Ukraine’s Bolgrad wines score a big Christmas hit for Lidl GB

Cheers and more for Bolgrad Winery in Odesa, Ukraine, whose bottles of fruity red and elegant white are proving mega Christmas hits captivating customers of Lidl GB. In a first for the UK and part of the supermarket giant’s championing of lesser known wine regions, Bolgrad’s Select Duo White 20 (£7.99) and Select Saperavi (£7.99) are flying off the shelves in stores, signalling the limited stock is set for a festive sell-out.

The bottles’ eye-catching blue and yellow labels feature the colours of the Ukrainian national flag and the dual pull of place and taste is proving a powerful one for wine lovers.

Bolgrad’s founder and chief executive Vitali Shmulevych, deeply heartened by the response, declared: “We are absolutely delighted to fly the flag for Ukrainian wines in the UK. Our wines bring unique styles and exciting grape varieties to the drinks aisle. Having Lidl’s support is very important.”

While wines from Eastern Europe are more common now in the UK, Ukrainian wines and their fascinating histories have been largely undiscovered so far. Bolgrad, a leading brand for the country’s still wines, grows its vines on 400 hectares of land in country’s south west near to the port city of Odesa.

An area known for its unique terroir here air masses from the Black Sea mingle with those from the Yalpuh freshwater lake creating diverse growing conditions and a microclimate with low rainfall and hot summers. The region is renowned for its ancient winemaking traditions that date back to Greek settlements at Borysthenis and Tyras.

Still wine makes up 29 per cent of Ukraine’s alcoholic beverages market, and in the 1950s the country imported and planted French grape varieties including Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc. The Tairov and Magarach institutes of viticulture and winemaking then experimented in crossbreeding the varieties to adapt them to the local climate, resulting in the successful cultivation of now-indigenous grapes.

Bolgrad Select Duo White 2023 75cl (12.5% ABV) – £7.99 is a blend of Chardonnay and native Ukrainian Sukholimansky grapes creating a well-balanced dry white wine. The indigenous grape is highly aromatic and to the palate adds white meadow blossom and dried apricot to the ripe citrus notes of the Chardonnay. Chill for a refreshing drink or enjoy as an accompaniment to salads, lightly crumbed fish or zesty lime-spiked tacos. Bolgrad Select Saperavi 2023 75cl (14% ABV) 75cl – £7.99 is a medium-bodied fruity red, that’s softer and lightly perfumed with plentiful red fruits. A must-try for Malbec lovers, Saperavi pairs well with red meats or rich sauces during winter’s long nights, and is particularly good with seasoned spiced lamb, hard sheep’s cheese, and rich bean stews.

The work of employee-owned drinks specialist Kingsland Drinks is playing a crucial role in bringing Bolgrad to the UK, overcoming trade challenges such as logistics to create vital opportunities for the winery. The Lidl GB listing comes following a major drive by Kingsland to inspire retailers into expanding selections. “We are incredibly excited and proud to see Bolgrad wines on Lidl GB’s shelves – these two first listings are both high quality,” said Kingsland buying manager Kathryn Glass. “We have long been a champion of producers of new and interesting varietals from up-and-coming wine regions and this latest listing for Bolgrad marks a major achievement in placing Ukrainian wines into the mainstream. We urge retailers to follow suit and bring a wider selection of Bolgrad wines on to shelves to offer consumers the chance to experiment and explore the potential of Ukrainian wines.”

But wine lovers now need to move quickly, with a spokesperson for the store chain warning: “Both Bolgrad Saperavi and Bolgrad Duo were incredible additions to the Lidl GB November Wine Tour range. Proving to be extremely popular with our customers, there’s now only a limited amount left in select stores.” https://www.lidl.co.uk  https://www.kingsland-drinks.com