Ukraine

Maryna Revkova

Maryna is a Ukrainian ASI Certified Sommelier and winner of the 2020 Best Sommelier of Ukraine Competition. Her journey in the hospitality industry began at the age of 14, working in a kitchen where she helped the chefs to decorate plates and chop vegetables. Upon beginning university, Maryna began working at McDonald’s to support herself and her mother, and over the next 7 years she undertook a large variety of courses across a range of different disciplines (as varied as learning the guitar to painting) in an attempt to find her passion in life. When she discovered a wine course, Maryna knew that she had found what she was looking for. She left her job at McDonald’s and, taking a major cut in salary and a large increase in her work hours, became an assistant sommelier. Maryna began competing in competitions, with her first being the inaugural ASI First International Women’s Sommelier Cup, where she came an impressive second place. In 2018, her first attempt at the Best Sommelier of Ukraine Competition saw her reach the podium with second again, and after 4 years working in wine, she won the next Best Sommelier of Ukraine Competition which she entered in 2021. Sadly, with the coming of the war in Ukraine, which has destroyed Maryna’s flat and left her disconnected from her family in the occupied Southern regions, Maryna has decided to continue working and studying at her craft, moving to Portugal and beginning to work for Symington Family Estates, as well as pursuing the WSET Diploma and the Master Sommelier qualifications.