📍 Podillia

Podillia (Podolia) is a historic region in western and south-western Ukraine. It lies between the Southern Buh and the Dniester, on an elevated plateau of fertile land. For the vine this is a northern and demanding place, so the vineyards are young and the wine is made by small craft wineries.

Podillian wine has no official designation: it is an informal wine area. The most common grapes are Riesling, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, along with Solaris, a white variety that tolerates frost and disease. The white grapes give fresh dry wines, and Pinot Noir gives light reds.

The most notable spot in the region is the Dniester canyon near Zalishchyky. It belongs to Podillia, and the deep river valley softens the weather, so this part of the region is considered one of the warmest.

Podillia is part of Ukrainian wine as a whole. The country's long-established wine districts are the south by the Black Sea and Transcarpathia, while Podillia is a newer direction that is only now gaining recognition. For fans of craft wine it is an interesting way to get to know young Ukrainian viticulture.