On November 19, 2023, the VIII International Forum of Winemakers and Sommeliers was held in Kyiv, at the InterContinental Kyiv Hotel (2A Velyka Zhytomyrska St.), within the framework of which the following events took place:

- The jubilee XX All-Ukrainian Sommelier Competition "Master Sommelier - 2022-2023",

- VII All-Ukrainian Cavist Competition "Best Cavist of Ukraine - 2022-2023",

- Round table of winemakers and sommeliers as part of the Winemakers' Dinner,

- Open tastings and presentations of wines, spirits, cheeses and other products for all guests of the events.

Organizers of professional events:

- Ukrainian Association of Winemakers and Sommeliers,

- Association of Cavists of Ukraine,

- The first in Ukraine Master Class Sommelier School.

General Partner - TM "Vinos dela Luz"

Partners: TM Big Wines, SV plus, Poli1898, Delamain, AELRED, Eyguebelle, ACHA, Purity, Zinka, Voda.ua, Cigar House Fortuna, Academy of Labor, Social Relations and Tourism, InterContinental Kyiv Hotel.

Ambassadors of several countries, MPs, the Chairman of the Trade Unions of Ukraine, heads of alcoholic beverage importers, restaurant managers, sommeliers, winemakers, heads of wine companies and wine boutiques, representatives of business structures, media and TV, wine connoisseurs and lovers attended the events.

The Forum opened with a minute of silence in honor of the deceased wine industry professionals who had previously participated in the Forum as participants and jury members.

Then, the anthem of Ukraine was performed live by a young singer Severina.

The professional jury was headed by Dr. Ricardo F. Nunez, owner of the international wine holding VINOS DELA LUZ. For the fourth year in a row, Dr. Nunez has been heading the jury and the Forum of Winemakers and Sommeliers of Ukraine.

Members of the professional jury:

- Natalia Blagopoluchna - President of the All-Ukrainian Association of Winemakers and Sommeliers, head of the First Sommelier School in Ukraine "Master Class"
- Oleksandr Sharay - sommelier, commercial director of SV+ company
- Yegor Bilov - sommelier of the InterContinental Kyiv Hotel, winner of the All-Ukrainian Sommelier Competition 2018
- Oleg Kravchenko - co-owner of Winbar, "Best Sommelier of Ukraine - 2011"
- Olga Girman - sommelier, winner of the All-Ukrainian Sommelier Competition 2021
- Dmytro Gurinchyk - national manager of the Cigar House "Fortuna"
- Irina Kovaleva, Director of the Tairov National Institute of Viticulture and Winemaking.
In the Final of the Contest, the participants competed in different rounds:: "Presentation and decanting of wine", "Enogastronomy" (real serving of dishes from the chef of the restaurant Ruslan Morozyuk), "Cheese and wine", "Blind tasting", "Mixology", "Cigar Tour", etc.

In some of the tours, the participants communicated exclusively in English.

After the end of the competitions and the final work of the professional jury, the places were determined as follows:

"XX Anniversary Sommelier Competition 2022-2023":

1st place - Svyatoslav Klymchuk (Kyiv, Bigoli restaurant)

2nd place - Igor Postoyankin (Kyiv, Catch restaurant)

3rd place - Natalia Sokolovska (Kyiv, DDS company)

"VII All-Ukrainian Cavist Competition 2022-2023":

1st place - Vasyl Chuchman (Ivano-Frankivsk, Winetime wine boutique)

2nd place - Yevhen Boyko (Kyiv, Winetime wine boutique)

3rd place - Yevhen Brodyuk (Kyiv, Winetime wine boutique)

All finalists received Diplomas and gifts from the Partners, and the Winners received personalized cups.

The Chairman of the Jury Dr. Ricardo F. Nunez congratulated the Organizers and Finalists, thanked the Armed Forces of Ukraine and wished to hold the next Winemakers and Sommeliers Forum in peaceful Ukraine.

The General Information Partner is Interfax Ukraine News Agency.

Media Partners - Club of Experts, OPEN for BUSINESS, Kyiv Diplomatic magazine