Ukrainian Wines to Take Center Stage at Bordeaux Tasting, Highlighting Resilience Amid Conflict
A spotlight will shine on Ukrainian wines this Thursday, December 18, at the prestigious Cité du Vin in Bordeaux, France, offering a poignant toast to the enduring spirit of the nation’s winemakers.
The Cité du Vin has chosen to showcase the Ukrainian vineyard during a special tasting event, a gesture intended to honor the remarkable resilience of those continuing to cultivate their craft in a country embroiled in conflict for nearly four years. As Ukraine navigates ongoing peace negotiations with Russia, its viticultural heritage will be prominently featured during the institution’s regular Thursday evening afterwork event.
“Once or twice a month, we hold a tasting workshop with a wine partner,” explained a marketing and communications director at the Bordeaux institution, which is preparing to celebrate its 10th anniversary in 2026. The Cité du Vin regularly collaborates with wine regions and inter-professional organizations from around the globe – including Australia, Argentina, and Germany – and this month, it’s Ukraine’s turn to present its offerings.
The tasting will feature four distinct vintages: two reds, one white, and a late harvest wine, representing the diverse Ukrainian wine regions, notably Odessa. Attendees will have the opportunity to sample both familiar French grape varieties – such as Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot – successfully adapted to Ukrainian soils, as well as indigenous grapes like “Odessa Black,” described by the head of sommelier at the Cité du Vin, Élodie Gratuze, as embodying “the wine identity of Ukraine.”
This event arrives as the wine world mobilizes for Ukraine, demonstrating support for an industry facing unprecedented challenges.
Beyond the oenological experience, the tasting aims to introduce a largely unknown aspect of Ukrainian history. “Millennial but little known,” the country’s vineyard produces wines that are “accessible,” benefiting from a variety of climates and a blend of “tradition and modernity,” according to Gratuze. The collaboration between the Ukrainian wine estates’ inter-professional association, “Ukrvinprom,” and the Cité du Vin was established prior to the Russian invasion, yet “they give us grants every year,” Gratuze added, a testament to the unwavering “resilience” of Ukrainian winegrowers.
This dedication to continuing production, despite the ongoing war, was the driving force behind the event. “We are happy to support these producers by highlighting them,” stated a senior official. “The winegrowers are all affected by the war in one way or another, but they continue to cope,” Gratuze confirmed. A Ukrainian delegation, including the head of the Ukrvinprom partnership and the winemakers whose wines will be showcased, will be present at the tasting.
