TOP 24 best wines of ukraine
The Masters‘ choice:
Masters of Wine selected TOP24 of the best wines of Ukraine.
TOP 24 BEST WINES OF UKRAINE, a professional tasting by Masters of Wine from Great Britain, Finland, The Netherlands, Germany and Poland took place in Warsaw on July 29, 2024. Influential international experts — Masters of Wine — evaluated the best Ukrainian wines and discussed the prospects of their promotion on the international markets. This international event was initiated by Wines of Ukraine within the international cooperation programme “EU4Business: SME Recovery, Competitiveness and Internationalisation”, co-financed by EU and Germany.
The purpose of the project is to change the global perception of Ukrainian wine, increase awareness of the Wines of Ukraine brand, and promote export development for Ukrainian winemakers.
We have invited recognized Masters of Wine from key European markets, which are extremely interesting for our exports, to participate in this tasting. The tasting commission consisted of 6 Masters of Wine: Wojciech Bonkowski (Poland), Sarah Abbot (Great Britain), Richard Bamfield (Great Britain), Caro Maurer (Germany), Cees van Casteren (Netherlands), Heidi Mäkinen (Finland). Among 91 samples of sparkling, white, red, rose, orange and sweet wines, 24 top positions were chosen.
Here is the list of the winning wines that will be representing the avant-garde of Ukrainian winemaking domestically and internationally throughout the year:
Sparkling wines. Charmat (Martinotti) method:
GRANDE VALLEE
White Brut «Méthode Charmat» 2023
Odesa region
Chardonnay 40%, Riesling 30%, Pinot Blanc 30%
CHATEAU CHIZAY
Carpathian Sekt Rose Blaufrankisch Brut 2023
Zakarpattia
Blaufränkisch 100%
Sparkling wines. Traditional method:
GRANDE VALLEE
White Brut «Méthode Traditionnelle» 2020
Odesa region
Chardonnay 50%, Pinot Blanc 25%, Pinot Meunier 25%
KOLONIST
Bisser aged sparkling white wine brut 2021
Odesa region
Chardonnay 100%
White wines
SHABO
Chardonnay Reserve 2022
Odesa region
Chardonnay 100%
BEYKUSH WINERY
Telti-Kuruk 2023
Mykolaiv region
Telti-Kuruk 100%
FRUMUSHIKA-NOVA
Muscat Ottonel Not Filtered 2022
Odesa region
Muscat Ottonel 100%
VILLA TINTA
Sukholymansky Premium Collection 2022
Odesa region
Sukholymansky 100%
BOLGRAD
Chardonnay Grand Reserve Collection 2022
Odesa region
Chardonnay 100%
FRUMUSHIKA-NOVA
Suholymanske Not Filtered 2022
Odesa region
Sukholymansky 100%
SHABO
Telti-Kuruk Grand Reserve 2022
Odesa region
Telti-Kuruk 100%
Rose wines
TIRAS WINERY
Rose my Wine Eduard Gorodetsky 2023
Odesa region
Pinot Noir 100%
Orange wines
BEYKUSH WINERY
Arbina 2021
Mykolaiv region
Rkatsiteli 100%
CHATEAU CHIZAY
Furmint Orange 2023
Zakarpattia
Furmint 100%
Red wines
GRANDE VALLÉE
Saperavi Reserve 2022
Odesa region
Saperavi 100%
SHABO
Cabernet Merlot Grande Reserve 2022
Odesa region
Cabernet Sauvignon 70%, Merlot 30%)
BEYKUSH WINERY
Loca Deserta 2020
Mykolaiv region
Merlot 29%, Saperavi 28%, Malbec 15%, Cabernet Sauvignon 14%, Tempranillo 14%
46 PARALLEL WINE
Grand Admiral Сabernet Sauvignon – Merlot – Saperavi 2018
Kherson region
Cabernet Sauvignon 40%, Merlot 40%, Saperavi 20%
GIGI WINERY
Alibernet reserve 2022
Odesa region
Odesa Black 100%
VILLA TINTA
Odesa Black Premium Collection 2020
Odesa region
Odesa Black 100%
KOLONIST
Cabernet Merlot Haute Gamme 2018
Odesa region
Cabernet Sauvignon 50%, Merlot 50%
BOLGRAD
Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve Bolgrad 2021
Odesa region
Cabernet Sauvignon 100%
BEYKUSH WINERY
Beykush Red 2023
Mykolaiv region
Pinotage 100%
Sweet wines
CHATEAU CHIZAY
Furmint Late Harvest 2022
Zakarpattia
Furmint 100%
Sparkling wines:
Charmat Method:
- Grande Vallée – White Brut «Méthode Charmat» 2023 (Odesa region, Chardonnay 40%, Riesling 30%, Pinot Blanc 30%)
2. Chateau Chizay – Carpathian Sekt Rose Blaufrankisch Brut 2023 (Zakarpattia, Blaufränkisch)
Traditional Method:
- Grande Vallée – White Brut «Méthode Traditionnelle» 2020 (Odesa region, Chardonnay 50%, Pinot Blanc 25%, Pinot Meunier 25%)
2. Kolonist – Bisser aged sparkling white wine brut 2021 (Odesa region, Chardonnay)
White wines:
- SHABO – Chardonnay Reserve 2022 (Odesa region, Chardonnay 100%)
2. Beykush Winery – Telti-Kuruk 2023 (Mykolaiv region, Telti-Kuruk 100%)
3. Frumushika-Nova – Muscat Ottonel Not Filtered 2022 (Odesa region, Muscat Ottonel 100%)
4. Villa Tinta – Sukholymansky Premium Collection 2022 (Odesa region, Sukholymansky 100%)
5. Bolgrad – Chardonnay Grand Reserve Collection 2022 (Odesa region, Chardonnay 100%)
6. Frumushika-Nova – Suholymanske Not Filtered 2023 (Odesa region, Sukholymansky 100%)
7. SHABO – Telti-Kuruk Grand Reserve 2022 (Odesa region, Telti-Kuruk 100%)
Rose wine:
Tiras Winery – Rose my Wine Eduard Gorodetsky 2023 (Odesa region, Pinot Noir)
Orange wines:
- Beykush Winery – Arbina 2021 (Mykolaiv region, Rkatsiteli)
2. Chateau Chizay – Furmint Orange 2023 (Zakarpattia, Furmint)
Red wines:
- Grande Vallée – Saperavi Reserve 2022 (Odesa region, Saperavi 100%)
- SHABO – Cabernet Merlot Grande Reserve 2022 (Odesa region, Cabernet Sauvignon 70%, Merlot 30%)
- Beykush Winery – Loca Deserta 2020 (Mykolaiv region, Merlot 29%, Saperavi 28%, Malbec 15%, Cabernet Sauvignon 14%, Tempranillo 14%)
- 46 Parallel Wine Group – Grand Admiral Сabernet Sauvignon – Merlot – Saperavi 2018 (Kherson region, Cabernet Sauvignon 40%, Merlot 40%, Saperavi 20%)
- GIGI winery – Alibernet reserve 2022 (Odesa region, Odesa Black 100%)
- Villa Tinta – Odesa Black Premium Collection 2020 (Odesa region, Odesa Black 100%)
- Kolonist – Cabernet Merlot Haute Gamme 2018 (Odesa region, Cabernet-Sauvignon 50%, Merlot 50%)
- Bolgrad – Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve Bolgrad 2021 (Odesa region, Cabernet Sauvignon 100%)
- Beykush Winery – Beykush Red 2023 (Mykolaiv region, Pinotage)
Sweet wine:
- Chateau Chizay Furmint Late Harvest 2022 (Zakarpattia, Furmint 100%)
SUPER TOP 12:
GRANDE VALLEE
White Brut «Méthode Charmat» 2023
Odesa region
Chardonnay 40%, Riesling 30%, Pinot Blanc 30%
KOLONIST
Bisser aged sparkling white wine brut 2021
Odesa region
Chardonnay 100%
SHABO
Chardonnay Reserve 2022
Odesa region
Chardonnay 100%
BEYKUSH WINERY
Telti-Kuruk 2023
Mykolaiv region
Telti-Kuruk 100%
FRUMUSHIKA-NOVA
Muscat Ottonel Not Filtered 2022
Odesa region
Muscat Ottonel 100%
VILLA TINTA
Sukholymansky Premium Collection 2022
Odesa region
Sukholymansky 100%
BEYKUSH WINERY
Arbina 2021
Mykolaiv region
Rkatsiteli 100%
GRANDE VALLÉE
Saperavi Reserve 2022
Odesa region
Saperavi 100%
SHABO
Cabernet Merlot Grande Reserve 2022
Odesa region
Cabernet Sauvignon 70%, Merlot 30%)
BEYKUSH WINERY
Loca Deserta 2020
Mykolaiv region
Merlot 29%, Saperavi 28%, Malbec 15%, Cabernet Sauvignon 14%, Tempranillo 14%
GIGI WINERY
Alibernet reserve 2022
Odesa region
Odesa Black 100%
CHATEAU CHIZAY
Furmint Late Harvest 2022
Zakarpattia
Furmint 100%
- Grande Vallée White Brut 2023 «Méthode Charmat» (Chardonnay 40%, Riesling 30%, Pinot Blanc 30%)
- Kolonist Bisser Brut, Traditional Method (Chardonnay 100%)
- SHABO Chardonnay Reserve 2022 (Chardonnay 100%)
- Beykush Winery Telti-Kuruk 2023 (Telti-Kuruk 100%)
- Frumushika-Nova Muscat Ottonel Not Filtered 2022 (Muscat Ottonel 100%)
- Villa Tinta Sukholymansky Premium Collection 2022 (Sukholymansky 100%)
- Beykush Winery Arbina 2021 (Rkatsiteli 100%)
- Grande Vallée Saperavi Reserve 2022 (Saperavi 100%)
- SHABO Cabernet Merlot Grande Reserve 2022 (Cabernet Sauvignon 70%, Merlot 30%)
- Beykush Winery Loca Deserta 2020 (Merlot 29%, Saperavi 28%, Malbec 15%, Cabernet Sauvignon 14%, Tempranillo 14%)
- GIGI winery Alibernet reserve 2022 (Odesa Black 100%)
- Chateau Chizay Furmint Late Harvest 2022 (Furmint 100%)
Who are Masters of Wine?
Currently, there are only 416 people in the world who have reached the highest level of expertise in the field of wine and received the title of Master of Wine. These experts are rigorously trained and tested to earn the prestigious title, demonstrate solid knowledge and ability to decode a wide range of wines and regions. They are probably the most influential figures in the world‘s wine industry. Their evaluations and recommendations are of considerable interest to consumers, wine professionals and the media. Masters influence perceptions of wines, regions and styles, set trends and drive buyers‘ decisions, developing an important role in shaping the global wine market.
Which Masters of Wine have joined the "TOP 24 BEST WINES OF UKRAINE" project?
Sarah Abbott MW
UK
Sarah Abbott became a Master of Wine in 2008, after ten years of working in sales, sourcing, education and marketing roles for specialist fine wine importers of Burgundy, Bordeaux and Italian wines. Sarah writes about wine for diverse publications including timatkin.com, the World of Fine Wine, and Swirl's company blog. She is a twice-listed finalist in the Roederer wine-writing awards and oversees the content strategy and creation for all client campaigns.
Richard Bampfield MW
UK
Richard Bampfield passed the Master of Wine Exam in 1990. He regularly guides groups of students and press on visits to Bordeaux and Burgundy, and has been actively involved in the promotion of English wines. He is now probably best known for his work writing tasting notes and evaluating wines for Lidl and is a regular presenter on 67 Pall Mall’s TV channel, www.67pallmall.tv. Richard is a past Chairman of the Association of Wine Educators and was the European Champagne Ambassador 2009.
Wojciech Bonkowski MW
Poland
Wojciech Bońkowski is a wine writer from Poland. Simultaneously he developed a career in wine, working in London before returning to Poland where he published eight books and founded the country’s leading wine website, Winicjatywa (2012), and wine magazine, Ferment (2017). The Ferment media group now also includes a wine events agency, wine school, and publishing house. He was President of the Polish Wine Trade Association (2015–22) and is a member of the Académie Internationale du Vin.
He currently focuses on the wines of Italy, Greece, Austria, Central and Eastern Europe.
Cees van Casteren MW
The Netherlands
Cees spent 14 years in fine chemicals and oenological specialties. Cees started writing about wine in 2004. Since then he has written twelve books and some 600 articles on wine and food. His most recent book is Anyone Can Taste Wine. Cees is a judge at international wine competitions, and WSET Educator. He also runs his own independent wine consultancy and training business. Cees has twice been named Dutch Vinologist of the Year. He currently is Chairman of the United Vinologists, the main association of wine professionals in The Netherlands.
Caro Maurer MW
Germany
Caro Maurer, Master of Wine, is writing about wine since the early 1990s. She finished the WSET diploma level five as Germany’s top student. She was the first woman from the German speaking countries to become a Master of Wine in 2011. Now she shares her working time between the General-Anzeiger, the daily newspaper in Bonn, and as a writer for Germany’s leading food and wine magazine, Der Feinschmecker (The Gourmet), and the English wine magazine Decanter. Caro also works as a wine educator for WSET Diploma across Europe and hosts educational seminars and tastings for numerous wine associations and judges in international wine competitions; at Decanter WWA in London, she is a panel chair.
Heidi Mäkinen MW
Finland
Heidi is Portfolio Manager and Partner of a Finnish wine importing company Viinitie. She became the Best Sommelier of Finland and the second in Chaîne des Rôtisseur’s Jeunes Sommeliers of the World in 2015, and the eight Best Sommelier of the World in 2016. She was selected as one of The Future 50 by WSET and IWSC in 2019. She is also currently the President of the Finnish Sommelier Association and a member of ASI Sommeliers Contests Committee. In addition to her daily job, Heidi teaches WSET at all levels, judges in various international wine competitions, offers consultation, and gives presentations on wine both in Finland and around the world.
Why do we do this?
Our goal is to promote the “Wines of Ukraine” brand on a global level. The purpose of the event is to change the global perception of Ukrainian wine, increase brand awareness and promote export development for Ukrainian winemakers.
"Visiting Zakarpattia now in April 2024, I was really struck by the relentless spirit and positive vision of the wine people I met. I consider it both a personal honour and a duty to contribute to their international success. And there is no better way to spread the word than through a great panel of experienced tasters and Masters of Wine who will examine the current production from all of Ukraine’s winemaking regions and select the most exciting wines that can be further promoted at wine events, masterclasses, and reviews on key markets. The final Top24 has the opportunity to become a very strong business card for Ukraine’s wine sector, while also inspiring other producers in the country to join the next editions and the collective effort to strengthen Ukrainian wine’s image abroad"
Wojciech Bońkowski MW
Poland
"I am the first to admit that I knew nothing about Ukrainian wine until two years ago and, when I first met Ukrainian wine producers at the London Wine Fair in May 2022, my instinct was to support them as much as I could, primarily through charity. Since then, I have been fortunate enough to taste and drink Ukrainian wines on many occasions and have realised that they merit our attention for many more reasons than mere goodwill. From a commercial point of view, this is Ukraine's "moment" to grab the wine world's attention. The Warsaw project is an excellent opportunity to showcase the traditions, the diversity, the unusual grapes and the quality at all price levels that underpin Ukraine's wine business. It will be a pleasure and a privilege to be part of it."
Richard Bampfield MW
UK
“A few years ago, I had the great fortune and pleasure of meeting Andrii Tarasov, who works at the Institute of Oenology at Hochschule Geisenheim University. He was born in Ukraine and gave me my first bottle of Ukrainian wine, a Chardonnay, which I remember very well. That was long before the war - and I tasted the wine with an open mind and unencumbered by the history that was yet to come. Surprise: it was good! Why was I actually surprised back then? Because in Germany we mainly drink German, French, Italian and Spanish. That's why it takes a nudge to dare to make discoveries. Of course, the war is not a nudge, it's a deadly blow with a club. But it has brought Ukraine to the centre of our attention. Wine may only be a marginal phenomenon, but Ukrainian winemakers should use this momentum to make their presence felt in important export markets. This is the only way people can get to know it and come to the realisation: this wine is good! And it is a pleasure and an honour for me to contribute to a nudge in this direction”
Caro Maurer MW
Germany
“Since my first taste of Ukrainian wine several years ago, I was intrigued and impressed. Saperavi – a variety I know and love very well - was my way into Ukrainian wine, and I was struck by the vibrancy and purity of the Ukrainian examples of this noble grape. We are all now sharply aware of the need to protect Ukrainian culture and agriculture, but even without the urgency of current events, the wines would be worthy of consideration. I’m looking forward to tasting a large range of Ukrainian wines with my fellow judges, and to selecting the top 24. I’m sure they will be compelling and persuasive ambassadors for Ukrainian winemaking and wine culture”
Sarah Abbott MW
UK
“I am very much looking forward to the TOP24 best wines of Ukraine tasting in Warsaw as it will give me a good indication of the stylistic scope and quality potential of the wines of Ukraine. Endorsement by Masters of Wine always has a positive impact on exports and image building”
Cees van Casteren MW
The Netherlands
“Ever since the war started, I felt it was important and necessary for me to support Ukraine and Ukrainian people. Being a wine professional, the most logical thing I could do was to promote and support the Ukrainian wine industry. Hosting tastings and talking about Ukrainian wines has also worked as a learning process for myself, never having visited the country nor its wine regions. There’s a long wine producing history in Ukraine, and I’m happy people in other countries are learning more about its wines, albeit the reason for the increased interest is horrible. I definitely wish to go and visit the wine-growing areas of Ukraine as soon as possible in the future, and until then, I’m happy to help to raise the interest and knowledge about Ukraine as a wine producing country”
Heidi Mäkinen MW
Finland
How will the project develop in the future and what are the prospects for the winning wines?
- Branded shelves "TOP 24 BEST WINES OF UKRAINE" with wines selected by the experts will be installed in the SILPO supermarket chain;
- Over the next few months, the Wines of Ukraine team plans to hold at least 6 Road Shows with selected wines in Europe and in Ukraine.
- The event will be actively covered in national and international media.
MEDIA PARTNERS
