Ukraine has its own wine, and it is incredible, while the history of Ukrainian winemaking stretches back to antiquity — or perhaps even earlier. Having survived the Soviet era with its anti-alcohol campaigns and the mass destruction of vineyards, Ukrainian winemaking is now developing rapidly. With the restoration of independence, new vineyards have been planted, new wineries have emerged that experiment with wine styles and grape varieties, and local wines are winning more awards at international competitions and blind tastings.
Wines of Ukraine: The Untold Story introduces readers to local grape varieties, the best terroirs of different regions of Ukraine, and both traditional and new experimental producers. Most importantly, the book tells the stories of the people behind contemporary Ukrainian winemaking and their journeys into wine.
The highlight of the book is a series of stories about modern winemakers from various regions of Ukraine. These stories were gathered during an expedition that the Ukraїner team undertook in the autumn of 2022 together with the author of the book Serhii Klimov. Some wineries have suffered significant destruction from Russian shelling, and their vineyards have been mined. Despite the impact of Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine, Ukrainian wine continues to develop, and more people around the world are discovering it.
Reviews
New vineyards are being planted in previously unexplored areas, and winemakers continue to push the boundaries of quality and innovation. Serhii offers a valuable overview of legislation and classification, detailed profiles of regions and wineries, and a look at both current and future challenges. Most importantly — and most movingly — he focuses on the people of Ukrainian wine, the individuals behind the label whose grit and determination are lifting the industry to new heights.
Wojciech Bońkowski, Master of Wine
Bio
Serhii Klimov is a restaurateur and an ambassador of Ukrainian wines. Сo-owner of the wine bar Like a Local’s and the owner of the bar and shop UWINES, as well as the organiser of the Brave Wine and Kyiv Food and Wine Festival. Has been promoting Ukrainian wine since 2014.
