Stakhovsky Wines #173
History of vineyards
The credo of the wine brand “Ace & W by Stakhovsky” sounds more relevant than ever – it’s time to win! In tennis, “Ace” means a legal serve that is not touched by the receiver, winning the point, and “W” comes from the word “win”. The founder and owner of the brand is the world-famous tennis player from Ukraine Serhiy Stakhovsky. Ace & W by Stakhovsky – author’s wine from the legend of Ukrainian tennis.
The former Ukrainian athlete decided to master winemaking at the end of 2015, after lengthy work in France. The outstanding tennis player rented 22.5 hectares of old vineyards in Transcarpathia, where they prepared the soil for more than two years, planted new vines of Merlot, Saperavi and Pink Traminer, and irrigated, to prepare the vineyard. Now the Stakhovsky Wines vineyards are one of the most beautiful and well-groomed in the region. The first harvest of the vineyard was in 2018.
About the terroir of Stakhovsky Wines
Stakhovsky Wines grapes grow near the Kuklya mountain between Beregovo and Muzhiev. With soils of clay and stone, on the mountain mined kaolin clay of volcanic origin, and gold. The vines grow in an amphitheater overlooking the Danube lowlands. Climate change, as well as the location of vineyards in one of the two warmest regions of Transcarpathia, and even on the southwestern slopes, allows for the cultivation of red grapes that reach optimal maturity in autumn; while Transcarpathia has long been known for the production of white wine.
The Collection
Currently in the collection are red aged wines (at least 10 months in French oak), dry wines “Ace by Stakhovsky” Merlot, Saperavi, Zweigelt, Cabernet Sauvignon and white dry wines “W by Stakhovsky” Traminer, Riesling, Chardonnay and “W by Stakhovsky” Orange wine.
The vines were planted between 2002 and 2006. The majority is of red varieties – Saperavi, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Among the whites mostly – Traminer and Chardonnay. There are also micro-plots with Zweigelt and Riesling varieties. The plan is to plant Tokai Furmint vines, as it is well developed in Hungary, but has also historically been in Transcarpathia. Additionally, there is a plan to plant Pinot Noir.
A separate local history with the Leanka variety or, as it is called in Transcarpathia, Fetească. This is an autochthonous grape variety that winemaker Serhiy Stakhovsky dreams of developing; creating something unique, perhaps in a blend with other varieties.
Stakhovsky Wines brand on the world stage
Stakhovsky Wines wines are currently available in France, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Japan and Austria. In Bordeaux, the Traminer W and Saperavi ACE can be purchased at one of the most famous wine museums in France (and perhaps in the world) – La Cité du Vin.
Tastings
Tours of the most archetypal winery Stakhovsky Wines can be ordered 24/7. The Stakhovsky Wines tasting room is located among the picturesque vineyards. More than 3,000 tourists visited the winery in 2 years. The program includes a fascinating story about the unique characteristics of the Transcarpathian terroir, the history of wine and viticulture, a walk among the vineyards, tasting new products, as well as limited reserve products (aged in French oak for 24 months), craft cheeses from local producers and traditional Transcarpathian flavors.
Excursion program
After the tasting you can visit the winery, the complex for the primary processing of grapes, as well as the warehouse. A nice bonus for tourists – when Serhiy Stakhovsky meets them in person. After all, it is always a pleasure to receive a bottle of honest Ukrainian wine, which has worthily declared itself on the territory of Ukraine and not only, first hand but also with an autograph from a true tennis legend.
For particularly discerning connoisseurs, we have even provided the possibility of extra-tasting wines that are directly aged in oak barrels (408 pieces) and not yet bottled, as well as special wines with aging up to 20 months in barrels.
