Bogdan Pavliukh Crowned Best Sommelier of Ukraine 2026

The competition spanned two days, April 5 and 6. On the first day, participants underwent a theoretical test that required them to answer 100 questions related to winemaking, wines, and the work of a sommelier. Notably, participants were required to respond in English, a new requirement introduced in 2025.

Among the competitors vying for the title of Best Sommelier of Ukraine 2026 were representatives from various cities, including Lviv, Dnipro, and Vinnytsia. The jury comprised not only past winners but also industry experts and seasoned sommeliers. One jury member, Igor Postoiankin, remarked, "Today, the competition features very strong participants, so the final will be quite spectacular. I would have loved to compete with them on stage again, but unfortunately, having been named Best Sommelier of Ukraine once, I can no longer participate. However, I have the opportunity to evaluate them today as a jury member." He also emphasized how gratifying it is to see the competition's geographic reach expanding rapidly.

Following the closed theoretical test, the decanting stage, and blind tasting of alcohol, three participants advanced to the semifinals: Bogdan Pavliukh, Dmytro Lazorka, and Yevhen Oliynyk, all hailing from Lviv. Subsequently, they faced a draw to determine the order of the finalists' performances. The participants were taken to a separate room without any communication devices, where they awaited their turn.

Each sommelier underwent several stages of evaluation. In the first stage, they were required to serve the judges in a restaurant according to their preferences. Within 15 minutes, participants had to present wines and two cocktails while managing timing and overcoming challenges that arose during service, such as serving unchilled sparkling wine. The second stage involved correcting errors in the wine list, where participants had to identify incorrect names, regions, or production years. Correctly identifying an error earned the participant 2 points, while incorrect answers resulted in point deductions.

The third stage included a blind tasting of wine and spirits, where participants needed to provide the most detailed description of the beverage. The fourth stage involved tasting dishes prepared by Oleksii Povtoreika, Vice President of the Association of Chefs of Ukraine, where participants had to identify the dish presented to them and suggest the most suitable beverages to accompany it.

Anna Peker, a wine expert and official representative of the California Wine Institute in Ukraine, stated, "I am here today as a partner of the competition from the California Wine Institute, and I sincerely hope that we will continue this tradition for a long time. I know how nervous everyone is, and I share in that anxiety, as I came to support the participants. I am very pleased with the level of participants this year. It is heartening that despite the harsh realities of war in Ukraine, people are passionate about wine, working with it, and preparing for the competition." She also highlighted that the competition, now conducted in English, is a step towards the future, as it opens up new opportunities for Ukraine in the tourism sector.

After intense competition and performances from the finalists, the victory and title of Best Sommelier of Ukraine 2026 was awarded to Bogdan Pavliukh. He is the Head Sommelier at the La Luce restaurant in Lviv and the ZWIN wine bars, as well as the winner of the 2019 Ukrainian Sommelier competition, Vice Champion of the Best Sommelier of Ukraine in 2017 and 2020, Vice Champion of the Best Sommelier of Lithuania in 2019, and a certified Gold Diploma sommelier from ASI.

For those interested in watching how the final of the competition unfolded, videos are available on the official resources of the Association of Sommeliers of Ukraine.