Eleonora Supereka was the Ukrainian candidate for the European Wine Professionals Judging Competition at SIA 2026, she is the winner and wins second place between two German finalists, formidable candidates in these tests of judgment of French wines within the International Agricultural Exhibition of Paris 2026.
Let Leonora express her feelings on the participation in the European analysis competition of about ten samples of French wines.
Awards ceremony for the Young European Wine Growing Competition (CJPV), Young European Animal Judging Competition (CJAJ) coming from 27 European countries. Photo credit : Cheick Saïdou, MAASA
Winning second place at the Concours des Jeunes Professionnels du Vin during the 2026 Salon International de l’Agriculture in Paris showcases one of the brightest moments of my career so far. Representing Ukraine, it is, without a doubt, an absolute source of pride, and the achievement itself both highlights Ukraine’s international presence and reflects my devotion to wine science and the wine business.
The competition gathered young professionals to assess both theoretical and practical skills, making recognition among such talented peers especially meaningful. Moreover, this accomplishment is particularly significant in the context of my current studies in Food Technology and Engineering specialising in Biotechnology of Fermentation and Winemaking Products. And of course, for someone from the world of wine, international exposure has widened my perspective: a year at Hochschule Geisenheim University in Germany deepened my scientific background, harvesting in Turkey gave me practical vineyard and winemaking experience, and working in a specialised wine shop in Kyiv confirmed my belief that knowledge completes itself in transmission. Alongside this, I have devoted many hours to independent study.
View of the Eiffel Tower from the CJPV room at the SIA, Porte de Versailles Exhibition Center, Paris
Experiencing this event in Paris, a global center of history, culture, and creativity, made this journey especially memorable. The city is incroyable, and visiting it has been one of my long-standing dreams.
It was really refreshing to see how the Salon encouraged multinational dialogue by bringing together professionals from many countries to exchange expertise and perspectives while honoring the past and creating a future. Collaboration between France and Ukraine is particularly important, as agriculture and wine connect cultures and demonstrate how partnership, respect, and support shape the industry and sustain synergy between countries, and it is particularly valuable to nurture these connections during difficult times.
Eleonora with her professor of oenology, PhD. Maryna Bilko, at the University of Pyiv – National University of Food Technologies
My sincere gratitude extends to the entire team of the Concours des Jeunes Professionnels du Vin, the organisers behind the Salon International de l’Agriculture, the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty of France, and all the institutions and partners whose encouragement strengthens dialogue and connection across the agricultural and wine sectors. I am also deeply thankful for the resolute support of my professors, mentors, and family, who have made every step of this path possible.
This experience inspires me to deepen my understanding of wine science and to contribute to the international wine community through research, collaboration, and advocacy in the years ahead. 🇺🇦❤️🇫🇷
Congratulations to Eleonora !
Contact: Julien Amouret, animator of the Ukraine network of French agricultural education, julien.amouret@educagri.fr
Paul Ménard and Vincent Vanberkel, coordinators of the European youth competitions, paul.menard@educagri.fr, vincent.vanberkel@educagri.fr
