The combination of modern climatic conditions and favorable soils against the background of global warming has created good conditions for the development of viticulture in the Dnipropetrovsk region, especially in the south, on the border with the Kherson region. And soils with high mineralization ultimately give the wine interesting notes of spices and pepper.
The eastern part of Ukraine, in particular the Zaporizhia region, has a small area of ​​vineyards. Only 5 technical varieties are grown here, which occupy only 19.4 hectares and 8 table varieties - 277.8 hectares. Main technical grades: Odessa black - 25.7%, Flower - 23.2, Bianca - 21.7, Muscat Odessa - 17.0. The rest of the area is planted with table grapes.
Viticulture is a very expensive business, in particular, planting material, wallpaper installation, fertilizers and more. Not all winemakers who are in love with their business have the opportunity to invest a lot of money in their own vineyard. Therefore, most winemakers in the Dnipropetrovsk region, having a small production base, unite and buy grapes for wine production in the southern regions of Ukraine.
In particular, in Odesa and Kherson regions. Of course, it is not so easy to choose grapes, deliver them with minimal losses, process them quickly and efficiently. Despite the difficulties in general, it is possible to get a remarkable result.
PJSC Artwinery
Bakhmut village, Donetsk region
PJSC Artwinery was founded on June 29, 1950. As of 2020, it is the largest enterprise in Eastern Europe for the production of sparkling wines by the classic bottle method.
The production capacity of the enterprise is 25 million bottles of sparkling wine per year. Actual production as of 2019 is 12 million bottles per year. The entire production cycle at Artwiner is located at a depth of more than 72 meters in underground gypsum tunnels, which maintain unique microclimatic conditions all year round - constant temperature and humidity. The total area of ​​underground galleries, which simultaneously store 30 million bottles of sparkling wine, is more than 25 hectares.
Today the company is rightly considered the national heritage of Ukraine and is one of the largest European companies that produce sparkling wine by the classic bottle method.
The production uses grapes grown on the Black Sea coast (Odessa, Kherson and Mykolayiv regions), which has a special potential to create a classic sparkling wine of Ukraine.
Eliseev family winery
Pokrov, Dnipropetrovsk region
Viticulture and winemaking Elena and Igor Eliseev planted the first grape seedlings in 1992. Doctors by profession, gained knowledge from books, went through a difficult thorny path, became good growers.
Today, more time is spent on breeding seedlings, but do not forget about winemaking. The garage is equipped with a mini winery. The innovative approach to wine storage deserves special attention. The floor of the cellar has holes for wine bottles to a depth of three meters, where the wine is stored at a stable temperature and humidity. This is the only case during our travels in Ukraine, with such a rational approach to the use of small space.
All wines are called "Eliseevskoe". The peculiarity of red wines is the aroma and taste of pepper. Apparently, this is due to soils with manganese deposits.
The planting area of ​​vineyards reaches 0.5 hectares. Soils: steppe chernozem, magnetic sandstone.
"Dryukivsky Wines" Winery
Mohyliv village, Tsarychanskyi district, Dnipropetrovsk region
Viticulture and winemaker Yuriy Kolesnyk founded his own winery in 2010. The area planted with vineyards is not large, it is actually an experimental site. Grapes are brought from the south of the Kherson region.
Even though that the winery is small, it is possible to make good wine, which was awarded at the All-Ukrainian competition in Odessa "Odessa Bay". In particular, Bastardo wine received a gold medal and 88.29 points, while Saperavi wine received silver and 85.29 points, respectively. This is a very high assessment of the work of the winemaker.
In the near future - obtaining a license for the production of alcoholic beverages, as well as in cooperation with local farmers to begin work on the introduction of green tourism in the village.
The annual production reaches 3 thousand liters.
Igor Zaika's Family Winery
Dnipro, Dnipropetrovsk region
Winemaker Ihor Zaika is one of the most famous and most titled winemakers-garages of Eastern Ukraine. He has been engaged in viticulture since 2002, winemaking - since 2008. He has his own vineyard in the Dnipropetrovsk region and is a co-owner of a vineyard near Reni, Odessa region. Produces mostly dry wines, but in his collection, there are one or two types of semi-dry and semi-sweet wines. The best wine wines are dry red and rosé.
Already in 2012 at the international competition in Yalta, two wines - "Chardonnay" and "Merlot" - won bronze awards. In 2013, at the festival "International Garage Day" in the Krasnodar Territory, Cabernet Sauvignon wine won first place.
The production volume reaches 3-4 thousand liters per year. The wine is aged in oak barrels. There are four barrels. The winery has a tasting room and accepts groups of 2 to 8 people, you need to book a tour in 1-2 days.
"G. Chmil" Winery
Dnipro, Dnipropetrovsk region
Family winery "G. Chmil" was founded in 2016. Winemaker Grigoriy Chmil has a short experience, but he takes the case seriously. He does not have his own vineyards, he buys grapes from the Kherson region for winemaking. The volume of production is 2.5 - 3 thousand liters per year.
Today there is fruitful work to improve technological processes in production. In the process of obtaining a license for the production of alcoholic beverages. The beautiful, modern label design matches the contents of the bottle.
Villa del Vino Winery
Baburka village, Zaporizhia region
Winemaker Ruslan Lopatko's love for good wine, nature and the beauty of his native places led to the establishment of wineries in the eco-village. The winery is located in the village of Baburka in the Zaporozhye region. It all started with the planting of vines with the subsequent purpose of selling grapes. But the circumstances developed in such a way that they finally started making wine and entertaining their acquaintances and friends.
The winery has a license for the production of alcoholic beverages, obtained under a simplified system.
The area of ​​planting vineyards is 4.5 hectares. Planting density of 1862 bush on 11 hectares. Loam soils. Wine production reaches 9,000 liters per year. In the future, it is planned to increase the volume to 16 thousand liters.
White grapes: Chardonnay, Pinot Gris. Grape varieties: Jupiter, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir.
Craft winery TM "Wines of Zaporozhye"
Zaporozhye, branded store st. at 2, South Ukrainian street
An accidental quarrel between two friends at a festive table led to a winery project. One of them was convinced that real natural wines with a rich taste and a special bouquet can be made only in his homeland in Georgia. The second confidently suggested a dispute that in Ukraine it is also possible to make good quality wine and the result did not take long. Winery TM "Wines of Zaporozhye" was founded in 2014 and received a license for the production of alcoholic beverages.
Selected grapes are purchased in the Kherson region on a contract basis and delivered by special transport to the winery. The age of the vine is 15-20 years. Planting density 2222 bushes per 1 hectare. The total volume of grape processing is up to 65 tons per season. The volume of wine production is about 45 thousand liters per year.
Full-cycle production. The production uses stainless steel tanks with a total volume of 45,000 liters, the production of white wines in vinifiers. Ukrainian oak barrels are used to age the wine. Also the winery have our own certified laboratory.
White grape varieties: Traminer, Chardonnay, Riesling, Rkatsiteli, Lemon Donkey.
Red grape varieties: Cabernet, Merlot, Saperavi, Olympic, Pinot Noir, Bastardo.
