We invite you to follow the results of the joint work of Polish and Ukrainian partners within the PBU Programme, made possible thanks to co-funding from the European Union.

The Carpathian region has a wealth of experience in viticulture and winemaking. Wine traditions are an important part of the cultural heritage of the Carpathians. On a global scale, the increasing popularity of wine-growing regions generates interest among tourists, local people and influences the preservation and restoration of wine-growing traditions.

Winemaking in the Zakarpattya Oblast was born around 2,000 years ago. There is evidence that grapes were grown in the region as early as the 2nd century. Today, the local vineyards cover an area of more than 4,500 hectares and are mainly concentrated in five regions: Berehovo, Irshava, Vynohradiv, Mukachevo and Uzhhorod. The Black Mountain (Vynohradiv region) is home to unique wild grape vines.

As far as the Polish part of the Carpathian Mountains is concerned, the history of Podkarpacie winemaking dates back to the Middle Ages. The first vineyards were established here by monasteries producing wine for liturgical purposes. There are more than 160 vineyards in the Podkarpackie Voivodeship (October 2018), which places the voivodeship in second place in Poland in terms of the number of vineyards. A large proportion of vines are grown in the vicinity of Jasło, Krosno, Przeworsk and Jarosław. The wines are created in mountain climates, which makes them very distinctive and unique.

The aim of The Carpathian wine heritage academy project (acronym WineAcademy) was to preserve and promote wine traditions as part of cultural heritage. This was achieved through research activities (study of traditional grape strains in the Carpathian region and different types of wine) and learning about Carpathian wine traditions.

A general description of the WineAcademy project, implemented by the Vynohradiv District Council (UA), the Association of self-governments "Euroregion Capathians - Ukraine" (UA) and the Association for Development and Promotion of Podkarpacie "Pro Carpathia" (PL) can be found here.

CARPATHIAN WINE LIST

The partners jointly developed a trilingual (Ukrainian-Polish-English) publication entitled 'Carpathian Wine List', which contains information on traditional Carpathian grape varieties, the taste properties of wines made from different grape varieties, and their suitability for various dishes. The publication was based on a study of the traditional grape varieties in the Carpathian region and the different types of wine.  The study focused on the history of viticulture and winemaking, traditional grape varieties, wine and wine production in Zakarpattya.

DATABASE OF TRADITIONAL CARPATHIAN GRAPE VARIETIES AND WINES

It is said that every wine, like a human being, has a childhood, youth and maturity, as well as ageing and dying. And Zakarpattya wine also has a soul.... It is a unique beverage: refined and capricious at the same time. That is why there are many types of it, to satisfy everyone's thirst.

CROSS-BORDER WINE ROUTE

The beneficiaries carried out a study of vineyards on their side of the border. On their basis, they created a concept of a wine tourist trail in the Zakarpattia Oblast and Subcarpathian Voivodeship and a joint cross-border wine tourist trail.

• In Zakarpattya, the tourist route passes through the territories of 4 districts: Uzhhorod, Mukachev, Berehov and Vynohradiv (a total of 36 localities).

• In Podkarpackie Voivodeship, the trail runs through 4 geographical areas: Jasielsko-Krośnieński, Sanocko-Strzyżowski, Przemysłsko-Jarosławski and Rzeszowsko-Przeworski (52 sites in total).

After preparing this cross-border wine route, the partners developed a map of it (in three languages: English, Ukrainian and Polish):

  Carpathian Wine Route (PL version)

  Carpathian Wine Route (UA version)

CONCEPTION FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF A CROSS-BORDER WINE ROUTE (TOURIST ROUTE) 

The concept was developed on the basis of a study of a dozen or so sites (towns, tourist attractions, objects related to the history and development of winemaking, e.g. vineyards, museums, etc.).

Poland

Ukraine

CARPATHIAN ACADEMY OF WINE

An online course has been developed as part of the Carpathian Academy of Wine, which consists of videos featuring Ukrainian and Polish experts and winemaker-practitioners. The topics of the recorded video lectures are as follows:

1. How enotourism routes are developed in Europe (PL version)
   
   
   
2. Wines from the Carpathian region popular in Poland (PL version)
   
   
   
3. Wine grape varieties cultivated in the Polish Carpathians and the wine produced from them (PL version)
   
   
   
4. How to combine wine with local Carpathian products? (PL version)
   
   
   
5. Vineyard offer, creation and promotion (PL version)
   
   
   
6. Creation of Wine Routes in the Carpathian Mountains (PL and UA version)
   
   
   
7. Traditional grape varieties in the Ukrainian Carpathians and wine produced in Zakarpattya (PL and UA version)
   
   
   
8. Traditional combination of wine and local Carpathian products (PL and UA version)
   

As part of the promotion of winemaking in the Podkarpackie voivodship, the Polish beneficiary prepared films about vineyards:

Castle vineyard in Korczyna

Sztukówka vineyard

Borders vineyard

Two Borders vineyard

  Darius vineyard