COUPS DE COEUR

No doubt, winemakers, sommeliers, and wine professionals are more diverse than ever before. In order to increase opportunity and support, organizations such as The Roots Fund, Black Wine Professionals, and BAME (Black, Asian and minority ethnic people) Wine Professionals have been established. Last year, at the California Unified Symposium, sessions on diversity and gender equality were made available for free. In 2021, Angela Elizabeth Scott from the USA and South Africa's Dr. Erna Blancquaert were recipients of the Golden Vines Diversity Scholarship, which included $85,000 in funds, a $8,500 travel bursary, and access to an internship and mentorship programme. This is the headline diversity scholarship awarded by the not-for-profit Golden Vines Awards organized by Liquid Icons and is awarded each year to two BAME/BIPOC candidates to pursue their studies on the Master of Wine or Master Sommelier programme. As the wine trade (like the rest of the world) faces serious challenges of climate change, evolving global markets and changing consumer expectations, we should encourage and welcome diversity in our trade in the same way as we do in vineyards and winemaking. I encourage everyone interested in wine whatever their age, gender, ethnic background to consider a career in this fantastic industry. Vive la différence!

for more information on the aforementioned organizations, visit: Therootsfund.org/our-mission Blackwineprofessionals.com/ Bamewineprofessionals.co.uk/ Liquidicons.com/work/the-taylors-port-golden-vines-diversityscholarships

THIS CELLAR'S HIGHEST SCORING WINES

VIGNOBLES BELLEFONTAINE PRESTIGE, ROUGE, AOP COSTIÈRES DE NÎMES 2020, LOT 3219, P26

EVERYDAY DRINKING

CAVEAU ET MILLAS, AOP COSTIÈRES DE NÎMES 2019, LOT 3267, P27

DOMAINE DU MURINAIS, VIEILLES VIGNES, AOP CROZES HERMITAGE, 2020, LOT 3248, P47

CELLARING POTENTIAL

CHRISTOPHE PICHON PÈRE & FILS, AOP SAINTJOSEPH, 2020, LOT 3255, P50