Wines of the Silver Land #182
"Wines of the Silver Land": A Unique Educational Project
In 2024, winemakers from Transcarpathia initiated an educational project unlike any other in the world. To promote the designation of the unique regional formation “Wines of the Silver Land” and enhance young people’s knowledge of their homeland, the Association of Viticulturists, Winemakers, and Distillers of Transcarpathia, in collaboration with faculties of Uzhhorod University, launched an innovative educational program for university students.
Students from various faculties were invited to participate in research on “Wines of the Silver Land” from different perspectives, aligned with their specializations. The outcome of these academic studies will be reflected in diploma or coursework projects, which will be evaluated not only by university faculty but also by members of the Association. In the future, these student research findings will be used in forums and seminars and published in both national and international media.
Directions and Prospects
The educational project encompasses a variety of scientific studies on topics aligned with the academic profiles of students at Uzhhorod University. For instance, biology students will research the cultivation of specific grape varieties in the region, their morphological characteristics, and properties, or create vineyard maps identifying the locations of different grapevines and documenting ampelographic collections.
Participants from the geography faculty, such as future geodesists, will study local soils, while others will focus on climate changes and their impact on the region. Sociology students will analyze shifts in consumer behavior or marketing strategies used by wineries. Historians will delve into the dramatic chronicles of the region’s past, while economics students will explore the business aspects of winemaking.
Naturally, the Faculty of Tourism and International Communications will play a crucial role in advancing both domestic and international wine tourism in Transcarpathia.
Scientific Research Object – "Wines of the Silver Land"
Despite Ukraine suffering from russian aggression, the nation of the unbreakable continues to shape its future. One manifestation of this resilience is the initiative by Transcarpathian winemakers to establish the geographical indication (GI) “Wines of the Silver Land.” The registered zone includes the southern part of the region: Uzhhorod, Mukachevo, and Berehove districts, along with a small part of Khust and Tiachiv districts. The plan is to first register the GI within Transcarpathia Region, followed by the establishment of four additional appellations within the broader geographical indication, each with stricter regulations: Uzhhorod, Mukachevo, Berehove, and Ugochan (Vynohradiv).
The Name "Silver Land" and Its Legacy
Interestingly, the name “Silver Land” has no connection to silver deposits. It was introduced into public discourse by the Ukrainian poet Vasyl Pachovskyi in 1920 when he retold a legend. According to the story, during World War I, villagers in Boharevytsia (Berehove district) discovered a silver bell engraved with the inscription: “1034. To the people of Silver Land from Queen Anastasia.”
Notably, this name already existed at the time. According to one theory, the Anastasia mentioned in the inscription was the daughter of Yaroslav the Wise, who married the Hungarian prince Ondrash (Andrew I of Hungary).
Today, local winemakers, together with scholars and graduates of Uzhhorod University, are working to revive the history of the Silver Land and write a new chapter that future generations will take pride in.
To promote this designation, the Association of Viticulturists, Winemakers, and Distillers of Transcarpathia regularly organizes the annual “Wines of the Silver Land” competition and the traditional “Chervene Vyno” (Red Wine) Festival. Recently, winemakers have also launched artistic events at the Regional Art Museum named after the world-renowned Ukrainian painter Yosyp Bokshai, often referred to as the “Poet of the Silver Land.”
Photos provided by the winemakers of Silver Land and fragments of reproductions by Yosyp Bokshai from open sources (https://gs-art.com/): “Grape Harvest”, “Štrbské Pleso.”
