In philosophy, the fifth element was called quinta essentia — the "fifth essence" that unites the four natural elements into a single whole. This very idea became the foundation for the new KOBLEVO 5 Elements line.
The Sun gives the grapes energy. The Earth gives them strength and character. Water sustains life. Air accompanies the ripening process. But for all of this to become wine, a fifth element is needed — human touch. Human knowledge, experience, intuition, and craftsmanship transform what nature has created into wine with its own distinct character and soul. Thus was born KOBLEVO 5 Elements — a line where five elements come together into a single whole.
On September 18, wine market trendsetters — journalists, award-winning sommeliers, renowned restaurateurs, and experts — gathered at Kyiv's "Hlek" restaurant for the premiere of these wines, organized by the editorial team of Drinks+.
The media group expresses its sincere gratitude to the KOBLEVO brand for displaying high trust in taking this first step together. Special thanks go to the restaurant "Hlek" (whose wine list is 90% comprised of Ukrainian wines) and its charismatic owners — Maya and Oleksandr Stepovyi.
Wine Sonata
In the southern vineyards—where the wind arrives first and leaves last, where the sun touches the vine as confidently as the fog and dew—the new Koblevo 5 Elements line was born. The South of Ukraine is a land with a distinct character. And since 2022, every season has brought new challenges to grape growers. Yet, the vines continue to live, and the team continues to work, crafting Ukrainian wine where all the elements sound in harmony. That is why this line is not so much about hardship as it is about the strength to move forward. About sun and earth, craftsmanship and inspiration. And, ultimately, about music.
The series includes five wines created from hand-harvested grapes gathered from specially selected plots. For each wine, the team chose an individual technological approach to maximize the potential of the varieties and convey the character of Southern Ukrainian wines. Each wine here is a thoughtful blend of two varieties united around a specific natural element. The varieties complement each other, creating their own composition of aromas and flavors. And this composition has received a literal sound.
Every bottle features a QR code leading to an original musical piece created specifically for that particular wine. Thus, flavor, aroma, visual imagery, and music blend into a single experience — giving each wine its own sound. Each label went through a long process of visual birth: the concept and artistic logic were shaped by a talented designer, while the final polishing of details was entrusted to AI.
Tetiana Matvieieva, Chief Winemaker at JSC "Koblevo," shared how the line was born: "There are elements of air — winds; there is moisture — rain, dew, fog; and then there is the sun and soils. We embodied all of this in a line of wines most influenced by these elements. We spent a long time carefully selecting varietal pairs for the blends so that the grapes would sound in tandem while having different ripening periods. If one dominates in aroma, the other reveals itself on the palate. Not long ago, we bottled 100,000 bottles, and demand has already exceeded supply."
Tasting participants had the opportunity to ask questions to Ms. Tetiana and Iryna Donchenko, Marketing Director for Wine and Brandy at Bayadera Group, about the technological solutions and teamwork behind this unique project. The discussion was highly professional, but for our readers, we highlight quotes from expert comments and reviews that will help quality wine enthusiasts pick their favorites.
However, expert opinion was unanimous: it is best to purchase these wines as a capsule collection. Perhaps the most frequent sentiment in the feedback was pleasant surprise — "And all this for 270 UAH?" — a kind of verdict from the professional tasting, acknowledging that these wines perform well above their price category.
The Koblevo Capsule Collection — Wines Sounding in Duet
Lightness of Wind
Ordinary dry white table wine Chardonnay & Pinot Grigio (70/30), alc. 13%
Tasting Notes Nataliia Vilinska, Vice-President of the Sommelier Association of Ukraine, member of the Sommelier Association of Latvia, founder of MR.BAR School:
"I highlight this sample as #1. A clean, fresh, and light wine with good acidity."
Harmony of Water
Ordinary dry white table wine Sukholimanskyi & Riesling (70/30), alc. 12.5%
Tasting Notes Kateryna Yushchenko:
"You can feel the sea — salty and mineral. Bright acidity and herbaceousness with notes of grapefruit."
Power of the Earth
Ordinary dry red table wine Odesa Black & Cabernet (80/20), alc. 13%
Tasting Notes Yevhen Boiko, Chief Sommelier of the Silpo retail chain, member of the Sommelier Association of Ukraine, and winner of the 'Best Caviste of Ukraine 2025' competition:
"An elegant garnet color. Nose: spice, dark ripe berries, prune. The palate is clean, with medium, well-balanced tannins and acidity."
Maya Stepova, co-owner of 'Hlek' restaurant:
"A wonderful wine! Both varieties played beautifully and recognizably. Great acidity."
Energy of the Sun
Ordinary dry red table wine Cabernet & Merlot (60/40), alc. 13%
Tasting Notes Yehor Bielov, Chief Sommelier at InterContinental Kyiv Hotel, 'Best Ukrainian Sommelier 2018' (according to the Ukrainian Association of Winemakers and Sommeliers competition):
"Delightful!!! My #1 favorite."
Soul of Wine (the Heart of the Winemaker)
Ordinary semi-sweet red table wine Odesa Black & Merlot (70/30), alc. 11%, sugar 4.0–5%
Tasting Notes Vadym Hurov, Head of Alcohol Department at WINETIME, lecturer at WINETIME Academy:
"An excellent semi-sweet wine where acidity and tannins balance the sweetness nicely. Fruity — Merlot manifests through its fruitiness. And full-bodied — structure is provided by Odesa Black."
Comments
Kateryna Yushchenko, founder of Ukrainian Wine & Spirit School, certified Capstone California instructor, international wine competition judge:
"It was very interesting to get acquainted with these wines. Even setting aside sales considerations and looking at the line from the perspective of Ukraine's winemaking reputation, we truly have something to show. Beyond the successful styling of the wines, I would specifically highlight the moderate alcohol level. I welcome this, as it is a noticeable global trend today.
I also like the idea of a single price for the entire line: all five wines feel like parts of a unified whole, making you want to collect the entire set. If a rosé or sparkling wine were added later, it could make for a practically complete and well-thought-out wine selection for a gastronomic dinner."
Oleh Kravchenko, Best Sommelier of Ukraine 2011, author of the Win Win wine course, co-owner of WinBar:
"I have been to Koblevo, seen the quality of the grapes, and understood that a premium line needed to be made. And you did it — that's great! My personal favorite is Chardonnay & Pinot Grigio — a successful commercial positioning. Everything here is balanced. A successful, vibrant, floral wine! Among the reds, I'll note Cabernet & Merlot, though it still needs time to lie down and mature. Meanwhile, Odesa Black & Cabernet is a perfectly crafted everyday wine that everyone will enjoy. As for the semi-sweet Odesa Black & Merlot, it needs no promotion for those who drink it — people will buy it. I agree with Kateryna Yushchenko that you can build a whole dinner menu around this list of wines."
Vitalii Kovach, founder of Vitalii Kovach's Sommelier School, brand ambassador for Chateau Chizay winery, member of Associazione Italiana Sommelier:
"I have very pleasant impressions of this capsule collection. I would highlight the very successful Chardonnay & Pinot Grigio. The Sukholimanskyi & Riesling blend turned out great, and the price of 270 UAH was simply pleasantly surprising. Odesa Black & Cabernet turned out mega-impressive — something incredible, true jewelry work with oak. Cabernet & Merlot also delivers a 'wow' effect; a cool, mature wine at a very reasonable price. Personally, I would like more alcohol in future vintages purely for longer aging potential to move into the heavyweight category. As for Odesa Black & Merlot, this wine will find its own audience that prefers sweeter wines."
Serhii Klimov, owner of Uwines.bar, founder of Kyiv Food and Wine Festival:
"I welcome the launch of the premium 5 Elements line. Large wineries like Koblevo should lead the market and push imports off the shelves. Let's be frank and look at import figures: $180 million a year going out of a country at war is nonsense. Powerful brands creating a quality product must turn Ukrainians toward domestic wines. I see firsthand at my festivals and in my bar that this is realistic. Moreover, I observe many foreigners choosing Ukrainian wine — they don't carry an inferiority complex and buy our wines by the case. The presented selection is very interesting. Among the whites, my favorite is Sukholimanskyi & Riesling — crisp and bright. This is precisely what sells most often in my bar; guests favor crisp, high-acidity wines. Such wines from the south are a rarity, so I am ready to talk to your sales team. My favorite among the reds is Odesa Black & Cabernet. You managed to make it soft, free of unwanted aromas. It's great that this wine has already undergone aging and can show its class. I hope to see this line at my festival in October."
Vadym Hurov, Head of Alcohol Department at WINETIME, lecturer at WINETIME Academy:
"I'll comment as a retail representative. Chardonnay & Pinot Grigio is a favorite — an excellent wine with great structure, aromas, and acidity. However, from my perspective, I would recommend a flute or Burgundy bottle for the whites.
Among red wines, my personal favorite is Cabernet & Merlot. Overall, an ideal wine to consume right here and now, preferably with braised meat. Odesa Black & Cabernet is the first blend of its kind that surprised me. Interesting, though in this tandem both varieties shifted from their usual essence — I only guessed Cabernet by picking up a bit of spice. But the semi-sweet, in my opinion, is excellent! Although most sommeliers advocate for dry wines, I rated this sample highly. We've loved sugar since childhood, and sweet is one of the most enjoyable tastes. Great wine!
Overall, I believe that the emergence of such a high-quality line from Koblevo is a vibrant demonstration of the brand's potential, which today — especially with the audio labels — sounds entirely fresh."
Nataliia Blahopoluchna, founder of the All-Ukrainian Association of Winemakers and Sommeliers and the Association of Cavistes of Ukraine, director of the first Sommelier School 'Master-Class', honorary professor at the Academy of Labor, Social Relations and Tourism:
"In my opinion, ideally every producer should have three lines: mid-tier, mid-minus, and mid-plus. By 'mid-plus' I mean a high-quality product ready for consumption, targeted at HoReCa. In this case, that is Cabernet-Merlot. I believe this item deserves a higher price than the average across the capsule. That would be fair if we are highlighting the best wines ourselves. That's my subjective opinion.
Furthermore, regarding alcohol levels, I agree with Katya — high alcohol content is not relevant today. Koblevo is targeting a new consumer who won't be won over by high ABV. Moreover, if new 'Reserve' category wines are created, few will want to buy them for aging. First, you must win over the consumer, which means reaching not only retail but also HoReCa. I consider 270 UAH to be a price for simpler wines in every sense — wines without QR codes leading to custom musical pieces. No other Ukrainian producer offers such musical accompaniment, and this should definitely be promoted through cavistes and sommeliers alike. In my memory, a similar technique was only used by the Georgian company GWS with French investment, and even then, that music didn't play for long. Yet here we have a Ukrainian exclusive paired with worthy wine quality!"
Scan the QR code on the bottle and enjoy!
Article published on the Drinks+ website
