This Bordeaux Mentor Week offers a unique opportunity to get behind the scenes of the properties in the region, and perhaps more importantly give access to the people behind the product, to learn directly from Bordeaux insiders.
For the third consecutive year, the search commences for seven fortunate wine scholars hailing from diverse corners of the globe to accompany Jane Anson and Chinedu Rita Rosa on an immersive week-long journey in Bordeaux. This experience is poised to instill inspiration and determination within the selected mentees, providing them with an unparalleled hands-on exploration of Bordeaux wines. From the intricacies of harvest and blending to production, tasting, marketing, and navigating distribution channels, they will receive expert guidance from two esteemed Bordeaux specialists, alongside support from a carefully selected group of industry collaborators.
Generous
Bordeaux has opened its doors (and so much more) to the initiative. Chateau du Tertre, Château La Lagune and Chateau Bellefont-Belcier all offered luxurious accommodation for the international participants.
Château Troplong Mondot, Chateau George 7, Chateau Fonplegade,Chateau Fleur Cardinale, Chateau Tour Saint Christophe, Château du Biac, Chateau Lynch Bages, Château Kirwan, Chateau La Louviere and Chateau Lafon Rochet have all opened their cellars, dining rooms and wines for the scholars. Each property sharing their unique perspective covering subjects from terroir to vineyard management, wine making and tasting.
Hands on
The week is a hands-on experience, previous mentees have participated in the harvest and seen winemaking up close. They fine-tuned their tasting skills at VINIV tasting of varietal wines from a range of terroirs across the region, learning one of the key signatures and skills of Bordeaux – challenged to create their own blend.
Thanks to generous donations, they were able to develop their tasting skills on older wines from Bordeaux’s top producers, not easily accessible for people starting out in the business.
Trade
Bordeaux is also about marketing and distribution, understanding the Place de Bordeaux, En Primeur and the role of courtiers all explained by Libourne negociant JB Audy.
Le Relais du Château Pape Clemént, home to the Bernard Magrez incubator, BMStartupWin offered an opportunity to experience innovation and the Cite du Vin (Best Of Wine Tourism Special Achievment) in Bordeaux an overview of Bordeaux from past to present.
The People
Seven scholars join Jane, Chinedu and the industry professionals. The week is designed for anyone pursuing a career in the wine industry without access to adequate educational or financial resources, be they young sommeliers, retailers, wine students, wine writers (a new category this year).
Previous Scholars have come from as far afield as Chile, USA, Nigeria, Kenya, Thailand, England, South Africa, Switzerland, Puerto Rico and India. This year’s scholars will be announced in April for the September mentor week.
Mentoring is about people sharing their experience of the wine industry.
Members of the Bordeaux trade, from wine makers, owners, managers and marketers all open up about their own journeys offering invaluable experience and advice. It’s a surprisingly diverse industry, everyone has a different and inspirational story to share with the group.
Coming together
The week is possible thanks to the generosity of Bordeaux properties and organisations but also others who see the importance of the initiative for an inclusive future for wine. Travel bursaries are available thanks to sponsors The Gerard Basset and IWSC Foundations.
The Duquesne Club in Pittsburgh have made a generous donation as have Club dVi and Air France. This year the Wine Scholar Guild has agreed to enrol each of the seven scholars in their updated Bordeaux Masters certification program.
Jane and Chinedu squeeze a lot into one week, it’s not for the faint hearted. This insider’s look across all aspects of Bordeaux is the opportunity for the mentees to learn but also to create their own network for their own future in wine.
With the goal of increasing inclusion, diversity and equity in the wine industry, The Bordeaux Mentor Week has created a benchmark for mentoring new entrants into the industry.
If you are looking for more information, please check the official website : https://janeanson.com/bordeaux-mentor-week-2024-applications-now-open
Wendy NARBY
Photos credits : ©Jane Anson