About Us
TOKEN was founded by Dmytro and Alyona — a Ukrainian couple with a lifelong background in the hospitality industry, now based in London.
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Dmytro has spent over 20 years in the wine industry, working across Ukraine, Azerbaijan, Dubai, and the UK. From being crowned Best Sommelier of Ukraine in 2014 to managing wine programs in London’s top venues, his journey is defined by craftsmanship, passion, and deep industry knowledge.
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Alyona brings her own expertise from managing restaurants and gastropubs, combined with a strong marketing background and a talent for creating memorable guest experiences.
Together, they carry their Ukrainian spirit and hospitality values into TOKEN — a wine they craft in Italy, as a reflection of place, culture, and meaningful connection. A true token of time well spent.
Boat Dreams to Bottle Moments
Like many in hospitality, we found ourselves at home during lockdown — furloughed, uncertain, and restless. To escape the stillness of 2020, we bought a small boat that spring and spent most of our time on the water, dreaming about what would come next.
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Our ideas were big: open a bar in London, start a winery with a small hotel somewhere warm by the sea, maybe even run pub tours around the city. But no matter what we imagined, we always came back to one thing: wine. The one product that somehow became even more meaningful during lockdown than it was in “normal” times — marking holidays, life’s milestones, and quiet moments in between.
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By autumn 2020, we committed to the idea of creating our own wine. Not just selling it, but shaping it — from grape selection to label design. We wanted to be part of every step.
After a long search across Europe (and plenty of tastings), we found our perfect partner in February 2021: Italian winemaker Giacomo Orlando, based in Friuli, a region known for balance, elegance, and expressive terroir.
That’s where TOKEN began — not just a wine label, but a personal story, bottled.