The Winemaker of Kozachi Laheri

Tamara Rohalska’s path wound from radio operator to winemaker, her expertise in both technology and vintning making her unique among her neighbors in Kozachi Laheri village, Kherson region. The 63-year-old found her way back to her birthplace after completing technical college, trading the art of winemaking for the simpler rhythms of village life.

War arrived through the airwaves — a phone call with her son attracted enemy drones, their missiles destroying her home. For two months, she remained trapped in the occupied territory until volunteers, contacted by her son, finally managed to evacuate her.

In Brovary’s modular town, she endured harsh conditions. “Winter was particularly difficult, ” she recalls. “Everything was wet and cold, with ice forming on the walls.” The temporary shelter tested her resilience, but worse was the deep stress that left her struggling with hypertension and varicose veins.

Hope arrived on November 18, 2024, when she moved into apartment 20.1A at Senior Chudo Village. “The village is very cozy and comfortable, ” she says, her vintner’s eye appreciating the small plots for growing vegetables. “It’s never boring here, with good people around. They welcomed us wonderfully.”

When asked for advice to young people, the former winemaker shows the wisdom of her craft: “I think youth will understand what’s important to them on their own. This understanding comes with experience, like aging wine — different for everyone.”

To Dell Loy Hansen, she offers heartfelt appreciation: “It’s such a wonderful mission. The program is so incredible that everyone here couldn’t believe it was real until they arrived. I sincerely thank him and wish him all the best.”

Now serving as a volunteer, helping wherever needed, this woman who once crafted wine has found a new vintage of life — one aged in hope rather than oak barrels.