Liquid Icons – the fine wine research and content production company founded by the late, great Gérard Basset OBE MW MS and his friend Lewis Chester DipWSET – are honoured to announce the recipients of the inaugural Artémis Domaines Golden Vines® Victims of Conflict Scholarships.
27 applications were submitted in 2022, all of whom are wine professionals who have, alas, been displaced or otherwise negatively affected by a war or geopolitical conflict.
The winners were chosen by a Judging Panel comprising: Ian Harris MBE DipWSET from the Gérard Basset Foundation, and Jean Garandeau and Hélène Genin from Artémis Domaines.
Ian Harris MBE DipWSET, one of the Judging Panel and Trustee of the Gérard Basset Foundation, commented: “These internships are aimed at giving an opportunity for victims of conflict to progress their careers in the wine and hospitality sectors. Understandably, most of the applicants were from Ukraine and many were still living there under the threat of constant bombardment and mortal danger to them and their families. I was moved by some of the harrowing stories they had to tell, and humbled by the spirit, the stoicism and the determination of all the applicants to get on with their lives. A big ‘thank you’ to the Artémis Group for making these internships possible, and I look forward to seeing the progress of the successful applicants as they continue to build their careers in the wine industry”.
Jean Garandeau, Fellow Judge and Sales & Marketing Director of Artémis Domaines, commented further: “During the interview process, we were very impressed by the resilience of all applicants, and their determination to learn and to succeed even when facing the difficult circumstances of geo-political conflict. It is a privilege for Artémis Domaines to be able to assist our brilliant scholars in their professional journey through these Golden Vines Scholarships. The teams are delighted to welcome them in our estates.”
The Inaugural Artémis Domaines Golden Vines® Victims of Conflict Scholarships Recipients:
The Artémis Domaines Golden Vines® Victims of Conflict Scholarships are worth €20,000 each, and will cover the Scholars’ salaries while they are completing their 6-month bespoke viticultural and vinicultural internship at one of Artémis Domaines prestigious estates. The scholarships are being funded by Artémis Domaines and the Gérard Basset Foundation from monies raised at the Golden Vines® Awards Ceremony & Dinner to be held in the Palazzo Vecchio Salone dei Cinquecento in Florence on 16th October 2022.
Natalia Homeniuk
Natalia Homeniuk, a Ukrainian lady, a Sommelier and Caviste
Lilia Khachatryan
Lilia Khachatryan, an Armenian lady and Winemaker
Vitalii Larin
Vitalii Larin, a Ukrainian man, a Wine Project Manager and Sommelier. The Gérard Basset Foundation has also offered to fund Vitalii’s ongoing Master of Wine (MW) studies
Larysa Markevych
Larysa Markevych, a Ukrainian woman and Winemaker
Maryna Revoker
Maryna Revkova, a Ukrainian woman, an ASI Certified Sommelier and Best Sommelier of Ukraine 2020
In addition to awarding the Scholarships, the Judges were so impressed by one further candidate, that the Gérard Basset Foundation has offered to fund their WSET Diploma (DipWSET) Studies:
Vitalii Kravchenko
Vitalii Kravchenko, a Ukrainian man, a Sommelier and Winemaker
