Unveiling the Latest World Class Talent Lighting Up The 2024 Golden Vines®
The Golden Vines® are known for promoting world class talent, and our 2024 Awards are no exception. Each year we strive to go bigger and better, constantly one-upping ourselves in our mission to match the same standard of excellence set by our incredible winners, guests and patrons.
Our previous ceremonies and galas have played host to some truly show stopping and instantly recognisable figures in the worlds of food and entertainment. Mauro Colagreco of the hugely acclaimed Mirazur manned the kitchens for our inaugural year, and then Massimo Bottura, Davide Oldani and Matteo Lorenzini delivered equally dazzling Italian-inspired menus in Florence in 2022. Then in 2023, we hosted the incredible Alain Ducasse, a true titan of the industry, and the bold, innovative chef Akrame Benallal, both sharing a veritable galaxy of stars between them, and both representing something unique about the French culinary scene.
Each year, we pay homage to our host city. Madrid is home to a phenomenal number of incredible chefs, and food is as much a part of the city as the streets themselves. It’s a place that sets its rhythms by the restaurants and bars and produce, with the tradition of excellent eating the true beating heart of the culture. We needed a chef that could do justice to this heritage. Step forward two Michelin starred Mario Sandoval of the indomitable Restaurante Coque will be curating the menu for our spectacular opening Gala on Friday 25th October. Sandoval is the third generation to run the restaurant, and fell in love with cooking at just 10 years old, and to this day the restaurant remains a family affair, with Sandoval cooking alongside his father and brothers. Their dedication to marrying tradition and innovation places them at the forefront of Spain's vibrant culinary vanguard.
A spectacular Gala requires a spectacular backdrop, and none is more suitable than the breath-taking Real Casa de Correos, where our guests will celebrate in the office of the President of the Community of Madrid.
As if that wasn’t enough, Saturday sees guests enjoy a dining experience curated by the culinary geniuses the Roca brothers Joan, Josep and Jordi, the siblings behind Catalonia's three Michelin-starred El Cellar de Can Roca within the renowned Palacio de Cibeles. Like Sandoval, the Roca brothers’ passion for cooking is in their blood. Their shared love of cooking was initially kindled in Can Roca, the establishment their parents managed in Taialà, a neighbourhood lying on the outskirts of Girona. It’s there they grew up, amid the hubbub of dishes, pots and pans and clients. The bar was their living room, their playground, where they did their homework, and watched television, all soundtracked by the buzz of the restaurant around them. Since these early days, the brothers have grown to be one of the most formidable forces in global cuisine. According to the brothers their success is down to the balance struck in a metaphorical "three-player game", with Joan in charge of the savoury dishes, Josep as the sommelier and Jordi on dessert duty. These combined talents come together to create something extraordinary, and El Celler de Can Roca is now one of the most garlanded restaurants in the world. We’re honoured and excited to have them join us for what promises to be an unforgettable evening and a dinner that’s a feast for the eyes and the senses.
The Golden Vines® delivery of world-class entertainment is something our guests have come to expect, with internationally recognised superstars and hot new up-and-coming acts having graced the stage in previous years. This year certainly won’t disappoint as the impressively diverse superstar-in-waiting Victor Ray headlines our Awards Gala on Saturday 26th October. Born in Uganda and raised in Newcastle, 23 year old singer, songwriter Victor initially began his musical career busking on the streets of London. Though a modest beginning, it gave Victor the time to craft his trademark sound and slowly he began to build a dedicated online fanbase, and soon found himself one of the buzziest and most talked about new artists on the scene. This year will see Victor release his first solo material and set himself on track for what promises to be a stellar career. Golden Vines® guests will have the thrill of being able to say they saw him first when he’s inevitably collecting future awards and accolades.