All-Ukrainian Association of Winemakers and Sommeliers in partnership with the Ukrainian Cavist Association and the Master Class Sommelier School recently held the long-awaited All-Ukrainian Tasting Competition. The competition is aimed at highlighting the influence of terroir on Ukrainian wines, identifying the best wines and distillates in various categories through professional blind tasting, and emphasizing the importance of micro winemaking in Ukraine.
According to Natalia Blagopolyunova, President of the All-Ukrainian Association of Winemakers and Sommeliers, after a break in 2022, the competition returned with an additional nomination for Distillates, which was applied for by winemakers from all over the country.
“We did not hold the competition last year, although everything was planned. This year, we decided to try it, made an announcement a month in advance, and applications came in immediately. In addition, we added another nomination, Distillates, at the request of the participants,” she emphasized.
In total, the event was attended by 30 winemakers from 13 regions, including several newcomers who took part in the competition for the first time. A total of 114 samples of wines and spirits were presented and judged in 13 categories.
Valeriy Narovylo became the outstanding winemaker of the competition, receiving three gold medals and a red blend that won the Grand Prix. His wine received the maximum score of 100 points from the jury chairman Ricardo Nunez and was recognized as worthy of competing with famous European samples. This year’s competition also recognized the high quality of the distillates presented, with the Grand Prix in this category going to the grape muscat of TM Slavia.
The professional jury, headed by Ricardo Nunez, President of the international wine holding Vinos de la Luz, evaluated the samples on a point system, and gold, silver and bronze medals were awarded according to the points received. The jury consisted of experts from various fields of the wine industry, including sommeliers, winemakers, cavists and industry observers.
The competition also featured several categories, including sparkling wines, best riesling, best chardonnay, white local varieties, orange wines, rosé wines, best pinot noir, best merlot, best cabernet sauvignon, red local varieties, red blend, dessert wines and distillates. The winners in each category were determined based on the jury’s scores.
Among the outstanding winners are “Sparkling Rose, 2021” by TM “Moye Vino” (Eduard Gorodetsky) in the category “Sparkling Wines”, “Riesling, 2021” by Volodymyr Simakin in the category “Best Riesling” and “Chardonnay, 2022” by TM “Babchuk Winery” in the category “Best Chardonnay”. In the Best Merlot category, the gold medal was awarded to Merlot, 2020 by NAROVYLO WINERY. In the Red Blend category, the gold medal and the Grand Prix of the competition went to CS/CF/Merlot, 2020 by NAROVYLO WINERY, which received an excellent rating from the chairman of the jury, Ricardo Nunez.
The unique format of the competition, which focuses on the evaluation of wines and distillates from small producers (craft production), allowed participants to communicate with industry professionals and become members of the jury themselves. This year’s competition demonstrated the exceptional quality of Ukrainian craft wines and distillates and emphasized the importance of micro winemaking in the country’s future.
The winners of the competition will have the opportunity to present their wines and distillates at the VIII International Forum of Winemakers and Sommeliers, which will be held in November 2023 at the InterContinental Hotel in Kyiv. The All-Ukrainian Association of Winemakers and Sommeliers expresses its gratitude to all participants, jury members and the Armed Forces of Ukraine for their assistance in holding the event.
Organizers of the competition:
Ukrainian Association of Winemakers and Sommeliers
Association of cavists of Ukraine
The first in Ukraine Sommelier School “Master Class”
Media partners:
Interfax-Ukraine news agency;
Kyiv Analytical Center “Experts Club”;
Open4business portal.
Professional jury of the Competition:
Ricardo Nunez – Chairman of the Jury, President of the International Wine Holding “Vinos de la Luz”;
Natalia Blagopoluchna – Secretary of the Jury, President of the All-Ukrainian Association of Winemakers and Sommeliers;
Natalia Burlachenko, CEO of Big Wine- Big Art;
Oleg Kravchenko – “Best Sommelier of Ukraine 2011”, co-owner and chef-sommelier of the wine bar “Win bar”;
Yegor Belov – “Ukrainian Sommelier – 2018”, chef de cuisine at the Inercontinental Hotel;
Olga Girman – Ukrainian Sommelier 2021, founder of the Wine Evenings project;
Bohdan Dukal – “Best cavist of Ukraine – 2019”, director of 2 wine boutiques “Winetime”;
Yaroslav Panchuk – “The Best Caviarist of Ukraine – 2021”, caviarist at Bad Boy wine boutique;
Oleksii Bondar – “Best Caviarist of Ukraine – 2020”, manager of TS+;
Oleksandr Kovach – President of the Transcarpathian Winemakers Association, winemaker;
Yevheniia Pustovit, winemaker at Chateau Pinot and 46 Parallel;
Olga Pinevych-Todoriuk – Editor-in-Chief of Drinks+ magazine, observer from the General Information Partner.
The jury was assessed according to the following criteria:
Gold medal – 91-100 points;
Silver medal – 86-90 points;
Bronze medal – 81-85 points.
The full list of winners is available here:
1. Nomination “Sparkling wines”.
“Sparkling pink, 2021”, TM “My Wine”, Eduard Gorodetsky – gold medal;
“Sparkling pink, 2019”, TM “46 Parallel” – silver medal;
“Petnat Irshai Olever, 2021”, TM “Kovacs Wine” – bronze medal.
2. Best Riesling nomination.
“Riesling, 2021, Volodymyr Simakin – gold medal;
“Riesling, 2022”, TM “Babchuk Winery” – silver medal;
“Riesling, 2017, TM Vinaria – bronze medal.
3. Best Chardonnay nomination.
1. “Chardonnay, 2022”, TM “Babchuk Winery” – gold medal;
2. “Chardonnay, 2020”, TM “Mon Crafto” – silver medal;
3. “Chardonnay, 2021”, TM “Dukat-Agro – bronze medal.
4. Nomination “White local variety.
1.” Zagrej, 2022″, National Scientific Center “Institute of Viticulture and Winemaking named after V.E. Tairov – gold medal;
2. “Aligote, 2020”, TM “Wine Valley” – silver medal.
3. “Solaris, 2022”, Georgiy Samsoniuk – bronze medal.
5. Orange wines nomination.
1. “Orange, 2021”, TM “Kovacs Wines” – gold medal;
2. “Telti-Kuruk, 2022”, TM “Ofiussa Winery” – silver medal;
3. “Rkatsiteli, 2020”, TM “Driukivski Wines” – bronze medal.
6. Nomination “Pink wines”.
“Pinot Noir, 2021, TM “My Wine”, Eduard Gorodetsky – gold medal;
“Pinot Noir, 2021, TM Chateau Pinot – silver medal;
“Cabernet Sauvignon, 2022, TM Babchuk Winery – bronze medal.
7. Best Pinot Noir nomination.
1. “Pinot Noir, 2020”, TM “46 Parallel” – gold medal;
2. “Pinot Noir, 2020”, TM “Sergius Vinum” – silver medal;
3. “Pinot Noir, 2020”, Georgiy Samsoniuk – bronze medal.
8. Best Merlot nomination.
1. “Merlot, 2020”, TM “NAROVYLO WINERY” – gold medal;
2. “Merlot, 2020”, TM “Slavia” – silver medal;
3. “Merlot, 2021”, TM “My Wine”, Eduard Gorodetsky – bronze medal.
9. Best Cabernet Sauvignon nomination.
1. “Cabernet Sauvignon, 2021”, TM “Mon Crafto” – gold medal;
2. “Cabernet Sauvignon, 2021”, TM “My Wine”, Eduard Gorodetsky – silver medal;
3. “Cabernet Sauvignon, 2019”, TM “SHERWOOD WINERY” – bronze medal
10. Nomination “Red local variety”.
1. “Aliberne, 2020”, TM “NAROVYLO WINERY” – gold medal;
2. “Zweigelt, 2019”, TM “Vina Kovacha” – silver medal;
3. “Odesa Black, 2018”, TM “Babchuk Winery” – bronze medal.
11. Red Blend nomination.
1. “KC/KF/Merlot, 2020”, TM “NAROVYLO WINERY” – gold medal, Grand Prix of the Competition (the best wine of the Competition), 100 points from the Chairman of the Jury Ricardo Nunez!
2. “Grand Admiral, 2018”, TM “46 Parallel” – silver medal;
3. “COP/CF, 2020”, TM “Vinaria” – bronze medal.
12. Nomination “Dessert wines”.
1. “Muscat of the Carpathians, 2014”, TM “Kovach’s Wines” – gold medal;
2. “Black Pearl, 2017”, TM “Kovacs Wines” – silver medal;
3. “White dessert vermouth”, TM “Winemaker Vinokur” – bronze medal.
13. Nomination “Distillates”.
1. “Grappa Muscat, 2019, 40%”, TM “Slavia” – gold medal, Grand Prix of the Competition (the best distillate of the Competition);
2. “Chacha Odesa Black, 2022, 42%”, TM “Winemaker Vinokur” – silver medal;
3. “Chacha Sauvignon Blanc, 10 years, 44%”, TM “Vinaria” – silver medal;
4. “Brandy, 2015, 42%”, TM “Vina Kovacha” – silver medal;
5. “Honey casserole, 40%”, TM “Winemaker Vinokur” – silver medal;
6. “Chacha Sauvignon Blanc, 2019, 41%”, TM “Vinaria” – silver medal;
7. “Apple, 42%”, TM “KALYUS WINERY” – silver medal;
8. “Calvados, 42%”, Ivan Gorobets – silver medal.
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