Monbar is a Ukrainian natural cider brand from Zakarpattia. Producer: Kraftovi Napoi Zakarpattia LLC.

We make cider by the classic European method. The raw material is fresh fruit from Zakarpattia orchards, not concentrate, powder or flavourings. The juice comes from direct pressing and then goes through natural fermentation. There is no added sugar and no added alcohol: sweetness comes from the fruit itself, and alcohol appears naturally as the juice ferments. Our range includes apple cider and pear cider, also known as perry.

Monbar has been recognised at the World Cider Awards in the United Kingdom, a respected international cider competition where samples are assessed by independent experts in blind tasting. The producer entered the top ten companies in its industry according to an independent analytical ranking based on open state data.

Zakarpattia is more than a label for us. The region belonged to the European cultural space for centuries, with a long history of orchards and fruit growing. Monbar founder Yana Matviichuk is a historian by education, and her research into the region became one of the sources of inspiration for reviving natural cider culture in Ukraine. A separate strand of our public work is popularising the history of Zakarpattia and supporting the restoration of Serednie Castle.

A large share of our marketing is educational. Most Ukrainian consumers still do not distinguish natural cider from fruit alcoholic drinks blended from spirit, water, syrup and flavourings. So we explain how to read a label, how cider differs from wine and beer, and which characteristics to look at when choosing.

On CASES we share cases on brand building inside a regulated category: communication within the limits of Ukrainian advertising law, launching a category the market barely knows, and working with regional identity and history as a brand asset.