Ukraine is a large Eastern European country (the second largest on the European continent, after Russia) which borders Poland in the west, Russia in the east and the Black Sea in the south. With the Caucasus countries (Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan) and Turkey just across the Black Sea, Ukraine sits at a cultural and geographical crossroads – the Germanic, Slavic and Arab worlds are all within reach.
The Ukrainian wine industry is evolving into an important player in Eastern Europe, which is its most important export market. Crimea is the flagship region due to its favorable wine-growing conditions. Other small regions also contribute to the country's wine business.
The wine grapes most commonly in Ukraine are a mixture of international varieties of French origin and a host of lesser-known local varieties. The usual suspects include Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon (the backbone of Bordeaux's vineyards) as well as Alsace's classic white-wine trio of Riesling, Pinot Gris and Gewurztraminer, while the more obscure include Georgia's Rkatsiteli and Saperavi, Aligote (Chardonnay's less-respected cousin from Burgundy), Bastardo and Feteasca.
