Golden Vines Awards: Christie’s Auction of Rare Wines and Luxury Experiences at Annabel’s, London

By Kristina Moskalenko

On 7 October, London’s exclusive private members’ club Annabel’s will host the inaugural Golden Vines Awards—an extravagant “Oscars of wine” celebrating the world’s finest vintages and visionary producers.

The ceremony, organised by London-based Liquid Icons, takes inspiration from the legendary Met Gala. “We wanted to capture that same sense of glamour and spectacle,” says Liquid Icons co-founder Lewis Chester, one of only 416 Masters of Wine worldwide, “but with a subtler, more refined twist. After the event, we’ll be producing a documentary, in the vein of The First Monday in May, revealing the behind-the-scenes magic of this unprecedented celebration.”

The Golden Vines Awards promise more than just fine wine—they deliver an experience of culinary and sensory refinement. On 7 October, London’s private members’ club Annabel’s will host 200 guests for the inaugural ceremony, where gastronomy and glamour collide.

How exactly? The evening’s culinary offering comes from Mauro Colagreco, chef of Mirazur in Menton, crowned the world’s best restaurant in 2020 by The World’s 50 Best Restaurants. Drinks will include some of the rarest vintages and spirits in the world: Dom Pérignon 2003 and P2 2003, Egon Müller Scharzhofberger Alte Reben Kabinett 2015, Domaine Baron Thénard Montrachet Grand Cru 2017, Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Grands-Echézeaux 2005, Château d’Yquem 1988, and The Macallan London Limited Edition Single Cask—with a per-guest value of around £10,000. The setting itself is historic: London’s Annabel’s private members club, whose guest list over the decades has included Tina Turner, Ray Charles, Ella Fitzgerald, Diana Ross, Bryan Ferry, and Lady Gaga, provides the perfect backdrop for a night that blends high-octane glamour with oenological excellence.

Glamour sells and that’s clear. But how about the industry itself? Why does it need another wine awards? To answer this, Chester starts from the history and cites the legendary Judgment of Paris as a cautionary tale of wine’s unpredictability. In 1976 the blind tasting, held to mark the US bicentennial, pitted French vintages against Californian newcomers. Judges included sommeliers, restaurateurs, and vignerons from Château Montrose and Domaine de la Romanée-Conti. Despite assumptions, California emerged victorious, a shock that reverberated through French wine culture and changed perceptions forever. Today, the world’s top producers often shun competitions decided by blind tasting.

That is why Lewis Chester did not want to do another blind tasting or tasting competition. He draws a striking comparison to football to explain the Golden Vines Awards: “To understand the difference between blind tastings and the Golden Vines Awards, think of football. Traditionally, wines are judged by a single bottle from a single producer. We wanted to create a ranking based on the industry as a whole, identifying the best wine producers over the course of an entire year. Participation isn’t by application—our respondents live and breathe wine professionally. In that sense, the Golden Vines Awards are like the Ballon d’Or: we don’t judge a single match, or a single bottle, but reward consistent excellence over the season—over the year. We surveyed around 500 industry professionals, and their votes carry weight based on experience. Importantly, multiple producers can be nominated per category, reflecting the diversity and depth of the industry.”

Meanwhile, Liquid Icons has already made its mark in the wine world as the author of The Gerard Basset Global Fine Wine Report, an innovative, inclusive, and balanced ranking of fine wine producers, often limited in quantity and highly collectible. The report evaluates producers over the course of the year and tracks emerging trends.

Yet, Chester emphasises that the report addresses only one challenge. And that is of objective ranking. But The Golden Vines Awards also aim to bridge the gap between fine wine producers and consumers, connecting the meticulous, often insular world of fine wine with the dazzling realm of glamour and luxury brands. “Historically, glamour and fine wine don’t necessarily mix. My goal is to unite the world of obsessive and often boring, but very knowledgeable, wine professionals, like me, with the vibrant world of glitz and iconic brands. The Golden Vines Awards are the first step,” he says.

Guests at Annabel’s on the night of the Golden Vines Awards will also have the opportunity to participate in a live auction hosted by Christie’s. The majority of lots are exclusive experiences provided by sponsors, including Rolls-Royce, Gucci, Virgin Galactic, VistaJet, Julius Baer, and The Macallan.

In addition, a global online auction, opening several weeks prior to the event, will feature traditional lots—rare large-format wines—paired with unique “experiences”: helicopter transfers to vineyards, private dinners with winemakers, and bespoke stays in châteaux or historic castles.

Originally Published by Vedomosti: https://www.vedomosti.ru/kp/gourmet/article/2021/09/06/885347-gradus-kommunikatsii