Russian Oligarch wines still on sale in the UK

Late last week Dmitry Pumpyansky owner of the Jura wine estate Domain Ganevat was sanctioned by the EU. Dmitry Pumpyansky purchased the winery on the 1st September 2021 from the famous Jean-Francois Ganevat. He also owns Domaine Prieuré Saint-Jean de Bébian.

Pressure grows on Farr Vintners to stop importing Château Thenac owned by oligarch Eugene Shvidler. This week the Guardian Newspaper called for Mr Shvidler to be sanctioned for his links with Russia. Mr Shvidler was named in the UK government's sanctioning of his business partner Roman Abramovich. A BBC Panorama programme looked into the alleged corrupt deal that was done by the sanctioned Roman Abramovich to acquire Sibneft (the Russian oil giant) which was a key source of Roman Abramovich's and Eugine Shvidler’s wealth.

Meanwhile after a strong denunciation of the war and the Putin regime by Château La Favière by owners Natalia and Stanislav Zingerenko, Majestic have said that they are comfortable to continue selling Château La Favière. Jack Merrylees from Majestic commented For our own part, we are confident in Stan's statement and actions.

A strong statement from Natalia and Stanislav Zingerenko of Château La Favière:

We, Natalia and Stan Zingerenko, being of Russian origin, moved to France in 2010 in order to change our life and to make a wine of our dreams like many other foreigners presented in the region, including UK nationals. Stan’s previous job was in Sterh Corporation, one of the biggest logistics service providers at that time based in Saint-Petersburg, who’s main clients were companies like Renault-Nissan, Toyota, Hyundai, Wrigley, Philipp Morris and other western companies who had their own factories in Saint-Petersburg and needed a local logistics provider for the “last-mile” service. Before 2009 Natalia has been working as a PR director for one of the Saint-Petersburg based company specialized in the distribution of electric appliances for the homes. Not before 2010, nor after, we’ve never been involved in any Russian state owned or affiliated companies and activities.
By moving to Bordeaux, we’ve stopped completely any other business activity we had before, and the winemaking in our own estate Château La Favière has become our only source of income since long time. We are French residents (fiscal as well) since 2011, both our kids were born in France, grew up in vineyards, are going to French school and even can’t write in Russian. We are implemented since long time in the social and ordinary life of our village Saint-Seurin-Sur-L’Isle, which you can easily google.
The 24th of February, the day when Putin started the invasion of Ukraine, is a dark day and a nightmare not only for us personally but for both Ukraine and Russia. It is our personal pain and our personal tragedy which we live with a lot of difficulty, as both of us have a part of family and friends in both Russian and Ukraine. We’ve firmly condemned and are condemning Russian Government and Putin’s regime for the criminal act they’ve done by starting a direct military aggression of the independent country Ukraine. We are manifesting every weekend in Bordeaux against the war together with Ukrainians and other Russians who live in the region. Moreover, we are giving a roof this week to two Ukrainian families who are heading Bordeaux after being escaped from war through Hungarian border. We’ve made our position public by giving interviews to the French media which were contacting us after the war began (please see a link below to one of such interviews). And by giving these interviews and by clarifying our position on that matter, we’ve closed ourselves a way even to visit Russia as we can be imprisoned there for 15 years in accordance with a new law which was adopted at the same time when the invasion has begun.
We would like also to underline with sadness that Russians nowadays are considered as aggressors and are affiliated with Putin’s regime, doesn’t matter their real origin, residence, or point of view. Please, understand that Putin and his regime are not Russia, they are just a group of criminals who like Stalin in the past has subjugated Russian people by years of fear, violence and intimidation. The only power who can make this giant on feet of clay to fall is a Russian people itself, who is continuing to fight the regime despite all repressions the regime is imposing since last years. Now, by invasion of Ukraine, Putin has crossed a redline and declared a war not only to Ukraine but to his own people as well, which gives us a hope that days of regime are numbered.

Statement from Chateau Thénac:

“Firstly, on behalf of Mr. Shvidler and all of us at Chateau Thénac, we are hoping and praying for peace and an end to the senseless violence in Ukraine. Like the rest of us in Europe we wish for an immediate end to the war.
Since Mr. Shvidler purchased Chateau Thénac in 2001, he has taken exceptional care of the property and those who work here. Chateau Thénac employs a number of personnel, almost all of whom are French, to ensure that the vineyard, farm and animal enterprises are all well cared for. Mr. Shvidler spends time regularly at Chateau Thénac and has a positive role in the local economy about which he cares.
Contrary to perception Mr. Shvidler is not, and has never been, a citizen of the Russian Federation. He is not a Russian passport holder.
Born in the U.S.S.R, a country that ceased to exist in 1992, Mr. Shvidler left as a stateless refugee. He became a US citizen in 1994. In addition to his US citizenship, Mr. Shvidler is a UK citizen.
Mr Shvidler is not a public person and has no party to the current events. Suggesting otherwise simply based on his country of birth is very wrong.
We all sincerely hope that the war unfolding in Ukraine is able to be brought to an immediate end.“