Ukrainian producers won 73 medals at the 2026 Decanter World Wine Awards, one of the largest international competitions in the wine industry.
This result confirms the growing international recognition of Ukrainian winemaking, even amid the war, infrastructure destruction, logistical challenges, and a decline in domestic demand.
This year, Decanter evaluated nearly 17,000 entries from 58 countries. The jury consisted of 245 experts, including 63 Masters of Wine and 24 Master Sommeliers. The evaluation was conducted blind.
The highest-scoring Ukrainian wines in 2026 achieved 94 points. This score was awarded to Chateau Chizay Late Harvest Furmint 2022 and Shabo Grande Cuvée Extra Brut 2015. In the Decanter system, 90–94 points correspond to a silver medal, 95–96 to a gold medal, and 97 and above to a Platinum medal.
Other highly rated Ukrainian wines include Shabo Grande Reserve Cabernet Franc–Merlot–Saperavi 2023 and Beykush Amphora Rkatsiteli 2024, which each received 93 points. Odesos Winery Limited Edition Cabernet Sauvignon–Odesa Black–Merlot 2023, Shabo Grande Reserve Pinot Noir 2024, and Gigi Winery Qvevri 2024 each received 92 points.
Shabo emerged as one of the leaders in the Ukrainian rankings. According to the specialized Ukrainian wine resource UWines, seven of the producer’s wines received scores ranging from 87 to 94 points. Among them were the sparkling Grande Cuvée Extra Brut 2015, the red blend Grande Reserve Cabernet Franc–Merlot–Saperavi 2023, and the Grande Reserve Pinot Noir 2024.
Beykush Winery also posted strong results. The winery received high marks for its Amphora Rkatsiteli 2024, Telti-Kuruk 2025, Artania 2024, Pinotage 2025, and Arbina Rkatsiteli 2023.
Chateau Chizay from Zakarpattia stands out in particular. Its Late Harvest Furmint 2022 received 94 points and became one of the two highest-rated Ukrainian wines of the year. The Founder’s Reserve Furmint 2023 and Troyanda Karpat 2021 were also recognized.
The results show that Ukrainian winemaking is becoming more diverse in terms of styles and regions. Among the award winners are producers from Bessarabia, the Odesa region, Transcarpathia, Podolia, Galicia, and other regions.
The Odesa Black grape variety remains one of Ukraine’s most consistent categories. Among the recognized wines are Vinoman Odesa Black 2023, Leleka Wines Odesa Black 2023, Terra Bessarabia Odesa Black 2025, Bolgrad Select Collection Odesa Black 2025, Villa Tinta Odesa Black 2021, and other examples.
Orange wines have also emerged as a strong category. At Decanter, the following were recognized: Beykush Amphora Rkatsiteli 2024, Chateau Pinot Pinot Blanc Orange 2022, Shabo Limited Edition Rkatsiteli-Chardonnay 2022, 46 Parallel El Capitan Orange 2024, Zelenytsi Muscat Orange 2024, and Gigi Qvevri Orange 2024.
For Ukraine, the Decanter results are important not only as industry recognition but also as a tool for promoting the country in international markets. Even amid the war, wineries continue to export, participate in international exhibitions, and build a new reputation for Ukrainian products abroad.
However, the absence of Gold and Platinum medals in 2026 indicates that the Ukrainian industry still needs to improve quality consistency, international promotion, collaboration with export channels, and the recognition of local grape varieties.
