May 6, 2026 — As of today, the Gérard Basset Foundation is delighted to announce that applications are now open for the 2026 Barca-Velha Golden Vines® MW Scholarships.
The Barca-Velha Golden Vines® MW Scholarships offer each winner an unparalleled opportunity to support their Master of Wine (MW) studies, alongside creating a bespoke internship programme for themselves with the support of a panel of mentors, enabling them to learn from some of the world’s greatest fine wine and rare spirit estates. Each Scholar will receive £35,000 in funding to be divided across MW-related costs and an individual internship programme. Very excitingly, the scholars will also be invited to undertake a unique SOGRAPE experience, during which they will visit SOGRAPE’s wineries and vineyards, in Portugal, to learn in-person from SOGRAPE’s world-leading team and globally renowned estates. The scholars will also be assigned a mentor from the judging panel, who will guide them through their MW studies and to whom they may turn for advice and questions.
Winners will be selected by a judging panel of the following six industry leaders:
- Richard Bampfield MW
- Nina Basset FIH, Gérard Basset Foundation
- António Graca, Head of Research & Development, SOGRAPE
- Joana Pais, Head of Prestige Brands, SOGRAPE
- Jancis Robinson OBE MW, www.jancisrobinson.com, Financial Times
- Neil Tully MW, The Institute of Masters of Wine
Last October, the winners of the 2025 Barca-Velha Golden Vines® MW Scholarships were announced, Sera Svitlana Karamshuk, born in Ukraine and now based in the UK, and Leila Killoran, born in Iran and raised in the UK, and six months later, both are enthusiastically continuing their studies to become a Master of Wine.
According to Sera Svitlana Karamshuk: « Being a recipient of the Barca-Velha Golden Vines® MW Scholarship is not just financial support. It includes mentorship from existing Masters of Wine, which is invaluable at this stage. The Gérard Basset Foundation provides you with a community which is genuinely supportive, and kind, and one that eagerly shares knowledge, opportunities, and encouragement. Being a recipient of the Scholarship is also a form of recognition and status that signals credibility within the industry. That visibility opens doors that are often difficult to access, especially for those at the beginning or those of us who are building our paths. »
According to Leila Killoran: « Winning the Barca-Velha Golden Vines® MW Scholarship has been nothing short of transformative, rekindling my Master of Wine journey with a renewed sense of purpose and possibility. It has opened doors to learning, mentorship and experiences that once felt far beyond reach, allowing me to pursue this path with depth and conviction. I am profoundly grateful for the support and belief behind this opportunity, which continues to shape both my studies and my future in wine. Attending the Golden Vines ceremony was a luminous highlight. An unforgettable moment of inspiration among the very best in our industry. »
Applications are welcomed from individuals coming from a wide range of communities, including but not limited to those from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, all ethnicities, religions, genders, sexual orientations, disabilities, and individuals affected by conflict.
For more information about the application process, including the link to apply for the scholarship directly: https://gerardbassetfoundation.org/scholarships/the-barca-velha-golden-vines-mw-scholarships-in-wine
Applications are officially open and will close at midnight BST on Sunday 14th June 2026.
About SOGRAPE
Founded in 1942 by Fernando Van Zeller Guedes, SOGRAPE was born to demonstrate the quality of Portuguese wines to the world. From a single winery in the Douro Valley focused on the production of Mateus Rose, this family company has become global, with presence in more than 120 markets, owning over 1,600 hectares of vineyards in Portugal, Spain, Chile, Argentina, and New Zealand. Moved by the purpose of bringing Friendship and Happiness to everyone it touches through its wonderful wines, the family spirit and the peak performing team culture lived at SOGRAPE are key in the successful path that it has been building for over 80 years. Under the leadership of Fernando da Cunha Guedes, current President and 3rd generation of the founding family, the leading company in Portugal aims to spread Sograpiness through the world and be affirmed as a catalyst for positive societal change, respecting the limits of the planet in the construction of a more sustainable and inclusive future. www.sogrape.com
About Liquid Icons and the Golden Vines®
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 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 spirits. The company’s work encompasses industry research, recognition and celebration of wine and spirits excellence, charitable and fundraising activities, as well as educational initiatives. The Golden Vines® annual activity includes (1) Diversity & Inclusion Scholarships curated on behalf of the Gérard Basset Foundation; (2) a 3-day experience for luxury oenophiles and epicureans within a city renowned for its food and drink culture, with previous years’ experiences held in London, Florence, Paris, Madrid, Miami and in 2026 in London; (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. liquidicons.com
About the Gérard Basset Foundation
The Gérard Basset Foundation in the world’s leading charitable foundation dedicated to using the wine, spirits & hospitality industries as a global vehicle for change by funding education, training and mentorship programmes which focus on opening up these sectors to passionate and talented individuals, regardless of their backgrounds of circumstances. Gérard Basset (7th March 1957 – 16th January 2019) OBE MS MW MBA OIV MSc ASI World’s Best Sommelier 2010 was without question one of the greatest wine professionals of his era. During his lifetime, Gérard mentored and trained a generation of young sommeliers who sought out his expertise and guidance to launch their own successful careers. Many of those protégés are connected to the Foundation and remain instrumental in keeping Gérard’s legacy alive and flourishing. The Gérard Basset Foundation was co-founded in 2021 by Gérard’s wife Nina and their son Romané who also serve as trustees alongside Jancis Robinson OBE MW and Ian Harris. https://gerardbassetfoundation.org/
