer:** Chateau Chizay (Transcarpathia. Landmark – Berehove city, Transcarpathian region)
**Crop year:** 2014
**Grape variety:** Traminer pink
Maceration in neutral containers for 12-24 hours.
Fermentation and holding in neutral containers.
Amber wine.
The aroma of caramelized fruits, nuts with honey and flowers is pronounced.
The body is full.
Balanced taste of nuts and honey.
**Recommendations:** Hard cheeses, desserts.
**Temperature** :
13-15 degrees.
Guide score: 88 points

5 comments

mike says:

January 7, 2020 at 6:35 pm

Thanks for the article, obviously dedicated to me. 😂

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- foccusser says:
  
  January 7, 2020 at 6:39 pm
  
  I’m sure you can work your way through the list in a few days. LMAO
  
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  - mike says:
    
    January 7, 2020 at 6:40 pm
    
    Hours, bro! Hours! 😂
    
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- RedSquareMaidan says:
  
  January 7, 2020 at 7:07 pm
  
  Its a real shame that the Crimea isn’t on that list. The reputation for Crimean wine dates back centuries.
  
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  - foccusser says:
    
    January 7, 2020 at 7:12 pm
    
    Muscovy destroyed any vineyards in Crimea. I doubt we’ll ever see any more Crimean wine in the shops.
    
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