The Golden Vines® Awards come to Florence

The Golden Vines® Awards, one of the wine industry’s renowned charity events, are coming to Florence from Oc- tober 14 to 17. Florence was the natural host with Tuscany’s global reputation for excellence in wine making it the perfect fit for the event that celebrates renowned brands.

Following a successful launch last year in London, The Golden Vines® Awards celebrate fine wine with Michelin-starred chefs, VIP entertainment, and rare wines and spirits to support the hospitality industry.

The awards were created by Lewis Chester DipWSET and the Liquid Icons team to honour the legacy of Chester’s business partner, Gérard Basset OBE MW MS, who passed away in January 2019. When Basset discovered that he had terminal cancer, the yen to create something enduring that would help create a lasting legacy for his lifetime achievements became a goal. In 2020, following the Gérard Basset Global Fine Wine Report results, which ensue an annual survey completed by top international fine wine professionals, Chester decided to establish The Golden Vines® Awards, celebrating the best in the industry. The awards now run as a not-for-profit event with proceeds going to the Gérard Basset Foundation.

“The Golden Vines® Awards are delighted to be hosting our second edition in the beautiful and magical city of Florence,”

comments Lewis Chester, Co-Founder and Director of Liquid Icons.

“Although an awards show celebrating the world’s best fine wine estates (as voted by 943 fine wine professionals globally this year), we also raise money for the Gérard Basset Foundation to fund educational programmes for diversity and inclusivity in the wine, spirits and hospitality sectors. We cannot thank Destination Florence Convention & Visitors Bureau enough for their hard work and dedication in helping to make this year’s edition the world’s premium fine wine event, as well as Mayor Dario Nardella and his team for their considerable generosity of enthusiasm and assistance for hosting us at both the Tepidarium del Roster for our charity gala on Saturday 15 October and the incredible Salone dei Cinquecento at the Palazzo Vecchio for The Golden Vines® Awards Ceremony & Dinner on Sunday October 16. Thank you, Florence!”

With ticket prices starting at £6,000, the celebrations begin on October 15 with the Dress to Party gala dinner at Tepidarium del Roster, where guests can savour dishes from Davide Oldani, chef patron of two Michelin star restaurant D’O, near Milan, and Matteo Lorenzini, executive chef of Tuscany’s Osteria di Passignano. Legendary group Alessandro Ristori & The Portofinos will take to the stage.

The awards ceremony will take place on October 16 in the Salone dei Cinquecento at the Palazzo Vecchio. Phenomenal three-Michelin star chef Massimo Bottura of Osteria Francescana will curate the gala dinner. Marc Almert, the 2019 ASI Best Sommelier of the World as well as the 2020 Michelin Sommelier of the Year has chosen the wine pairings, which will include Dom Pérignon Rosé 2008, Dom Pérignon P2 2004, Krug Grande Cuvée, Krug Vintage, Dom Ruinart, Trimbach Clos Sainte Hune 2012, Emidio Pepe Trebbiano d’Abruzzo 2004, Château Cheval Blanc 2005 in magnum, Solaia, Château d’Yquem and Taylor’s Port 1970 in magnum. Guests can enjoy live entertainment from Celeste, who has received accolades such as the Brit’s Rising Star Award 2020 and the BBC’s Introducing Artist of the Year 2019. Joining Celeste is Sekou Sylla, a rising musician who has performed on BBC Music’s Introducing stage at Glastonbury and was handpicked to perform at Brooklyn Beckham’s wedding.

Another highlight of the night will be the auction of 100 lots, including large formats and old vintages of the world’s most prestigious wines and exclusive tastings and stays in chateaux and historic cellars. The goal is to raise over £1.2 million to finance wine education programs related to diversity and involvement, such as Taylor’s Port Golden Vines® Diversity Scholarship, Internship & Mentorship Programs, Dom Pérignon Golden Vines® Master of Wine & Master Sommelier Scholarships, Hennessy Golden Vines® Diversity Scholarship in Spirits, and other scholarships for education programs, curated by Golden Vines®.