Bordeaux Mentor Week 2025: A 4th Edition with Prestigious New Partners

A unique program for inclusion and knowledge-sharing in the wine world

The Bordeaux Mentor Week 2025 took place from September 22 to 28 in Bordeaux, reaffirming its role as a key platform to promote equity, inclusion, and access in the global wine industry. Founded in 2022 by Jane Anson and Chinedu Rita-Rosa, the initiative has already reached its fourth edition and continues to bring together emerging talents from around the world.

This year marked a major milestone with the arrival of two new prestigious supporters: 67 Pall Mall, preparing to open its Bordeaux Club in 2026, and Penfolds, the iconic Australian wine producer currently renovating Château Lanessan and developing its FWT French Winemaking Trial.

Historic partners remain committed

Alongside these new sponsors, Bordeaux Mentor Week continues to benefit from the support of its founding partners:

• The Gérard Basset Foundation, preparing the 2025 Golden Vines edition in Miami.
• Wine Scholar Guild, which just launched the German Wine Scholar certification and announced the WSG Tasting Diploma.
• Académie du Vin Library, a global reference for fine wine writing.

These partnerships reinforce the program’s core mission: to provide young professionals with both hands-on training and career opportunities to grow within the wine industry.

A full immersion in Bordeaux’s wine world

This edition attracted record interest, with more than 200 applications from 40 countries. Eight scholars were ultimately selected to experience an intensive week at the heart of the Bordeaux wine region.

Hosted at Château Bellefont-Belcier in Saint-Émilion, participants explored all aspects of the sector:

• vineyard visits during harvest,
• blending and terroir masterclasses,
• tastings of mature vintages,
• meetings with négociants and estates,
• insights into innovation and wine tourism.

Beyond technical knowledge, Bordeaux Mentor Week places great emphasis on building networks, mentoring career growth, and fostering inclusion.

A closing dinner of celebration and exchange

The closing dinner, held on September 26 at Château Bellefont-Belcier, brought together numerous wine professionals. Alongside the founders, key figures from partner organizations attended, including Preston Mohr (Wine Scholar Guild), Hermione Ireland (Académie du Vin Library), and Christian Holthausen (Gérard Basset Foundation).

Also present were Lorraine Carrigan and Kathrine Larsen-Robert MS from 67 Pall Mall, as well as Pablo Laborde from Treasury Wine Estates, joining to honor the 2025 scholars and support the next generation.

Looking ahead to 2026

Sponsors expressed strong enthusiasm for the future of the program. According to Lorraine Carrigan (67 Pall Mall), Bordeaux Mentor Week “embodies excellence, education, and mentorship,” values that will translate into a career opportunity for one scholar within the sommelier team of the upcoming Bordeaux Club.

Meanwhile, Kristy Keyte, Chief Marketing Officer of Penfolds, emphasized that the initiative aligns with the Penfolds Evermore program, dedicated to education, inclusion, and diverse pathways.

Building on the success of this 4th edition, Bordeaux Mentor Week is already preparing for 2026, with the ambition to welcome more underrepresented talent and expand its positive impact on the global fine wine community.