7 JULY 2021 | LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM – Bella Spurrier, the wife of the late wine industry legend Steven Spurrier, received The Oeno Golden Vines Honorary Award in honour of Steven Spurrier extraordinary achievements at an intimate event hosted by Liquid Icons and The Macallan at The Macallan Golden Vines Dinner.
The dinner took place at The Manor House in The Rosewood Hotel London on 6th July. Jane MacQuitty, Spurrier’s friend and The Times Wine Critic, presented the Golden Vines Trophy to Bella Spurrier, following a 3-minute video dedication on Steven’s life made by Angela Duerr of Napa-based Cultured Vine made especially for the dinner: https://liquidicons.com/stevenspurriertribute. Steven Spurrier, who famously organised the Judgment of Paris tasting in 1976, passed away from cancer in March 2021.
Jane MacQuitty praised Steven Spurrier’s achievements and legacy, stating: “Quite simply, Steven was one of the greatest wine men of his generation, just as his mentor and friend, Michael Broadbent, was before him. I am delighted to be able to give The Oeno Golden Vines Honorary Award to Steven’s widow, Bella Spurrier, without whom Steven’s many, many accomplishments would never have happened.”
Bella Spurrier commented: “I am delighted to accept The Oeno Golden Vines Honorary Award on behalf of my late husband, whose contribution to the world of fine wine, both through the Judgment of Paris tastings and his long, successful career, has touched so many who share his thirst for learning and love for this most treasured of god’s creations. Steven would have been very proud to receive this Award and of the work that the Gerard Basset Foundation is doing to promote diversity and inclusion in the wine world which is currently sorely lacking.”
Michael Doerr, CEO of Oeno added: “Oeno is delighted to be sponsoring this Award to wine legend Steven Spurrier, whose impact on the fine wine world is immeasurable. As a leading fine wine merchant, we walk in Steven’s shoes. We are also proud and honoured to be supporting The Golden Vines and the Gerard Basset Foundation in the work that they are doing to bring more diversity and inclusion to the world of wine.”
Lewis Chester DipWSET, the CEO of Liquid Icons, also announced the short-list for the winners of The Golden Vines Hall of Fame and The Golden Vines Innovation Awards, following voting by 442 fine wine professionals from 55 countries in The 2021 Gerard Basset Global Fine Wine Report, independently adjudicated by Deloitte.
The Golden Vines Hall of Fame Award – awarded to a living individual for extraordinary distinction in lifetime achievement, exceptional contributions to the production of fine wine, or for outstanding service to the world of fine wine – had 5 pre-listed nominees:
- Roberto Conterno of Giacomo Conterno (Italy)
- Paul Draper formerly of Ridge Vineyards (USA)
- Peter Gago of Penfolds (Australia)
- Richard Geoffroy formerly Chef de Cave at Dom Pérignon (France)
- Aubert de Villaine of Domaine de la Romanée Conti (France)
Aubert de Villaine and Paul Draper scored the highest number of nominations.
The Golden Vines Innovation Award also had 5 pre-listed nominees:
- Amorim Cork
- Coravin
- International Organisation of Vine & Wine (OIV)
- UC Davis Department of Viticulture & Enology
- Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET)
Coravin and Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) scored the highest number of nominations.
The winners of both The Golden Vines Hall of Fame and The Golden Vines Innovation Awards will be announced at The Golden Vines Awards Ceremony & Dinner at Annabel’s Private Members Club on 7th October 2021.
The not-for-profit Golden Vines Awards event will recognise the ‘star performers of the fine wine industry’ and raise funds for The Gerard Basset Wine Education Charitable Foundation with the aim of funding diversity and inclusion-related wine education programmes, including the headline Taylor’s Port Golden Vines Diversity Scholarships, worth £55,000 each for two BAME/BIPOC students studying for the Master of Wine or Master Sommelier programmes.
About Liquid Icons:
Liquid Icons is a fine wine research and content production company founded by two friends to “do stuff in wine” – the late, great Gerard Basset OBE MW MS and Lewis Chester DipWSET. We create first-class original content and research about the world’s greatest fine wines and spirits. Our work encompasses motion picture, industry research, recognition and celebration of wine and spirits excellence, charitable and fundraising activities, as well as educational initiatives.
About The Gerard Basset Wine Education Charitable Foundation:
Set up to honour the legacy and memory of Gerard Basset OBE MW MS by addressing the wine industry’s most pressing issues through education, training & mentorship, the Gerard Basset Wine Education Charitable Foundation comprises a multidisciplinary team of industry-leading professionals as its Trustees: Nina Basset FIH, Romané Basset, Lewis Chester DipWSET, Ian Harris MBE DipWSET, and Jancis Robinson OBE MW.
