In early February we shared the news that the Old Vine Conference was launching the inaugural Old Vine Hero Award. The nominations have flooded in – 85 entries representing people from 15 countries and in roles encompassing a broad spectrum of the wine industry, from winemaking and viticulture, research and academia, to business management and marketing.
As one of the 16 judges (see the full list below), I had the privilege of reading stories which were not just interesting but genuinely moving and inspiring. It is remarkable how many people around the world are pouring energy, passion, finances and time into finding, protecting and reviving old vineyards, not simply for the romance of preserving history and culture, but because they understand and believe that these old vines hold some of the keys to the future of wine.
True to the definition of a hero, the investment and commitment of those nominated goes way beyond any kind of material reward – in fact, some people are doing this at great personal cost. But what matters is that all these people are doing what is within their reach. They're not sitting back with a shrug, saying, 'My contribution looks like a drop in the ocean, so what's the point?' As a result, the collective impact is beginning to reverberate around the world, and this is a chance for each one of us to be a part of it.
Although every single person nominated is a hero, and I wish they could all be awarded, there is now a shortlist of eight nominees, many of them already well known to us thanks to our team's championing of old vines and our 2021 wine-writing compeition. You can find the shortlist and a brief story about each nominee here and you can vote via this link. The deadline is midnight GMT Monday 13 March and the winners will be announced at the Old Vine Conference Community Dinner in London on the evening of Wednesday 15 March.
Panel of judges
The Old Vine Conference Global team – Sarah Abbott MW, Alun Griffiths MW, Leo Austin, Belinda Stone
The Old Vine Conference Regional Ambassadors – Jane Anson, Louise Hurren, Umay Çeviker, Lilla O'Connor, Michèle Shah, Amanda Barnes, Anna Harris-Noble, Yiannis Karakasis MW, André Morgenthal
Independent specialists – Tamlyn Currin (JancisRobinson.com), Dan Saladino (author and journalist), David Kermode (presenter and journalist)
