ProWein 2023, the world’s #1 wine and spirits trade fair which is due to open its doors again in Düsseldorf on March 19-21, 2023, will be greeting 10 Ukrainian wineries presenting their products under the Wines of Ukraine umbrella.
This is not the first time that Ukrainian wineries will be participating in ProWein. However, this year the Ukrainian Association of Craft Winemakers, which is also the initiator and the founder of Wines of Ukraine, will give a bigger picture of Ukrainian winemaking to the visitors of the famous fair.
Ukrainian Association of Craft Winemakers was established in 2021 in order to coordinate and develop Ukrainian winemaking industry, as well as to enhance the competitiveness of Ukrainian wines internationally, and to promote the brand of Wines of Ukraine.
In times of war, the Association also focuses on helping to rebuild destroyed wineries and on demining the vineyards liberated from russian occupation. Currently, the Association includes 72 manufacturers.
“Our mission is to actively develop the Wines of Ukraine brand,” says Svitlana Tsybak, Wines of Ukraine representative, head of the Association of Craft Winemakers of Ukraine and Beykush Winery’s Development Director, “The attention that Ukraine is getting all over the world these days is extraordinary. We have to spread the word that, despite the war, life goes on here, we continue to grow grapes and produce our wines that have already been recognized by the world. We are happy to do our job, to work for our Victory.”
The Wines of Ukraine stand at ProWein will present 10 wineries:
Beykush Winery (Mykolayiv region)
Father’s Wine VB (Ternopil region)
Prince Trubetskoi Winery (Kherson region)
Chateau Chizay (Transcarpathian region)
Stakhovsky Wines (Transcarpathian region)
Biologist Craft Winery (Kyiv region)
Kolonist Winery (Odesa region / Southern Bessarabia)
Villa Tinta (Odesa region / Southern Bessarabia)
My Wine by Eduard Gorodetsky (Odesa region)
46 Parallel Wine Group (Odessa region).
Ukrainian winemakers are dealing with the horrors and challenges of russian aggression every day. Some wineries have suffered more than others. Prince Trubetskoy Winery, a historic chateau located in Kherson region, survived the Russian occupation. The winery’s owners managed to retain their staff, but even now, after the de-occupation, it is not clear what happened to the production facilities, ancient wine cellars, a restaurant and hotel complex. It is still impossible to get there because the chateau is located in the territory suffering from daily shelling and missile attacks. Some of the vineyards have not yet been de-mined. Despite the challenges, Prince Trubetskoy Winery is participating in ProWein 2023.
The international wine community already knows a few things about Ukrainian winemaking, considering Ukraine a “young” wine region. However, from a historical point of view, the traditions of winemaking in Ukraine have existed for several millennia.
“Our main goal is to place Ukraine back on the world map of winemaking, which has existed in Ukraine since the time of Trypillian culture (7 thousand years ago). It reached its peak between the 7th and 1st centuries BC. We have a variety of terroirs, dozens of local grape varieties, and most importantly, a new generation of winemakers who have revised the experience of their ancestors, linked it to modern trends, and are ready to present a new history of Ukrainian winemaking to the world,” says Sergey Klimov, a representative of the Wines of Ukraine, founder of the Kyiv Food and Wine Festival, ideologist and co-owner of Like a Local’s wine bar.
“We are very happy that Ukraine has this amazing opportunity to present its wines to a selected audience of wine professionals from all over the world”, shares her thoughts Victoria Agromakova, the Wines of Ukraine representative and founder of Wine&Spirits Ukraine expo. “Ukrainian wines deserve recognition and admiration, and our job is to spread the word and to grow our international business. We do appreciate the worldwide support that Ukraine and its people are getting. Helping Ukraine is a trend, and ProWein is not an exception. We are very grateful to the Ukrainian Consulate in Dusseldorf for their help and attention, and to our partners, the USAID Competitive Economy Program in Ukraine, for their valuable input and faith in Ukrainian winemaking.”
“Ukrainian businesses are facing many new challenges these days: they are losing production facilities, their sales are dropping, some of them have to move to safer areas. That is why helping them to restore and develop their business during the war is one of our top priorities. We support the Ukrainian winemakers participating in ProWein because we see our common goal here: to help improve the business environment in Ukraine and stimulate Ukrainian exports,” said Olesya Zaluska, Head of USAID Competitive Economy Program. “We love Ukrainian wines, appreciate the skills and resilience of Ukrainian winemakers, and believe in their successful international future. Let’s make it happen.”
When: March 19-21, 2023.
Where: Messe Düsseldorf, Stockumer Kirchstraße 61, 40474 Düsseldorf, Germany.
Wines of Ukraine stand: Hall 12 / A03.
Pls check this link to see exhibitors’ profiles.
Background info
Winemaking in Ukraine has been historically predetermined: it has an advantageous geographical location, and its climate favours grape growing. The origins of winemaking in Ukraine date back to the 4th century BC (in Crimea), going 2500 years back in the Black Sea Region up to the 14th century in Zakarpattya (Transcarpathia).
The continental climate is characterised by hot summers and severe winters. In 2021, over 100 million litres of wine were produced from 40 thousand hectares of vineyards. Almost 180 grape varieties are cultivated, including the majority of indigenous or varieties grown here.
Ukraine’s most famous indigenous variety is Telti-Kuruk, a white grape grown in Odesa region in the south. Another signature variety is a red Odesa Black, originating from Alicante Henri Bouschet and Cabernet Sauvignon.
