Transcarpathians - Known for Its Wine and Variety in Nature and Culture

The unique Carpathian Mountains spread across the Chernivtsi, Ivano-Frankivsk, Lviv and Transcarpathians and offers year-round recreational opportunities in Western Ukrainian cities and villages. The area is highly favored for its mountain climbing, downhill skiing, aqua tourism, hunting, fishing, bicycling, horse riding and many other amusements to satisfy modern travelers.
Ukrainian Carpathian Mountain lies from the northwest to the south-east of Transcarpathia, covered with deciduous and coniferous forests and Alpine meadows they are called «the lungs of Europe». The highest point in the region is Hoverla (2061 m). There are several mountain lakes of postglacial origin. The most beautiful and important is Lake Synevyrsk (989 m above sea level). More than 360 varieties of mineral waters have been discovered and researched. These waters are used for treatment. You can enjoy mountain skiing till April, meet lynx and wood goose walking in the forest, visit «Russian steam bath». Those who like fishing can find trout, European carp and sheatfish in Carpathian rivers. Two or three days hunting for red deer, fox or hare leaves unforgettable impressions.
Excursion proposal
1 day. Excursion to the «Mineral sources of Transcarpathian». One day trip gives you an opportunity to get acquainted the beautiful nature of this piece of country, to hear interesting legends, to test famous mineral water «Luzhanska», «Polyana Kupel'», «Polyana Kvasova».
2 day. «Be close to nature». You visit picturesque places of Perechinsk area, some waterfalls such as «Partizan», «Solovey» and «Shipot». Shashlik.
3 day. «The valley of the river Uzh». The voyage to the riverhead of the Uzh river. You'll see unique ancient wooden churches and unforgettable views of the Carpathian.
4 day. «Day of wine and winemaking». This excursion will tell you about history of winemaking in Transcarpathian. You'll visit wine cellars and test the best sorts of Carpathian wines. After winetesting you can choose and buy any wine you liked.
5 day. Uzhgorod City tour. You start at 15.00. You visit the principal historic areas and monuments: Goryanska rotunda (XI), Uzhgorod castle (XII–XVI), museum of local lore, museum of Ukrainian architecture and mode of life, cathedral, Nevitskyy castle (XII). You walk Korzo street (the old centre of the town). Dinner in the Ukrainian museum «Detsa u notarya».
6 day. Mukachevo City tour. You'll see Mukachevo castle «Palanok» (XVI), museum of local lore, Saint-Nikolas convent. Walks town centre tour.
The main part of Transcarpathia's economy is agriculture. The main crops here are: forage crops, grapes, potatoes, flax, rye, oats, maize, sunflowers, tobacco-plant, early vegetables, mangel and fruit. The main farm animals are sheep (sheep breeding in polonynas (valleys in the mountains), pigs, cows (milk- and- meat cattle breeding), hens and bees (Carpathian breed).
The glory of the region is its vineyards. The first marketable plantations of vines appeared in Transcarpathia in the third century BC. By the way, bushes of wild grapes still grow on Mount Chorna in Vynohradiv district. Nowadays the main areas of marketable wine-making in Transcarpathia are Uzhhorod, Mukachevo, Berehovo, Irshava and Vynohradiv districts.
Famous grape varieties from Transcarpathian region

Genus Vitis, species V. Labruska (varieties): Isabella, Lidia rozheva (pink), Vilder, Noa, Delavar rozhevyy (pink), Othello.
Species V. Berlandieri (varieties): Kobera 5-BB, Teleki 8-B.
Species V. Ripariya (varieties): Ripariya (Portalis).
Species V. Rupestriya (varieties): Aurora (Zeibel' N 5279), Sasorosh (Kuderk N 503).
Other varieties: Moldova, Chaush, Cardinal, Shasla bila (white), rozheva (pink), muskatna (mace), petrushkova (parsley), phioletova (violet), Muscat Ottonel', Odeskyy ranniy (early), Pozhoni bilyy (white), Polumya Tokaya (flame of Tokay), Alphona Lavalle, Koroleva vynohradnykiv (queen of vineyards), Koroleva Yelyzaveta (Queen Elisabeth), Seiv Villar, Italia, Bikan, Saperavi, 40 rokiv Zhovtnya (40 years of October revolution), Alikant Bushe, Kopcha, Leanka korolivska, Sil'vaner, Holubok pivnichnyy (northern), Delavar bilyy (white), Zolodyond'.
Typical table wines from the region would be; Rysling italiyskyy (Italian) and reinskyy (Rhine), Muller Turgau, Phurmint, Lypovyna, Traminer rozhevyy (pink), Leanka, Madlen Anzhevin.

The region also offers some champagne wines such as Leanka, Rysling reinskyy (Rhine), and Traminer rozhevyy (pink).
There are also some typical regional table grapes such as Perlyna Saba, Irshayi Oliver, Shasla, Matyash Yanosh, Muscat Tayirovskyy and Hamburgskyy (Hamburg), and Karaburnu.

Sweet wines worth mentioning are Muller Turgau, Traminer rozhevyy (pink), Muscat peitskyy, Phurmint, Lypovyna, Bastardo maharadskyy, and Cabernet Sauvignon.
Some of the most famous wines from this region would be Troyanda Zakarpattya, Serednyanske, Promenyste, Berehivske, Hrono Zakarpattya, Perlyna Karpat, Starovynnyy zamok, and Irshavske.
Here I will talk a little bit more about the village of Serednye, which is one of the centers of vine-growing and wine production in the region. After a talk about art of wine making, customers are invited to visit wine tasting rooms and cellars. Beregovo is also known by its viticulture: the excursion takes place in the famous wine cellars of Beregovo plant. Its brands such as "Promenyste", "Beregivske" and "Zakarpatske" have been awarded at international wine competitions and fairs.