Ukrainian Wine
Ukraine is one of Europe’s oldest but least widely known wine countries, with a winemaking history going back 2,500 years when the Greeks planted vines along the Black Sea coast.
Today, it is gaining renewed attention for its diverse climates, indigenous grapes, and strong regional identities.
The Black Sea Region
The Black Sea region is the southern region of Ukraine, and includes several regions: Odessa, Mykolaiv and Kherson.
This is where most vineyards are located.
- Odesa (Bessarabia & Black Sea coast) – largest region
- Mykolaiv & Kherson – hot, dry, steppe climate
- Crimea – historically very important (Mediterraneanclimate)
These areas dominate production because of sun, warmth, and sea influence.
Odesa is Ukraine’s largest and most important wine area.
Winemaking here is influenced by a continental and maritime climate, often with droughts.
The soils are chernozems, sandy loams and some limestone rocks.
Wine Style
Rich, ripe wines with good fruit concentration.
Think: Similar to southern France or coastal Italy.
Notable Wines
Odesa Black produces deeply colored reds with dark fruit and spice.
Sparkling wines are also important.
Red Grapes
Odesa Black |
White Grapes
Telti Kuruk |
Soil
Highly fertile Ukrainian black soil (chernozem). |
Climate
Warm and sunny. |
Zakarpattia
Zakarpattia is on the border with Hungary and Slovakia.
Zakarpattia is known as the land of white wines, but in recent years, red varieties have also been ripening here.
The climatic conditions of the region are favorable for vine growing, since the territory is closed from northern cold winds by the Carpathian mountains, that creates a special microclimate.
There is a lot of sunshine here, and vineyards grow on the local slopes.
The main white grapes are Traminer, Muscat Ottonel, Furmint, Riesling, Chardonnay.
Major red varieties are Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Zweigelt. Blaufränkisch.