The 2020 LRIWWA winners are announced
London, Thursday 10th September 2020 – Last night the winners of the 16th and final Louis Roederer International Wine Writers’ Awards (LRIWWA) were announced during a virtual award ceremony hosted by Richard Billett, Managing Director of Maisons Marques et Domaines, and Charles Metcalfe, Chairman of the judges.
As a conclusion to 16 years of championing the world of wine communication, Louis Roederer wanted to recognise an individual who has consistently “encouraged, mentored and supported younger writers. Someone who has provided a platform for good writers to become even better and helped them along the difficult path of earning a living from writing about wine”. The Cristal Award for Lifetime Achievement was awarded to Neil Beckett. In the words of the judges, Neil has “revolutionised wine publishing” while “always maintaining impeccable standards” and “allowing complete freedom to his writers”. He is “knowledgeable, curious and humble”, and “relentless in his search for new talent and diverse voices”. He is “not only one of the most charming people in the magazine world, but he always seems to be helping others and putting them forward”. Fitting tributes for a man who has given, and continues to give, so much to the world of wine communication.
Maisons Marques et Domaines are grateful to their generous sponsors without whom these Awards would not have been possible: Champagne Louis Roederer, Domaine Faiveley, Domaines Ott*, Ramos Pinto, Pio Cesare, Marchesi Mazzei and Montblanc.
This year saw entries from 26 countries and as Metcalfe stated, “I cannot remember so many excellent entries in my 12 years of judging”. Those shortlisted were united in “well-crafted writing and an ability to communicate” whether their work was “technical, philosophical, critical or personal.” It is with admiration, delight and congratulations that we announce the 2020 winners of the Louis Roederer Wine Writer Awards.
CHAMPAGNE LOUIS ROEDERER ARTISTRY OF WINE AWARD 2020
Presented by: Alexis Deligny, Champagne Louis Roederer
Leif Carlsson
Patrick Desgraupes
Thierry Gaudillère
Tim Hall
Alexandre James Rocca-Serra
Jon Wyand (Four Seasons in Côte Chalonnaise)
RAMOS PINTO ONLINE COMMUNICATOR OF THE YEAR 2020
Presented by: Jorge Rosas, Ramos Pinto
Jane Anson (Decanter)
Tim Atkin MW
W. Blake Gray
Richard Hemming MW
PIO CESARE CONSUMER WINE WRITER OF THE YEAR 2020
Presented by: Federica Boffa, Pio Cesare
Jon Bonné (Fortune)
Jim Clarke
Shana Clarke
Baxter Holmes
Karen MacNeil
MAZZEI INTERNATIONAL WINE COLUMNIST OF THE YEAR AWARD 2020
Presented by: Giovanni Mazzei, Marchesi Mazzei
Tim Atkin MW (Harpers)
Hannah Fuellenkemper
Martin Moran MW
Simon Woolf
Alder Yarrow
MONTBLANC EMERGING WINE WRITER OF THE YEAR 2020
Presented by: Anita Borvankar, Montblanc
Samantha Cole-Johnson
Sydney Love
Peter Pharos (www.timatkin.com)
Jordan Michelman
DOMAINES OTT * INTERNATIONAL FEATURE WRITER OF THE YEAR 2020
Presented by: Jean-Francois Ott, Domaines Ott*
Jane Anson
Tim Atkin MW
Jon Bonné
Jim Clarke (World of Fine Wine)
Alice Lascelles
DOMAINE FAIVELEY INTERNATIONAL WINE BOOK OF THE YEAR 2020
Presented by: Erwan Faiveley, Domaine Faivelely
Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux
Lisa Granik MW, The Wines of Georgia
Victoria James, Wine Girl
Anne Krebiehl MW, The Wines of Germany (Infinite Ideas)
Jane Lopes, Vignette
Jancis Robinson MW/Hugh Johnson, World Atlas of Wine
Aldo Sohm/Christine Muhlke, Wine Simple: A Totally Approachable Guide from a World-Class Sommelier
CHAIRMAN’S AWARD 2020
Victoria James, for her book ‘Wine Girl’ (Ecco/Harper Collins)
THE CRISTAL AWARD FOR LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT
Neil Beckett