Ukrainian local and craft wineries can expand their presence in national retail chains, but to do so, producers must meet retailers’ requirements regarding quality, safety, documentation, and supply stability.
This was discussed during the National Roundtable “Local Grape Varieties: Heritage, Sustainability, and Rural Development,” organized by the Public Association “UKRSADVINPROM” to mark the 10th anniversary of the Association’s activities.
Olena Gordon, a representative of the “Ukraine Food Retail Alliance” (UFRA)—which includes leading Ukrainian food retail chains such as ATB-Market, Silpo, VARUS, NOVUS, and KOLO—noted that local producers can enter retail chains provided they meet standards and are ready to scale up production.
For Ukrainian winemakers, this means that having a high-quality product is no longer the only requirement for increasing sales through retail channels. Retail chains expect suppliers to provide stable shipments, a clear quality control system, production traceability, the necessary certifications, regulatory approvals, and a willingness to work within a long-term partnership framework.
Roundtable participants noted that retailers’ interest in craft wineries and local producers is growing amid rising demand for Ukrainian products. In the context of the war, supporting domestic producers is viewed not only as a consumer choice but also as a key element of the country’s economic resilience.
For the producers themselves, collaboration with retail chains can be a crucial step in scaling their businesses. A presence on the shelves of national retailers boosts brand recognition, expands access to consumers, and helps foster a culture of Ukrainian wine consumption.
At the same time, participants in the discussion emphasized that craft winemaking requires a distinct approach. Small producers cannot always operate according to the logic of mass industrial production; therefore, flexible collaboration models, professional support, assistance with certification, and clear rules for market entry are essential for the segment’s development.
The HoReCa sector and wine tourism could serve as additional channels for promoting Ukrainian wine. Restaurants, tasting events, festivals, and wine tours provide opportunities to introduce consumers to local grape varieties, create an emotional connection with producers, and gradually build demand that can subsequently support retail sales.
The roundtable also noted that the development of local grape varieties could become part of a broader strategy for promoting Ukrainian wine. Volodymyr Pechko, Chairman of the “UKRSADVINPROM” Public Association, emphasized that Ukraine needs to more actively showcase its own varieties and build a wine identity around them. In particular, “Odesa Black” and “Sukholimansky” were cited as flagship varieties of Ukrainian breeding.
For retailers, local varieties could become a distinct competitive niche, as they allow retailers to offer customers not just Ukrainian wine, but a product with provenance, history, and regional identity. This approach could boost interest in Ukrainian wines both in the domestic market and, in the long term, in export markets.
Participants in the event also emphasized the need to create a Vineyard Register and conduct a comprehensive inventory of vineyards in accordance with EU approaches. This is important for the sector’s transparency, the development of geographical indications, Ukraine’s integration into the European system of support for viticulture, and the future use of EU financial instruments.
The “UKRSADVINPROM” General Association is an industry association operating in the fields of horticulture, viticulture, and winemaking. The organization brings together market participants, takes part in industry discussions, promotes the interests of Ukrainian producers, and supports the development of high-value-added products. In 2026, the Association celebrated its 10th anniversary.
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On May 18, 2023, the capital’s Club of Experts will host a bright event for wine lovers – Wine Evening “Consumer Tasting of the Best Craft Wines of Ukraine-2023”. The event will feature the products of the best Ukrainian winemakers based on the results of the VIII All-Ukrainian Tasting Competition “Variety and Terroir. Micro winemaking. Unbreakable”, which took place on April 1, 2023.
According to Natalia Blagopoluchna, President of the Ukrainian Association of Winemakers and Sommeliers, the Wine Evening will create an opportunity for each guest to try themselves as a wine expert and taster, gain rich experience and taste the unique flavors of the best Ukrainian wines.
“Wine Evening provides a great opportunity to discover the diversity of Ukrainian wine. You may already be familiar with some of these brands, but the tasting is a chance to taste them in a new light, compare them with other wines, listen to the experts’ opinions and gain new knowledge about winemaking,” she said.
In his turn, the founder of the Club of Experts, Maksim Urakin, emphasized that the Tasting Evening is an event where you can meet like-minded people, communicate with experts, exchange experience, ideas and impressions. It is a place where new business relationships and partnerships are created, new ideas and projects emerge.
“Our competition for the Best Wine of the Wine Evening is of great interest to the guests of the evening. The producer of the most delicious wine, determined by the participants of the event, will receive a Diploma from the Club of Experts. This competition not only raises the mood, but also creates friendly competition between producers, encouraging them to continuously improve,” he emphasized.
In addition, according to Maksim Urakin, today more and more people in the world are showing interest in craft wines and want to learn more about the history and technology of this beverage. Events such as the Wine Evening are becoming important and necessary, they help to develop wine culture, open new horizons for winemakers and consumers, and make a huge contribution to the formation of the Ukrainian wine market.
Guests will be invited to taste the winning wines accompanied by craft gastronomy. The program of the evening includes the best sparkling rosé wine of 2021 from TM My Wine and Eduard Gorodetsky, the best Riesling of 2021 from Vladimir Simakin, Chardonnay of 2022 from TM Babchuk Winery, and many others. Full list of winners of the VIII All-Ukrainian Tasting Competition “Variety and Terroir. Micro winemaking. Unbreakable”:
1. Nomination “Sparkling wines” – “Sparkling pink, 2021”, TM “My Wine”, Eduard Gorodetsky
2. Nomination “Best Riesling” – “Riesling, 2021”, Vladimir Simakin
3. Nomination “Best Chardonnay” – “Chardonnay, 2022”, TM “Babchuk Winery”
4. Nomination “White Local Variety” – “Zagrei, 2022”, National Scientific Center “V.E. Tairov Institute of Viticulture and Winemaking
5. Nomination “Orange wines” – “Orange, 2021”, TM “Kovacs Wines”
6. Nomination “Pink wines” – Pinot Noir, 2021″, TM “My Wine”, Eduard Gorodetsky
7. Nomination “Best Pinot Noir” – “Pinot Noir, 2020”, TM “46 Parallel” – gold medal
8. Nomination “Best Merlot” – “Merlot, 2020”, TM “NAROVYLO WINERY”
9. Nomination “Best Cabernet Sauvignon” – “Cabernet Sauvignon, 2021”, TM “Mon Crafto”
10. Nomination “Red local variety” – “Aliberne, 2020”, TM “NAROVYLO WINERY”
11. Nomination “Red Blend” – “KS/KF/Merlot, 2020”, TM “NAROVYLO WINERY” – Grand Prix of the Competition (the best wine of the Competition), 100 points from the Chairman of the Jury Ricardo Nunez!
12. Nomination “Dessert wines” – “Muscat of the Carpathians, 2014”, TM “Kovach Wines”
It should be noted that each nomination represents unique wines that have been recognized as the best in their categories.
The cost of participation in the event is 1000 UAH, which includes tasting of all presented wines and delicious culinary accompaniments from craft chefs. This event will be a real treat for gourmets and wine lovers, as well as a great opportunity for winemakers to present their products to a wide range of professionals and wine connoisseurs.
The organizers of the Wine Evening are:
1. Ukrainian Association of Winemakers and Sommeliers;
2. Club of experts.
Information Partners: Interfax-Ukraine news agency; Open4business Internet portal.
General partner: UKRSADVINPROM.
Speaker of the Wine Evening: President of the Ukrainian Association of Winemakers and Sommeliers, wine expert, head of the First Sommelier School in Ukraine – Natalia Blagopoluchna.
Address of the event: 51/1a Tyutyunnyk St., Kyiv, Ukraine
Phone number for accreditation 0661480354
Do not miss the unique opportunity to join the Wine Evening “Consumer tasting of the best craft wines of Ukraine-2023”. For those who appreciate the culture of wine, this is a great opportunity to immerse yourself in the fascinating world of winemaking, meet those who share your passion, and discover new horizons of taste.
CLUB OF EXPERTS, craft wine, EXPERTS, Natalia Blagopoluchna, UKRSADVYNPROM, WINE, wine competition, Wine Evening, WINEMAKING, МАКСИМ УРАКИН
