Bolgrad Ukrainian wine brand secures top position

Following an exclusive limited-edition listing in Lidl last year, Ukrainian winery Bolgrad has secured a second parcel in Lidl and listings across more UK retailers, following a major drive by distributor partner Kingsland Drinks.

The two new wines stocked in Lidl stores are Bolgrad’s Saperavi and Pinot Grigio, while further listings include Bolgrad Chardonnay in The Wine Society and Bolgrad’s Select Collection Pinot Grigio, Pinot Noir Rose and Cabernet Sauvignon available to the on-trade and independents through wholesalers nationwide.

Kingsland Drinks has been working with the winery since 2023 to find logistical solutions to import the wines to the UK market.

Bolgrad is the leading brand for still wines in Ukraine and Odesa is one of the emerging territories in Eastern Europe, an area known for its unique terroirs, diverse range of grapes, growing conditions, microclimates and high-quality wines.

The burgeoning Eastern European wine region as a whole is currently outperforming the wider UK wine market: value sales are up 5 per cent and volume is up 0.1 per cent, compared with a 4 per cent volume decline across the total UK wine market (*source: Circana data up until 21/12/2025).

In addition to this, the total number of Eastern European wine listings in UK retailers has grown between January 2025 and January 2026, with wines from Ukraine and Moldova increasing presence. Outside of Eastern Europe, Georgian wine is also showing growth, up 16 percent in volume.

Vitalii Shmulevych from Bolgrad said: “We know interest and appetite for wines from lesser-known regions is growing among pockets of UK consumers who are seeking quality, value and new experiences. We’re delighted to be increasing our listings in the UK market – we know consumers will welcome the wines, enjoy the unique styles and buy them again and again.

“Globally we have a loyal and growing consumer base, and our export performance is showing strong growth. Export is a strategic direction for us – not only driven by consumer interest and commercial viability – but a key driver is to put Ukrainian winemaking on the map to shine a light on the work being done and the high-quality results being achieved.

“Along with our fellow Ukrainian wine producers, we have been up against multiple challenges during the war, such as logistical hurdles, disruptions to the supply chain and increased uncertainty. Our teams have shown remarkable resilience, adapting to changing circumstances, securing alternative routes and ensuring production continuity and stability.

“Every day is a true test of determination, persistence and flexibility, but our focus is razor sharp on maintaining quality, sustainability and meaningful connection with our customers. We have been heartened to see the increase in demand for our wines, both locally and abroad, and this has led us to scale up production, and invest in more modern equipment and vineyard development. This has allowed us to optimise the quality standards, presentation, taste and availability of our world class wines, reflecting the strength of our land, the skill of our people and communities and the pride in our viticultural history.”