The San Francisco International Wine Competition (SFIWC) has decided to disqualify 15 Russian-based wineries from the 2025 competition and dispose of their wines due to non-compliance with US sanctions legislation introduced in response to Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
This was reported Consulate General of Ukraine in San Francisco.
“The Consulate General of Ukraine in San Francisco welcomes the decision of the San Francisco International Wine Competition (SFIWC), organized by The Tasting Alliance, to disqualify 15 wineries based in Russia from the 2025 competition and to dispose of their wines after they were found to be non-compliant with US sanctions imposed following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine,” the post reads.
Russian officials and media outlets reportedly attempted to present the entry into the competition as a political “breakthrough” and evidence that “barriers are falling,” openly boasting about the complex logistics and “gray” schemes for supplying Russian wines to the US despite the current restrictions.
“Russian officials attempted to present San Francisco as proof that there is supposedly “no isolation” for “Putin’s wines.” Instead, this decision demonstrates the opposite: sanctions are working, and respected American institutions are not ready to become a showcase for the Kremlin at a time when Ukrainian cities are being bombed and Ukrainian vineyards are occupied or destroyed,” said Dmytro Kushneruk, Consul General of Ukraine in San Francisco.
In particular, it is specified that, according to open Russian sources, among the disqualified wineries were elite estates associated with the so-called “wine empire” of Vladimir Putin on the Black Sea.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine noted,that diplomats of the Consulate General of Ukraine in San Francisco, together with representatives of the Ukrainian community and partners from the Californian wine sector, drew the attention of the organizers of the competition to possible violations of sanctions and passed on the relevant information.
According to the results of the inspection, the organizers of the SFIWC concluded that Russian wines were mistakenly accepted to participate in the 2025 competition and are not eligible be evaluated due to US sanctions. The participation of Russian wineries was officially rejected, and their samples will not be subject to tasting.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasized that Russia’s attempts to use the competition as evidence of “lack of isolation” have failed.
“Instead, this decision demonstrates the opposite: sanctions are working, and respected American institutions are not ready to become a showcase for the Kremlin at a time when Ukrainian cities are being bombed and Ukrainian vineyards are occupied or destroyed,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasized.
In turn, the Ambassador of Ukraine to the US, Olga Stefanishyna, expressed gratitude to diplomats and partners for their principled position.
“We thank the Consulate General of Ukraine in San Francisco, headed by Consul General Dmytro Kushneruk, American partners and the Ukrainian community for drawing the organizers’ attention to potential violations of sanctions,” she noted.
Photo: media.napavintners.com
Author: Inna Mikhno