The 2024 Golden Vines® Awards
Every year The Golden Vines® bring together the most prominent figures in the worlds of fine wine and rare spirits to participate in our unique process to ascertain which producers and industry leaders have it in them to be counted ‘the best of the best’ by their peers. The results form the Golden Vines® Report, a comprehensive survey of the fine wine world in the given year, with categories dedicated to the pre-eminent producers in their field, as well as micro and macro trends shaping the global market. Ours is the only survey voted for by professionals, and their depth of experience and good taste speaks volumes when it comes to discerning quality. With an array of categories celebrating individual achievements, pioneering projects, and iconic estates, this year's awards will once again highlight the vibrancy and innovation that define the fine wine and spirits industry.
The selection process is a rigorous one, with entrants vetted and cross-referenced by Deloitte to ensure standards are met and adhered to. Winners are selected based on meticulous and exacting criteria, and represent how truly international, rich and varied the fine wine market is. Mostly importantly, they all embody the ethos at the very heart of everything The Golden Vines® Awards represents. In a crowded field marked by exceptional quality, they are ‘the best of the best’.
As the 2024 Awards approach, we are looking back on some of our previous winners who will be setting the benchmark for a new crop of winemakers come this coming weekend.
The 2023 Golden Vines® Trophy
The Golden Vines® Best Fine Wine Producer in Europe Award
European winemaking is a rich and storied tradition and with so many diverse countries, all with outstanding legacies, vying for the top spot, this is always a particularly hard fought category. With rich terroir and diverse climates, and fantastic new producers emerging to rival the old guard, it’s also a deeply varied field when it comes to the wines on offer.
In 2023 the Award was deservedly won by the indomitable Egon Müller, whose prized Rieslings have long marked them as true leaders in their field. As Clement Robert MS observed: “There is Riesling and there is Egon’s Riesling. Very much like the most renowned estates of Burgundy and Piedmont, Egon Muller crafts Europe's most exceptional wines exclusively from a single varietal. These wines boast a spectrum of residual sugar, imparting sweetness ranging from Qualitätswein mit bestimmter Prädikat (QBQ) to Trockenbeerenauslese (TBA). However, what sets them apart is the exquisite balance and purity, achieved through an exceptionally high level of acidity which also allows the wines to age and improve for decades and decades.”
The Golden Vines® World’s Best Fine Wine Producer
One of the very highest accolades in the evening’s lineup given it takes into account excellence on a global scale, this is an Award that is emblematic of standing out from the crowd when it comes to consistency. Even in the relatively rarefied world of the most prestigious fine international wines, these producers are in a class of their own. In 2023 the Award went to Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, reaffirming its universally recognised status as a paragon of viticulture. Known for producing some of the world’s most coveted wines, Domaine de la Romanée-Conti has long been revered for its uncompromising quality and heritage. They’re in excellent company. Previous winners of this award include Château Margaux in 2023 and Harlan Estate in 2022, both of which continue to set global benchmarks for excellence.
The 2023 Golden Vines® Award Winners
The Golden Vines® Best Fine Wine Producer in the Americas Award
The Golden Vines® Best Fine Wine Producer in the Americas Award is a tribute to the artistry, passion, and innovation that define the finest winemaking on the continent. As the Americas continue to emerge as a powerhouse in the global wine industry, this prestigious title highlights producers whose exceptional wines stand as a benchmark of quality and excellence. From the sun-kissed vineyards of California to the high-altitude terroirs of Argentina, the award recognizes producers that not only craft wines of unparalleled distinction but have also shaped the direction and future of winemaking in the New World, capturing the essence of its diverse landscapes and cultures.
The 2023 Award went to the fantastic Ridge Vineyards, whose Monte Bello has long been acknowledged as one of the greatest wines made outside Europe – and as one of the great wines of the world, ever since it showed so well in the 1976 “Judgement of Paris” tasting. Since then they’ve gone from strength to strength, showing what it takes to maintain the highest of standards over time.
The Golden Vines® Best Fine Wine Producer in the Rest of the World Award
This category takes into account wines from the Australasian New World and beyond, and shines a spotlight on the extraordinary winemakers who are redefining excellence outside the traditional strongholds of Europe and the Americas. With so much emerging talent, this is always an exciting category, and we’re excited to see who 2024 will deem worthy to follow in the footsteps of 2023 winners Penfolds.
The story of Australian wine goes back centuries, but the country was put on the proverbial map by Max Schubert in 1952 when he launched Penfolds. A visionary winemaker who saw the potential of Australia, he has played a huge part in putting the country on the map, producing bottles that consistently rank alongside the world’s very best. Ever since they’ve continued to lead the way, and it will certainly be thrilling to see which producers rise to challenge them this year.
The Golden Vines® World's Best Rising Star Award
Sometimes the best and most exciting wines come from the emerging superstars of the industry, and this award recognises the up-and-comers who are swiftly and decisively making their mark. These are the new trailblazers to watch.
The 2023 Golden Vines World’s Best Rising Star Award was previously awarded to the South African Sadie Family Wines. In any other business 23 years in business is a very long time but in the realm of fine wines, The Sadie Family Wines Estate is a rising star. Their wines have swiftly become cult favourites among the wine cognoscenti, and continue to reach new heights each year. They are a winery that has captivated global audiences with their unique expression of place, pushing the boundaries of fine winemaking and contributing to the rich tapestry of the world's wine culture.
The Golden Vines® Innovation Award
The Golden Vines® Innovation Award celebrates the trailblazers who are revolutionising the wine industry through creativity, technology, and visionary practices. This prestigious accolade honours individuals, wineries, or organisations that are pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in winemaking, viticulture, or wine marketing, setting new standards for excellence. Whether through groundbreaking techniques in the vineyard, innovative approaches to sustainability, or novel ways of engaging with wine enthusiasts, the award recognizes those who are not just following trends but creating them, shaping the future of wine in bold and inspiring ways.
In 2023 it was won by UC Davis Department of Viticulture & Enology, a global leader in the world of fine wine education. Operating for over 135 years, the dedication of its faculty, the cutting-edge research conducted, and the comprehensive curriculum offered have collectively contributed to producing a cadre of skilled professionals and advancing the art and science of winemaking. It stands as a beacon of knowledge, innovation, and expertise, earning well-deserved praise for its profound impact on the viticulture and enology landscape, and its influence not only continues to grow, but can be seen in the incredible hospitality professionals who have passed through its door.
With so many challenges facing production, it's both thrilling and heartening to see the companies leading the charge for a new and better future in the industry.
Jancis Robinson OBE MW
The Golden Vines® Hall of Fame Award
The Golden Vines® Hall of Fame Award goes to those who have made an indelible impact on the industry. These are figures of huge significance and extraordinary legacy who need little by way of an introduction. They are tastemakers, trailblazers, teachers and innovators, who have made an undisputed impact on the business. 2023’s winner Jancis Robinson OBE MW embodies this like no other. One of the greatest wine writers ever to have lived, she is the author of numerous articles and best-selling books on the subject. To this day she is the only wine writer elevated to the James Beard Cookbook Hall of Fame. It’s safe to say what Jancis doesn’t know about wine isn’t worth knowing, and she’s spent a decades long career working tirelessly, not only to promote great wine, but to make it more accessible. In 1984 she was the first person outside the wine trade to pass the rigorous Master of Wine exams, and her tenacity has seen her rise to become one of the most respected people in the industry. Very much a living legend.
With the 2024 winner to be announced in October, we’re excited to see who will stand alongside her in the Golden Vines Hall of Fame.
The Golden Vines® Sustainability Award
An industry cannot move forward without modernisation, and it is always an honour to be able to celebrate a positive story at a time when the wine industry faces so many challenges, be they legislative, economic, or environmental. Wine is inherently connected to and dependent on the subtleties of the land, and the increasing threat of climate change remains a top priority, so it is no surprise to learn that wineries across the world are actively engaged in addressing this issue. There is so much important and innovative work being done in this field, and the measures being taken today and all driving to create a positive change for the many tomorrows to come, while still maintaining the same high standards needed to produce some of the world’s very best wine.
Our 2023 winner, Emidio Pepe, is a family winery established in 1964 and from day one was run with an unwavering commitment to making fine wine whilst preserving nature and respecting traditional farming and winemaking practices. This was at a time when sustainability was unheard of, and the world was rapidly evolving towards the use of herbicides, pesticides and fertilisers to help boost yields and manage quality. Combining modernity with tradition, their ongoing collaboration with world renowned agronomist Adriano Zago has seen a transition to a biodynamic viticulture, without any compromise on quality. Sustainability is a fundamental part of their DNA. Their achievements also highlight that even the smallest of wineries can compete with larger corporations when it comes to making great wine whilst respecting nature and the community, and by doing so have amassed an enviable track record of success over a long period of time.
There is so much incredible work being done to improve sustainability, from harvest all the way through to bottling. Wineries should look to the winners of this category as an inspiration for the often relatively small steps that can be taken to help set the natural world in order.
The winners of The 2024 Golden Vines® will be announced in Madrid, Spain on 25-27th October. We very much hope you’ll join us for a weekend celebrating these myriad success stories, and raising a glass to some very worthy winners at what promises to be a very special event.