SATURDAY, 8 NOVEMBER 2025, MIAMI | A sensational gathering of celebrities, global epicureans and leading lights from the world’s most prestigious wine, spirits and luxury houses took place at the striking Faena Forum for The 2025 Golden Vines Awards Gala in Miami.
Marking the central moment of The 2025 Golden Vines Weekend Celebration from 7-9 November, tonight the “Oscars-style” The 2025 Golden Vines Awards Gala hosted by David Ajala celebrated the finest achievements in the wine and spirits industries.
The Champagne reception on the night featured Dom Pérignon P2 Vintage 2008 (the first showing of this wine before its global release next year) and a show-stopping breakdance performance.
Guests including personalities such as Raúl De Molina, Charlotte Carroll and Diego Bivaro-Volpe were then treated to an exquisite five-course culinary experience curated by three-Michelin-starred chef Kyle Connaughton from SingleThread Farm including Kanpachi Zushi, Citrus Rice, Kohlrabi; Flounder, Habanada Sanbaizu, Myoga; Duck Liver Parfait Salanova, Apple, and Pistachio; Lightly Smoked Black Cod with Roasted Caraflex Cabbage, Cabbage Cream, and Grilled Bone Glaze, Black Cod Mousseline Stuffed Savoy; Wagyu Ribeye, Caramelized Mugi, Vidalia Onion and Bone Marrow Custard. Each course was paired with Château d’Yquem, Château Lafite Rothschild 1989 served in Imperial (6L), Colgin IX Estate (en Magnum), II Marroneto Madonna delle Grazie Riserva 2013 (en Magnum), and Egon Müller Auslese. Musical entertainment included a performance by rising British-American artist Aiyana-Lee.
This year’s The Golden Vines Award winners included The Golden Vines Grant Macdonald Best Fine Wine Producer in Europe Award awarded to Weingut Egon Müller of Germany; The Golden Vines Akerman Best Fine Wine Producer in the Americas Award awarded to Harlan Estate of California; The Golden Vines Maison Mura Best Fine Wine Producer in the Rest of the World Award (Australasia, Africa, Asia & Middle East) awarded to Henschke of Australia; The Golden Vines Robb Report Golden Vines World’s Best Fine Wine Producer awarded to Vega Sicilia of Spain; The Golden Vines Slate Aviation World’s Best Rising Star awarded to Mullineux & Leeu Family Wines of South Africa; The Golden Vines Amorim Cork Innovation awarded to Rosa Kruger of The Old Vine Project, South Africa; The Golden Vines Gérard Basset Foundation Hall of Fame awarded to Jean Trimbach of France; The Golden Vines Frédéric Panaïotis Sustainability Award awarded to Corison Winery of California: and The Golden Vines Bacchus World’s Best Rare Spirit Brand awarded to The Macallan, Scotland.
Each winner received a trophy designed by the innovative American artist Jen Stark, designed under the guidance of Trophy Creative Director Shantell Martin. Inspired by the precision of both artistry and winemaking, the trophy was gifted in a custom-crafted trunk.
And finally, the Golden Vines® Baton was officially passed by Mayor of the City of Miami Francis Suarez to Lewis Chester, Co-Founder of The Golden Vines symbolising the handover from Miami as The 2025 Golden Vines host city to London, UK for The 2026 Golden Vines Celebration in Autumn of next year.
On Friday 7 November, a charity gala at the Alfred I. DuPont Building was hosted by Emmy Award-winning US TV journalist Lisa Petrillo and featured the announcement of the two Barca-Velha Golden Vines Scholarship recipients – Sera Svitlana Karamshuk (London) and Leila Tehrani-Killoran (France) – American former basketball champion and co-founder of VII(N) The Seventh Estate wine Carmelo Anthony received The Golden Vines Entrepreneur Award.
About The Golden Vines®:
The Golden Vines annual activity includes (1) Education & Inclusion Scholarships curated on behalf of the Gérard Basset Foundation; (2) a three-day experience for luxury oenophiles and epicureans within a city renowned for their food and drink culture. Previous years’ experiences held in London, Florence and Paris. In Madrid and 2025 in Miami; (3) live and global online auctions in benefit of the Gérard Basset Foundation; (4) pioneering annual awards for the ‘best of the best’ producers and protagonists in the world of fine wine and rare spirits, informed by the most extensive and in-depth industry research ever conducted. @goldenvinesawards
About Liquid Icons:
Liquid Icons is a fine wine research and content production company founded by two friends – the late, great Gérard Basset OBE MW MS and Lewis Chester DipWSET – alongside Alexander A. (Sasha) Lushnikov to “do stuff in wine”. Liquid Icons creates first-class original content and industry research about the world’s greatest fine wines and rare spirits. The company’s work encompasses motion picture, industry research, recognition and celebration of fine wine and rare spirits excellence, charitable and fundraising activities, as well as educational initiatives. liquidicons.com
About the Gérard Basset Foundation:
Set up to honour the legacy and memory of Gérard Basset OBE MW MS by addressing the wine industry’s most pressing issues through education, training & mentorship, the Gérard Basset Foundation comprises a multidisciplinary team of industry-leading professionals as its Trustees: Nina Basset FIH, Romané Basset, Lewis Chester DipWSET, Ian Harris MBE DipWSET, Sasha Lushnikov, and Jancis Robinson OBE MW. The Foundation champions inclusivity and diversity within the world of fine wines and spirits and empowers those from underrepresented backgrounds to achieve their full potential through scholarships, mentoring and training. gérardbassetfoundation.org
