Liquid Icons, founded by the late, great Gerard Basset OBE MW MS and Lewis Chester DipWSET, has announced the launch of The Golden Vines Awards, which will raise funds for, and promote, diversity and inclusion in the industry.
The diversity scholarships are being funded in hopes of making a difference to the world by enabling black and ethnic minority students to study for the prestigious qualification.
The Golden Vines Awards event, which is not-for-profit, will recognise the “star performers of the fine wine industry”, according to a press release. It will also raise funds for The Gerard Basset Wine Education Charitable Foundation with the goal of funding diversity and inclusion-related wine education programmes, including the headline Golden Vines Diversity Scholarship, Internship & Mentorship Programmes. Funds will be raised via a ‘Fine Wine & Experience Auction’, which boasts lots provided by some of the finest wine estates in the world.
The Golden Vines Diversity Scholarship, Internship & Mentorship Programme will provide scholarships for two aspiring black and ethnic minority students who wish to undergo the highly prestigious Masters of Wine (MW) and Master Sommelier (MS) programmes. The scholarships have a value of up to £55,000 per scholar and will cover all of their course and examination costs, as well as any loss of earnings during work placement internships.
“The Internship programme includes a set of diversified work experiences with some of the world’s top wine domaines including, but not limited to,Château Cheval Blanc, Château d’Yquem, Château Smith Haut Lafitte, Colgin Cellars, Dom Pérignon, Domaine Baron Thenard, Domaine des Lambrays, Domaine Laroche, Heitz Wine Cellars, Liber Pater, Opus One, Ruinart, and Weingut Egon Müller, among others, as well as academic courses at UC Davis Department of Enology & Viticulture, the Kedge Wine School, and the OIV”, according to a press release.
The application window for those interested in the scholarships opens on 8 March. Applications can be made online at liquidicons.com.
Information provided by Liquid Icons and The Gerard Basset Wine Education Charitable Foundation.
