Ukrainian Wines & Food - April 30th, 2022 - hosted by Abbie
Theme: Ukrainian Wines & Food
Russia launched a full-scale military invasion into Ukraine on February 24, 2022, fighting has caused over nine hundred civilian deaths and pushed millions of Ukrainians to flee to neighboring countries. More information on the conflict here. We stand with Ukraine and join the United Nations, G7, EU, and other countries continuing to condemn Russian actions and support Ukrainian forces. I am appalled to also learn that Russia is forcing deportation of Ukrainian children to Russia. Stealing children? It is sickening.
I felt a need to assist in some way. Yes, donating money is one way, which many of us have done. However, what else can we do? War brings about many other casualties, sometimes even cultural extinction. We have seen this in history many times. I sincerely hope this will not happen. In any case, I wanted to bring awareness and understanding of Ukrainian culture, learn about it myself, and perhaps find new ways to help. So, the TWITs will do what we do best: experience their wines, their food, and music.
Trying to find Ukrainian wines in the Atlanta area was nearly impossible. I contacted nearly every boutique wine shop in town, and also checked with my contacts among local distributers and importers. Nobody was able to procure much of anything for us (2 bottles of sweet wine were the only options). Not willing to give up on this challenge, I turned to the internet and began searching. I finally found two sites which had Ukrainian wines in stock and would ship to Georgia. Special thanks to https://tipxy.com/ and BestBuyLiquors.com. Both sent me wines via FedEx. I was able to procure wines from Chateau Chizay and Shabo.
The next step was to find Ukrainian food to pair with the wines. Unfortunately, I could not find any local Ukraine restaurants, although I did find a few Russian ones. I have read their cuisine is very similar. I am not boycotting any local Russian restaurants. However, I opted to order a cookbook so we could create the food ourselves. I felt it was a better way to experience the culture. Chateau Chizay in particular, has an onsite restaurant which prepares foods to pair with their wines (of course). While the website is translated in English, the menu was not. I did a rough google translate to figure out some of the dishes. They also had a few menu items on their site translated with photos, so that was helpful also.
Ukraine has a origins of winemaking dating back to the 4th century BC (in Crimea), going back 2500 years back in the present-day Odesa region.
"Chateau Chizay is one of the most important wineries of Ukraine. The historical region of Transcarpathia is located in the Western Ukraine, in the area of Carpathian Mountains where Ukraine borders Hungary, Poland, Romania and Slovakia. Here the mild sun light is wonderfully combined with optimal rainfall amount, and Carpathian Mountain landscape covers the vineyards from northern winds. Soil, full of minerals and micronutrient elements adds a unique taste to the grapes, and wine gains a very special nature." - from their website
"Shabo Wine Culture Center is located in a resort area in the Odesa Region, southern Ukraine – one of Europe’s oldest regions where winemaking traditions are dated as far back as the ancient times. Shabo Wine Culture Center is the only tourist complex in Ukraine located right on the premises of an active winemaking enterprise – combining state-of-the art, high-tech production process with unique historical and cultural landmarks."
Bring: TWITs should bring $35/person to cover the cost of the wines
Food Pairings: TBD I ordered a cookbook, pending delivery
Tasting Notes: (prepped in advance)
Shabo Royal Story Korolevskoe Royal Shabo White 750ML 3/$26.67 REGION: Odes'ka (Odessa) VARIETALs: Blend, Aligote, Rkatsiteli - Made from rkatsiteli and aligote grown in Ukraine. The wine has a light straw color, enjoyable taste, and harmonious aroma with floral tones. Shabo – one of the oldest terroirs in Europe. Progenitors of winemaking in this region are considered the ancient Greeks. It is they who in VI-II centuries BC founded on the Black Sea the village of Tyre (later – city Ackerman) and had the first vineyards planted here. And it was more than 2.5 thousand years ago. Rkatsiteli is a highly-valuable Georgian grape variety, inducted to the ‘golden stock’ of Georgian winemaking. This variety originates from Kakhetia. Translated from Georgian, its name means ‘red vine’. Rkatsiteli is considered a universal grape variety, a ‘Jack of all trades’. It is used to produce European- and Kakhetian-type wines, which cannot be confused with anything else. Rkatsiteli shows excellent result in the production of grape alcohol used in brandies and grape vodkas. Finally, it is simply a tasty table grape from which one can make an enjoyable and healthy grape juice. ***Rkatsitelli pairs excellently with Lebanese, Turkish, Iranian and even Indian cuisines including spiced meats, aromatic rice, lentils, bean dip, and smoked eggplant.
Shabo Chardonnay Grand Reserve 2016 750ML 3/$56.67 REGION: Odes'ka (Odessa) VARIETALs: Chardonnay, dry white wine, 13.5% alcohol, straw core with shiny golden highlights, transparent halo, limpid. tropical fruits, floral, great minerality, melted butter, dry herbs, vanilla, high acidity, high alcohol, medium body. ***pairs with Chicken Kiev
Chizay Red Blend Kosher × 1 750ml $13.99 - Semi-sweet, Kosher red wine is made from selected Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot grapes of the 2018 harvest. Blend is a mixture of varieties. The name Red Blend means that we have combined the best bunches of the world's two most famous grape varieties to create a true harmony of taste and aroma - an elegant and balanced wine, with a pleasant tartness in taste and a special floral and fruity range of aromas. Red Blend wine was created specifically for export to the United States. Volume - 0.75 liters, Alc. - 12%, Sugar - 45 g / l, Color - Red, Grape variety - Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Aroma - full of floral and fruity nuances, Taste - harmonious, shades of flowers, pleasant tartness, ***In an excellent example of contrast, sweet wines are a natural match for very spicy or salty foods. However, the sweet flavor of semi-sweet or off-dry wines also pairs well with naturally sweet dishes, such as honey-glazed ham, or pork with a port wine reduction sauce.
Chizay Pinot Noir × 3 750ml $56.97 - A special red dry wine made from Pinot Noir grapes of the same name and aged in French oak barrels for 12 months. The aroma of the wine is complex, with bright tones of ripe black berries, spices and hints of vanilla. In the rich taste of Pinot Noir, dark berries of blackberry, black currant, cherry and plum are harmoniously combined with elegant tannins. The wine is well structured and leaves a long aftertaste. Volume - 0.75 liters, Alc. - 13.9%, Color - Red, Grape variety - Pinot Noir, Aroma - ripe black berries, spices, notes of vanilla, Taste - ripe cherries, blackberries, black currants, plums, elegant tannins, ***Fits to: wildfowl Game, meat, mature-cheese, Hard cheeses, red-fish
Shabo Merlot Reserve 2018 750ML 3/$29.67 - REGION: Odes'ka (Odessa) VARIETALs: Merlot - Made from selected Merlot grapes, harvested by hand at dawn from special areas of Shabo «terroir», where the highest quality viticulture practices are applied to obtain great quality grape. After double-sorting of grapes, fermentation takes place in oak tanks «Taransaud» (France) with temperature control. Aging for at least 6 months in oak barrels adds nobleness and complexity to wine. ***grilled/roasted beef, blue cheese, chicken, berries, garlic, mushrooms, lamb, pork loin
Chizay Cabernet Sauvignon Kosher × 3 750ml $32.97 - Intense pomegranate-colored dry wine made from Cabernet Sauvignon grapes. Aging in French oak barriques for 9 months. The bouquet of wine is rich in aromas of ripe cherries and currants combined with notes of paprika, tobacco and cocoa. The taste is balanced, with a pleasant tannin structure, which feels the spicy tones of pepper, chocolate and blackberries. The aftertaste is rich and long. Volume - 0.75 liters, Alc. - 14%, Color - Red, Grape variety - Cabernet Sauvignon, Aroma - ripe cherries and currants, notes of paprika, tobacco and cocoa, Taste - pleasant tannin structure, spicy tones of pepper, chocolate, blackberry, rich and long aftertaste, ***Fits to: wildfowl Game, meat, mature-cheese, Hard cheeses, ribeye steak,
Shabo Royal Story Kagor (Cabernet Sauvignon) Ukrainian 750ML 3/$29.67 - Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon, Produced from the cabernet sauvignon grape variety grown in Ukraine, The deep, dark garnet color highlights a complex, round, harsh taste with prune, chocolate, and blackcurrant tones ***beef, mushrooms, lamb, cheddar cheese,
Chizay Moscato Kosher × 1 750ml $10.99 - Semi-sweet, Chateau Chizay MOSCATO semi-sweet white kosher wine is made from Muscat Ottonel grapes grown in Chateau Chizay vineyards. It has a special and extremely pleasant fruity-floral aroma with light notes of spices. The amazing taste of Moscato is characterized by a delicate tingling of tiny bubbles and has a wonderful balance between refreshing acidity and sweet fruity notes. Volume - 0.75 liters, Alc. - 12% Sugar - 45 g / l, Color - White, Grape variety - Muscat Ottonel, Aroma - pleasant, fruity-floral, light notes of spices, Taste - moderately sweet, balanced, harmonious, long aftertaste of nutmeg, ***Fits to: chicken, vegetables, mature-cheese, Hard cheeses, fruit,
Chizay Ice Wine Riesling × 1 375ml $29.99 - An unusual, rare and world-famous dessert wine made from grapes that froze on the vine during the first frosts. The juice in the berries at this time is concentrated, extremely sweet and fragrant. The high value of this wine is due to the large number of frozen and preserved berries, which are needed to squeeze enough juice. Volume - 0,375 l, Alc. - 12%, Sugar - 110 g / l, Color - White, Grape variety - Rhine Riesling, Aroma - bright, tones of white flowers, exotic fruits, quinces, peaches and citrus, The taste is harmonious with floral and fruity notes, ***Fits to: cupcake or Desserts, fruit
Chizay Butterfly Chocolate × 1 500ml $6.99 Brand: Chizay, Size:500ml, ABV 11.50%, This wine possesses a subtly sweet, natural chocolate flavor with a hint of roughness that is truly delightful. Enjoy chilled, on the rocks, in various cocktails or ***with desserts.
Odessa - V.S.O.P. Brandy × 4 100ml $23.96 - Belonging to world-famous ShustoFF’s Cognac Family, brandy Odessa is currently #4 best-selling brandy in the world according to Drinks International’s Millionaires’ Club 2021. This V.S.O.P premium quality brandy is produced in the ideal climate conditions, because the distillery that was founded by Nikolay Shustov in 1863 is located by the cost of Black Sea. The brandy was named after the city that is renowned for centuries of winemaking and brandy production – Odessa. Tasting notes: Balanced, Bold, Butter, Caramel, Chocolate, Dried Fruit, Fig, Honey, Intense, Oak, Sweet, Toasty, Vanilla, Velvety, Brand: Odessa Brandy Size: 100ml, ABV: 40.00% - ok ok I know Brandy isn't really wine but... I wanted to try this.
