Liquid Icons, the Gérard Basset Foundation and Taylor’s Port are delighted to announce the winners of the 2024 Taylor’s Port Golden Vines® Diversity Scholarships. Since 2021, these Scholarships have offered financial support, guidance, mentorship and incredible internship opportunities for individuals interested in undertaking the MW (Master of Wine) and MS (Master Sommelier) programmes. Each Taylor’s Port Scholarship offers the winner funding for their studies and to undertake their choice of internships from an extensive list of providers comprising some of the world’s greatest fine wine and rare spirit estates.
For the first time since 2021, we were delighted to announce a broadening of the diversity criteria which are a key part of these Scholarships. Applications in 2024 were 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.
24 applications were received in 2024 from 13 countries across 6 continents. More than half of this year’s applicants were women.
These Scholarships are awarded on the basis of a Scholar’s ability, determination to succeed, financial needs and their potential contribution to promoting diversity, inclusion, excellence, interaction and learning in the global wine community.
The Judging Panel for the 2024 Scholarships comprised: Angela Scott as Head Judge, one of 2021’s Taylor’s Port Golden Vines® Diversity Scholarship winners; Nina Basset FIH; Rajat Parr (Sandhi Wines); Clément Robert MS (Liquid Icons); Jancis Robinson OBE MW; Ronan Sayburn MS (Court of Master Sommeliers Europe) and Neil Tully MW (Institute of Masters of Wine)
Exceptionally in 2024, four Taylor’s Port Golden Vines Diversity Scholarships are being awarded due to the incredibly high quality of all the applications received. The winners are:
- Bento Amaral, Portugal
- Flavia Rizzuto, Argentina
- Kanchan Schindlauer, USA
- Emiliano Stratico, Argentina
In addition to this year’s four superb winners, the Judges were profoundly impressed with two other applicants, and as such have awarded them both a Golden Vines® MW Bursary, which will cover their MW course fees for the next year. They are:
- Karene Vilela, Brazil
- Xeniya Volosnikova, Kazakhstan
Adrian Bridge, CEO of Taylor’s Port, commented on this year’s winners:
"We take immense pride in supporting the study of wine, an industry that unites people across continents and cultures. This year’s scholarship not only paves the way for educational opportunities but also deepens our collective appreciation for the diverse world of wine. As we celebrate these outstanding scholars, we look forward to a future where the pursuit of knowledge bridges gaps and where the joy of learning enhances our global community."
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 Gérard 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: https://liquidicons.com
About Taylor’s Port
Taylor's is one of the first historic Port wine lodges, having been established in 1692. A family company since its foundation, it has been dedicated exclusively to the production of high-quality Port wines, from the planting of the vine and harvesting the grapes for fermentation, ageing and bottling of the various styles of Port wine. The family's commitment to the future of Port wine is also demonstrated in its determination to preserve and, where appropriate, improve the unique environmental, social and economic aspects of the Douro region through the promotion of sustainable viticulture. Taylor’s is mainly recognised as a benchmark for Vintage Port, its classic Vintages attracting the highest scores and auction prices. The house was the creator of the modern LBV (Late Bottled Vintage), a style pioneered by the Taylor’s and it is the most sought-after brand of LBV. Taylor’s also pioneered the first Dry White Port with the launch of Chip Dry and was the first to commercialise the Single Quinta Vintages. The House is also recognized as the most important producer of Aged Tawnies and has one of the most extensive reserves of cask aged Port wines.
About Gérard Basset Foundation
The Gérard Basset Foundation is the world’s leading charitable foundation dedicated to using the wine, spirits and hospitality industries as a vehicle for change. 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 the course of 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 now connected with the Foundation and remain instrumental in keeping Gerard'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.