The Roederer’s need to encourage young talent
Wednesday 9 September
Well done to those who won at the Louis Roederer Wine Writer Awards. No big surprises or upsets.
But I’d like to say a special congratulations and commiserations to Jane Parkinson at the Drinks Business. She is one of a young band of wine journalists out there including David Williams (formerly Wine & Spirit), Clint Cawood (Imbibe), Fionnuala Synott (freelance) and Richard Hemming (jancisrobinson.com). These guys and girls are making a living (just about) from wine writing but there is little recognition of their contribution or the potential they have for the future. Jane was given the Chairman’s commended prize despite missing out on top honours and I’m incredibly pleased that she was given the plaudits.
I did not enter this year because I feel younger writers aren’t taken as seriously as their older peers. I’d love to see the Louis Roederer’s make a category for the under 35s. It would be of more benefit to the young guns than any of the other older winners who are already long established in the industry.
The Artistry of Wine Award 2009
Jon Wyand
For Triage at Domaine des Perdrix
Online Wine Writer of the Year 2009
Natalie MacLean
Articles from www.nataliemaclean.com
Regional Wine Writer of the Year 2009
Christine Austin
Articles from The Yorkshire Post
Champagne Writer/ Presenter of the Year 2009
Tom Stevenson
Articles from Wine & Spirit, The World of Fine Wine
and Meininger’s Wine Business International
Louis Roederer Award for International Wine Book 2009
Oz Clarke
Bordeaux
International Wine Columnist of the Year 2009
Tim Atkin
Columns from OLN, The Observer and Intelligent Life
International Wine Feature Writer of the Year 2009
Margaret Rand
Articles from Decanter
Good points here Miss Gibb.
The winners above deserve the accolades but it does seem as if the names are recycled a bit. Is Tom Stevenson really the only person out there writing about champers?
- by Louis Villard, Spiltwine
Well said! Mind you, I would say that, being one of the young-ish strugglers in the wine world that you mention. It’s a tricky one: I completely understand why the industry is tempted to trust and rely on those with greater experience (and almost always, therefore, greater age) than the likes of me. It is also true, though, that a younger generation will always be pushing into the industry, and the established names will inevitably step aside one day. Also, I believe that there is a range of wine drinkers aged between 20 and 35 who have real interest in the subject but are poorly catered for by the current hierarchy. This is thin ice - I hasten to add that I’m NOT saying wine writers are irrelevant over a certain age, but I am saying - as you pointed out - that the industry could do more to support new voices, and not always rely on the safe bet names over and over again. A dedicated under-35 award would be perfect.
- by Richard Hemming
Thanks Louis and Richard,
Good to know I’m not the only one that feels this way. Is anyone listening? Maison Marques et Domaines (who run the event)are you out there??
- by Rebecca
Hi Rebecca,
That’s a very happy coincidence to read your comments as we have been going through a process of invigorating the ‘Roederers’ and have had it in mind this year to add a new category to encourage more entries from younger wine writers.
Unfortunately, this idea, which came out of discussions with the judging panel, was just too late to include it on the entry forms in 2009. But rest assured in 2010 there will a category dedicated to rewarding emerging talent.
This year we were so impressed by what Jane had achieved that the Chairman’s award was the best vehicle available to get that message of encouragement across.
We are very keen to stimulate debate and reward relevant wine-writing in the UK and abroad, increasingly in the form of on-line writing as well.
So please spread the word and encourage as many young writers to enter as possible in 2010.
- by James Samson, Champagne Louis Roederer Brand Manag
Rebecca,
Enter every competition - age should be an irrelevance. I was first nominated for the Glenfiddich Wine Writer of the Year at the age of 30 and picked up a Louis Roederer aged 32. But really what does it matter? A good writer will connect with the reader whatever age, sex or nationality they are. Look at the top journalists in Fleet Street many of them are in their early thirties. When I first joined The Scotsman my editor was 32. If you are talented enough you are old enough. Having read an awful lot of wine journalism I have come to the conclusion that like fine wine a lot of writers do improve with age and an awful lot of them live and work in the UK. I thought Oz Clarke’s Bordeaux book was his best since New World Classics. Anthony Rose and Tim Atkin are on top of their game week in, week out. We can but just doff our caps to them.
Will Lyons, Wine Correspondent Reader’s Digest, Scotland on Sunday and Wine Editor Spectator Business.
Age: 33 and a quarter.
http://www.twitter.com/Will_Lyons
- by Will Lyons