From the blog

Ried Between the Vines

An Austrian Wine Journey

Mineral, Funk, and Play

Celebrating Wine Wine's Frankivsk arrival with seven liquid ambassadors.

Comm. G.B. Burlotto Barolo Vertical

If you want to experience Burgundy-like aromatic elegance, Barolo structure, and intellectual complexity, this is your producer. Few others match this stylistic tension between fragrance and structure, between ancient methods and modern clarity. Burlotto is not about power. It's about grace - but the kind of grace that quietly tears you apart.

Flesh and Stone: DRC Edition

A quiet encounter with wine's most intimidating names.

Oh My Syrah

Five Syrahs from five (actually, four) places - one grape, different answers.

Vinul Moldovei Vol. 3

An unpretentious dive into Moldovan wines.

Roses de Jeanne

Finally made it to a Roses de Jeanne tasting - somewhat chaotic, not quite cathartic, but absolutely worth it.

White Loire by Svitlana Serhiivna

A Dionysian detour through white Loire @Garage.

Mixed Bag Vol. 17

A tasting where logic took the backseat to generosity, impulse, and the quiet satisfaction of doing something that matters.

Borgogno Barolo Cannubi Vertical

A quiet riot of vintages from Cannubi - where clay and sand, tradition and temperament, all found a glass to speak through.

Bottle Royale Vol. 1: Oak Infusion

A chaotic, oak-driven BYOB tasting that pushed us to the edges of flavour and reason - yet somehow brought us closer. Beautifully strange, and exactly what it needed to be.

City 17: Chapter Matassa

A spontaneous tasting in Ivano-Frankivsk that grew from a photo, a chat message, and a shared love for wine - bringing together people, bottles, and honest conversation in the cosy space of café Misto. Chapter Matassa, as it happened.

One Round Battle: New Zealand

A playful blind tasting turned into an exploration of bias, marketing, and genuine character in wine. We put Sarah Jessica Parker's Marlborough red up against a cult Garnacha and a serious Central Otago Pinot - and let the glasses speak for themselves. Turns out, labels can confuse, but flavour always tells the truth.

Canary Islands Vol. 2

Volcanic soils, ungrafted vines, and wines that hum with smoke, salt, and sun. With fewer bottles reaching Ukraine, each Canary Islands tasting feels more precious - and more necessary. This one was a quiet celebration of what makes them unforgettable.

The place where the Rosemary grows

What started as a casual blind tasting turned into a quiet obsession. A rare chance to line up five vintages of Tom Lubbe's Cuvée Romanissa - from the fresh 2023 all the way back to the brooding 2006. Sun, rosemary, iron, and the wild heart of Roussillon, bottled. A night to remember.

Champagne Bag Vol. 5

A springtime Champagne tasting that spiralled (as these things do) into something quietly unforgettable. From a Moldovan Brut Nature as welcome drink to rare grower cuvées from Larmandier-Bernier, Bérêche, Léclapart, and others – this was less about bubbles and more about depth, place, and memory.

Domaine Labet Uncorked Vol. 2

An exploration of Jura terroir through the diverse, nuanced expressions of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and traditional sweet wines by Domaine Labet. And a bit of Buronfosse.

Site Updates Vol. 7

A deep dive into the latest redesign of Barberry Garden, covering structural improvements, new features, and upcoming plans.

Cellar Raider Vol. 1

A journey that stuns and sparks endless curiosity, from unearthing ancient bottles to sampling relic wines that share tales of bygone eras. Spellbinding and undeniably personal, it proves that wine can serve as a living time capsule for those willing to explore. Turns out time machines do exist—and sometimes, they’re hidden in our glasses.

Les Davoche

Lo Bar Kyiv hosted an intimate tasting of Davoche Wines' first estate releases, featuring their complete range from Roussillon. The evening concluded with a playful blind tasting session, where neither their négociant wine nor Tschida's Brutal were correctly identified, yet sparked (engaging) discussions.

Champagne Bag Vol. 4

A few bottles of Champagne to melt our souls.

David Fletcher

A horizontal tasting of David Fletcher.

Mixed Bag Vol. 16

A classical mixed bag in its fullest glory.

2024 wrap-up

This could have been just a regular wine tasting, but with 2024 now behind us, we have plenty of statistics and insights to explore. So, consider this a unique combination of a classic wine tasting, a review of the year's results, and a quiz filled with delightfully silly questions. And prizes, of course!

Amigos blancos

Four vintages of Tondonia Blanco Report and their friends. There is no room for reds!

Site Updates Vol. 6

An overview of the latest updates and improvements to the Barberry Garden site, including social links, unified price changes, updated QPR formula and representation, and new features like consumption frequency heatmap.

Macchiona

A view through vertical lenses.

Yearly events report - Vol. 2024

A reflective analysis of a year shaped by events—those we hosted and those where we were honoured guests.

Gatta by Alessio

A journey through unique offerings.

Friuli by Alessio and Vasyl

A charity tasting of some Friuli stars.

Classy Bubbles Vol. 4

A traditional wine tasting event dedicated to sparkling wines produced by traditional method.

Fine & Rare Dinner Vol. 3 by Maksym Demchenko

A short and memorable travel to Montalcino.

Bruno Paillard: Collection Anciens Dégorgements P2

A vertical tasting of Première Cuvée disgorged from 2001 to 2006.

Mixed Bag Vol. 15

My bag is always full of wine. Even if it's not my bag. Anyways, it's time to unpack!

Burlotto by Alessio Alexeev

A Trickster's Barolo Tasting

Unveiling Legends Blind

Champagne Bag Vol. 3

A few bottles of Champagne to melt our souls.

Bramaterra and Friends by Alessio

A journey through Nebbiolo's hidden regions, where tradition and time craft unforgettable wines.

Mixed Bag Vol. 14

My bag is always full of wine. Even if it's not my bag. Anyways, it's time to unpack!

Vinul Moldovei Vol. 2

There's a world of smaller producers, lesser-known vineyards, each with its own story, waiting to be discovered and savoured.

Stella di Campalto Vol. 1

Elegance, allure and love. Stella di Campalto.

Gut Oggau Uncorked

A family reunion

Opaque Tasting Vol. 3

Discovering wine through pure sensation and mystery with the help of absolutely opaque glasses

David Duband by Alessio

A tale about terroirs with a signature touch

Flavien Nowack vs Huré Frères

Exploring two distinct approaches to grower champagne.

Mixed Bag Vol. 13

My bag is always full of wine. It's time to unpack!

Tenuta Grillo by Vasyl Velykanskiy

Rusticity and finesse. A little corner of Piedmont amidst the fragmented urban landscape.

Site Updates Vol. 5

An overview of the latest updates and improvements to the Barberry Garden site, including navigation changes, enhanced wine data presentation, and new features like custom blocks and support for plots.

Fine & Rare Dinner Vol. 2 by Maksym Demchenko

An evening of rare Champagne wines with Maksym, marked by unique selections, excellent food, and a close-knit gathering.

Matassa Blanc Vertical

Just a curious opportunity to taste multiple releases of Matassa Blanc.

Norm Wines Vol. 3

Our beloved pursuit for value.

Burgundy 201: Chambolle-Musigny

Continuation of marvelous journey - this time focused on Chambolle-Musigny.

Gravner Vertykalnyj

A small vertical tasting of Ribolla with a 20-year-old Breg as a bonus.

Mixed Bag Vol. 12

My bag is always full of wine. It's time to unpack!

Barbacarlo by Vasyl and Alessio

Legend from Oltrepò Pavese, uncorked.

Ca' di Mat Uncorked

The House of Fools from Gredos.

Jean-Pierre Robinot Uncorked Vol. 1

Abstract labes and distinctive wines full of charm.

Il Pirata Vol. 4

A wine tasting event dedicated to wines from Sicily.

Cascina delle Rose Unveiled by Vasyl Velykanskiy

Explore the exceptional wines of Cascina delle Rose from Piedmont in our latest wine-tasting event. Hosted by Vasyl Velykanskiy, this intimate gathering featured Nebbiolo, Barbera, and Dolcetto wines, showcasing the elegance and complexity of this family-run estate.

Burgundy 103: Côte de Beaune

Continuing our journey through Burgundy with a focus on Côte de Beaune, this piece reflects on an exclusive tasting event, led by Maksym's insightful lecture.

Domaine Labet Uncorked Vol. 1

The tasting includes one crémant, five distinct white wines, and one red wine, marking just the beginning of our exploration through Labet's vineyards.

Mixed Bag Vol. 11

A journey among less typical shores and grapes.

Jacky Blot Uncorked

A legendary discovery.

François Chidaine Uncorked by Vasyl Velykanskiy

A cozy journey to the legend of Montlouis.

Small Growers from Barbaresco

A small journey to Barbaresco.

Johannes Zillinger Uncorked by Vasyl Velykanskiy

Austrian divinity in 5 bottles.

Burgundy 102: Côte de Nuits

Continuing our journey through Burgundy with a focus on Côte de Nuits, this piece reflects on an exclusive tasting event, led by Maksym's insightful lecture.

Fine & Rare Dinner Vol. 1 by Maksym Demchenko

An evening of rare Burgundy wines with Maksym, marked by unique selections, excellent food, and a close-knit gathering.

π-not

Celebrating winter's end with some great Pinots. Is it Noir? Not necessary.

Frank Cornelissen by Ivan Omelchenko

A rare opportunity to taste a range of wines by a meticulous winemaker from Etna, Sicily.

Champagne Bag Vol. 2

A few bottles of Champagne to make our life happier.

Haunted Legends of Abruzzo by Vasyl Velykanskiy

Valentini, Pepe and Praesidium.

Burgundy 101: Chablis, Côte Chalonnaise, et Mâcon

Advanced dive into Burgundy with no fuss. Led by Maksym Demchenko.

Matassa '21 Uncorked

Matassa wines are irresistibly tempting! And look, all of them are of 2021 vintage or older.

The Master Francis Egly by Volodymyr Antonov

Fresh releases by The Master Francis Egly.

Rosso Oslavia

Atypical venture to the kindgdom of Ribolla

Se Kwa Sa?

A Buronfosse wine tasting by Ivan Omelchenko.

Tondonia blanco y amigos

Four vintages of Tondonia Blanco Report and their friends. There is no room for reds!

Roasted Slopes

Exploring Côte-Rôtie: The Allure of Guigal's La Las Vineyards.

La Grande Années

Explore our recent La Grande Année vertical tasting, revealing contrasts in bottle sizes over time.

Elegance & Power: Sassicaia and Saffredi Through the Years

Yearly external report - Vol. 2023

Explore the 2023 external wine tasting events with our detailed report. Discover data on regional distribution, grape varieties, and wine ratings from 31 diverse gatherings. Understand the patterns of participation and Quality-Price Ratio in a year marked by enthusiasm and resilience from the Kyiv wine community. This report provides insights into the varied experiences and wines encountered throughout the year.

Yearly events report - Vol. 2023

This is our traditional yearly report, where my love for data comes to shine. I'm eager to share with you some of the analytics and insights we've gathered, focusing exclusively on Barberry Garden's events. A separate report will follow for external events where I've collected data. Stay tuned for more insights and stories as we continue to navigate and grow in this journey together.

2023 wrap-up

As 2023 draws to a close, I wanted to create something extraordinary. Instead of the usual results announcement and online quiz, I organised a special event combining a wine tasting with a presentation of the year's results and a quiz.

Classy Bubbles Vol. 3

A traditional wine tasting event dedicated to sparkling wines produced by traditional method.

Core values

Bordeaux: 5+1

A spectacular array of Bordeaux's finest was on full display, featuring celebrated estates like Château Margaux, Château Lafite Rothschild, Château Latour, Château Haut-Brion, Château Cheval Blanc, and the legendary Château d'Yquem.

Champagne Bag Vol. 1

We repeat the mantra of anti-event: less people, less wine, more focus and more enjoyment. It's a 'mixed bag' – albeit one that sparkles with the exceptional charm and complexity of Champagne.

Site Updates Vol. 4

The Barberry Garden site is under slow but active development. You may have noticed substantial changes to our site over the past two months. Here’s an overview of the latest updates.

Red Spain by Vasyl Velykanskiy

Six bottles of red wines from Spain.

A taste of Crystallum

A range of wines from a winery in Walker Bay, South Africa.

Small Growers: 45 years past the revolution

In light of the exciting shift towards small-scale producers, we have organized a tasting event dedicated to experiencing the essence of this revolution firsthand.

Mixed Bag Vol. 10

We found a bag full of wine. It calls for a party.

Norm Wines Vol. 2

Our pick? Norm wines! Occasion? Any!

Burgundy: '09 vs '15

Explore our detailed recap of a recent intimate wine tasting event featuring four select Burgundy wines: two reds and two whites from the 2015 and 2009 vintages.

Burgundian Grand Cru Grandeur

A constellation of legends.

Stella di Campalto by Maksym Demchenko

Elegance, allure and love. Stella di Campalto.

Bring Your Own Wine Vol. 2

Dive into our recap engaging blind wine tasting in Lo, where enthusiasts' personal selections unveiled a tapestry of tastes and camaraderie in every uncorked surprise.

Champagne Party by Anna Vol. 2

When Anna calls with an invitation to a Champagne night, you don't hesitate - you simply go.

Sangiovese by Vasyl Velykanskiy

A small and humble party dedicated to Sangiovese grape organised by Vasyl Velykanskiy.

Champagne Party by Anna Vol. 1

A small and humble party dedicated to Champagne wines organised by Anna Zinchuk.

Canary Islands

One could visit the Canaries and dedicate a whole life to these clusters of earth amidst the Atlantic Ocean. We are simple folks, so let's at least dedicate an evening to savor the salty touch of local terroirs.

Gulfi: enduring romance

Embark on a vinous adventure with Gulfi winery, where each bottle narrates a tale of Sicily's rich viticultural heritage. Traverse from the Iblei Mountains to the fiery terrains of Etna, and the fertile lands of Pachino, as the ancient imagery of Eros and Psyche on Gulfi's labels unveils a poetic ode to the enduring romance between the land and the vine.

Site Updates Vol. 3

Explore the latest transformation of Barberry Garden, a wine enthusiast's haven. Dive into the revamped UI, under-the-hood technical shifts, and exciting upcoming features in our wine journey. Stay updated with what's new and what's next.

Vinul Moldovei by Dimitry Grachov Vol. 1

Dimitry has smuggled in Moldova's finest wines to Ukraine. And he's eager to share these gems with others. Need I say more? Count me in!

Bourgogne Party Vol. 2 by Vova and Mykola

A small and humble party dedicated to Burgundy wines organised by Vova Ulianov and Mykola Chobanu

Mixed Bag Vol. 9

We found a bag full of wine. It calls for a party.

Notorious Friuli by Vova and Mykola

A small and humble party dedicated to Friuli wines organised by Vova Ulianov.

Champagne Party by Elena and Roma Vol. 3

A small and humble party dedicated to Champagne wines organised by Elena Menshikova and Roman Remeev.

Sicily by Vova and Mykola

A small and humble party dedicated to Sicilian wines organised by Vova Ulianov.

Bourgogne Party Vol. 1 by Vova and Mykola

A small and humble party dedicated to Burgundy wines organised by Vova Ulianov and Mykola Chobanu

On the road between two winds: Arianna Occhipinti

Provincial road SP68, wine, vineyards and dry-stone walls: this is the land of Arianna. The sun rises early in the morning over the Iblei Mountains, casting a warm light on the vineyards of Frappato, Nero d’Avola, Albanello, and Zibibbo, as well as the olive groves and wheat fields. In this scenery Arianna’s love for the past and future of the region is reflected in her wines.

Champagne Party by Elena and Roma Vol. 2

A small and humble party dedicated to Champagne wines organised by Elena Menshikova and Roman Remeev.

Gamay Battle by Vova and Mykola

Eight bottles of Gamay. Our task is to guess the region. Yet another fun activity by Vova and Mykola.

Vinul Moldovei Vol. 1

A set of wines from Moldova to change your perception of the country.

Rural Bubbles Party by Vova and Mykola

A small and humble party dedicated to Pet Nats. Vova and Mykola, forces combined.

Champagne Party by Elena and Roma Vol. 1

A small and humble party dedicated to Champagne wines organised by Elena Menshikova.

Mixed Bag Vol. 8

When the White Sea calls, you just surrender and enjoy the mineral song.

Qvevri not Qvevri by Ivan Omelchenko

Chassorney wines in two variants - qvevri and not qvevri. Touch the universe.

Clos du Tue-Boeuf Party by Mykola Chobanu

A small and humble party dedicated to Clos du Tue-Boeuf.

Heaven and Earth

Wave of revolution! Three stars of South African wine scene.

Jura Party by Vova Ulianov

A small and humble party dedicated to Jura wines. Forget Aragorn, Vova is our new king.

Rose Petals Party Vol. 2

A fistful of rosé wines.

Champagne Party by Vova Vol. 1

A small and humble party dedicated to Champagne wines. Forget Aragorn, Vova is our new king.

Mixed Bag Vol. 7

Bourgogne Party by Vova Ulianov

A small and humble party dedicated to Bourgogne wines. Forget Aragorn, Vova is our new king.

Jura contre l'humanité

When I drink Jura, I often think about Grégoire Moulin. In my opinion, they are both beautiful in their characteristic nervosity. Yet let my opinion about the movie not distract you from the main attraction of this day. So without further ado, meet our protagonists. And let's meet on the moon afterwards.

Chenin Blanc Party by Vova Ulianov

A small and humble party dedicated to Chenin Blanc. Forget Aragorn, Vova is our new king.

A taste of Tondonia

A tasting event daticated to López de Heredia wines. Bosconia, Cubillo, Gravonia and a few of Tondonia bottles.

Mixed Bag Vol. 6

We found a bag full of wine. It calls for a party.

Opaque Tasting Vol. 2

Imagine a completely black and opaque glass filled with wine. Can you tell if it's red or white? Turns out, it's not that easy to guess.

Oceania of Time

Instead of a wooden sword, the unnamed old man gives us a set of glasses. As we touch the stem, a vision strikes us. Cloaked bottles (clearly from Victoria, Nelson, Central Orago and North Canterbury) stand in a cold dark place. They chant. They whisper. They call us. They promise to show death, life and kindness. Armed and confused, we start our quest. Luckily the first chest contains a legendary artefact - Oceania of Time, a teleportation device.

Bruno Paillard: Collection Anciens Dégorgements

Collection Anciens Dégorgements tasting event. Five Première Cuvée bottles disgorged at different dates.

Quest for Value

The quest for value never ends. At one of the previous events, we focused on wines with a good value under a specific price bar. Today we continue to explore the Ukrainian wine market to find bottles that hit the sweet spot of quality to price ratio. To spice things up, we have wines in different price ranges.

Mixed Bag Vol. 5

There are many bottles in my bag. I get them one after another. It calls for a wine tasting event!

Double trouble

Two wines, three vintages; and an extra bottle from Mercandelli.

Between Collio and Carso

A small journey from Carso to Collio and back.

On the Collio Hills

Legends of Olsavia. The history of Collio hills in our glasses.

Norm Wines Vol. 1

A wine tasting event dedicated to simple wines with good QPR.

Il Pirata Vol. 3

A wine tasting event dedicated to wines from Sicily.

Il Pirata Vol. 2

A wine tasting event dedicated to wines from Sicily.

Yearly events report - Vol. 2022

A year has passed, so it's time for some statistics.

Classy Bubbles Vol. 2

A wine tasting event dedicated to sparkling wines produced by traditional method.

To Each Their Own Vol. 1

Lovely tasting of Pinot family. Every participant selected a bottle, and folks from 101 Bar shuffled and served them blind.

Grapes of Piedmont

A patchwork carpet spread over the hillsides of a beautiful country full of authentic character. Mostly known for Barolo, Barbaresco and Asti (yay, bubbles), now it is a home for wine world bandits that dig up old colours and senses. While I was preparing for Atypical ver.1.22474487139, I realised how many little-known grapes Piedmont has to offer. Aside from well-known Nebbiolo, Barbera, Cortese and Moscato, there are less-known grapes like Arneis, Dolcetto, Grignolino, Freisa, Slarina, Brachetto, Uva Rara, Ruché, Pelaverga Piccolo. Of course, it's impossible to fit everything into one event, so today, we have a small subset of all the Piemontese diversity to have a small taste of local grapes.

Monthly report - October 2022

A new month has begun, so it's time to look back at tasting notes for a monthly report. Novelties, favourites, outcasts and trends.

A bit of Spain

A bunch of delicious wines from Spain calling for a tasting event.

Atypical ver.1.22474487139...

A wine tasting event dedicated to atypical combinations of location and grapes.

Monthly report - September 2022

A new month has begun, so it's time to look back at tasting notes for a monthly report. Novelties, favourites, outcasts and trends.

Mixed Bag Vol. 4

A report of a wine tasting event that includes wines by Costadilà, Tomislav Marković, Sous Le Végétal, Patrick Sullivan, Fedellos do Couto, Jean Grivot and Vino di Anna.

Opaque Tasting Vol. 1

Imagine a completely black and opaque glass filled with wine. Can you tell if it's red or white? Turns out, it's not that easy to guess.

Site Updates Vol. 2

Mixed Bag Vol. 3

A report of a wine tasting event that included Lyme Bay, Marco de Bartoli, Forjas del Salnes, Ca' di Mat, Clos du Tue-Boeuf, Tomislav Markovic and Foradori.

Wine o'clock with People

An unexpected wine tasting event

Monthly report - August 2022

A new month has begun, so it's time to look back at tasting notes for a monthly report. Novelties, favourites, outcasts and trends.

Sin Titulo

Wine tasting event dedicated to almost red wines

Vasyl Kalinichenko about Wine Evaluation

Monthly report - July 2022

A new month has begun, so it's time to look back at tasting notes for a monthly report. Novelties, favourites, outcasts and trends.

Mixed Bag Vol. 2: Orange

Wine tasting event dedicated to skin contact wines

Mixed Bag Vol. 1

Just take some cool wines, put them together and call it a mix bag blind tasting event. It's time for a report!

They thought I was just drinking all day...

Monthly report - June 2022

A taste of Chenin Blanc

Report of a blind tasting event dedicated to Chenin Blanc.

Site Updates Vol. 1

Blind tasting by Vasyl Kalinichenko

Monthly report - May 2022

U600

Pinot Noir in Garage

Some Amber Stars

Classy Bubbles: Taste the Yeast

Report of a blind tasting even dedicated to sparkling wines made in traditional style.