Welcoming Wiesbaden with a taste of Ukrainian wines and a hearty business collaboration

In the heart of Germany, the 48th Rheingau Wine Week is currently underway, and a unique partnership stand is drawing attention. This stand, run by volunteers, is showcasing wines from Kamjanez-Podilskyj, Ukraine – a city with whom Wiesbaden, Germany has been partnered for two years as a sign of solidarity following the Russian attack on Ukraine.

Kamjanez-Podilskyj is also presenting its young wine culture at this year's event. The wines offered at the stand tell a story of landscapes, people, and traditions in Ukraine. From the sun-kissed vineyards of Odessa to the cooler climates of the Carpathians and the Black Sea, each sip is a piece of friendship in a glass.

The selection at the stand offers a little wine journey through Ukraine, including a sparkling white Sekt from the Odessa region, a Rosé Sekt from the Carpathians, white wines from the Black Sea region, a Rosé from Cabernet Sauvignon, and a deep dark Petit Boucher. These wines, rarely available in Germany, are a testament to the unique climatic conditions in Ukraine, which give the wines a distinctive signature, as many of the grape varieties do not grow in Germany.

Conversely, the grape varieties native to the Rheingau would not thrive in and around Odessa. Yet, the partnership stand is a place of encounter, offering guests not only wine but also a piece of lived solidarity.

Money raised by the partnership wine stand is used for aid deliveries with food, medicine, and generators, support for destroyed schools and kindergartens, and cultural and sporting encounters in Kamjanez-Podilsky. The stand is staffed by around 125 volunteers, who provide service hours totaling over 125 hours.

The event also includes a lottery and charity stand, and an exclusive wine glass souvenir. For those cycling to the event, amenities such as guarded bicycle lockers are provided, along with medical service and many toilets.

The Rheingau Wine Week Guide and the website can be found at www.wiesbaden.de. Interestingly, in 2026, the French town of Fondettes will operate the partnership wine stand. Fondettes is located in the department of Indre-et-Loire in the picturesque region of Centre-Val de Loire.

As the Rheingau Wine Week continues, the partnership wine stand serves as a reminder of the shared bond between Wiesbaden and Kamjanez-Podilsky, a bond strengthened by the universal language of wine.

Welcoming Wiesbaden with a taste of Ukrainian wines and a hearty business collaboration