The 18th Meininger Awards – Excellence in Wine & Spirit were presented at a grand gala event held on the eve of the ProWein, at the Kö59 Grand Hotel in Düsseldorf. The six award winners, representing both Germany and the world, received their trophies in front of around 500 guests. Following the ceremony, top members of the global wine industry came together over dinner, accompanied by Italian and German wines.
The Meininger Award was first presented 18 years ago. Past laureates include Gina Gallo, Miguel A. Torres, Fritz Keller, Baroness Philippe de Rothschild, Angelo Gaja, and Margrit Biever-Mondavi. The Meininger publishing house was the founder of the awards, and has hosted it ever since.
International Wine Entrepreneur of the Year
Gérard Bertrand
Gérard Bertrand is often referred to as the Ambassador of Languedoc. When the 22-year-old Bertrand had to take over his late father's vineyard alongside his professional rugby career, he decided to elevate the French wine region of Languedoc-Roussillon to international acclaim.
In 1992, he founded the Gérard Bertrand wine company, which has now risen to the top tier of France with over 300 employees and 25m bottles sold annually. With 930 hectares, it is the largest biodynamic wine producer in the world.
"Gerard Bertrand has always been a pioneer and a visionary. Whether scoring a try on the rugby field or championing Languedoc wines, Bertrand stands as a beacon of inspiration," said Anja Zimmer, Editor-in-Chief of Meininger's International.
German Wine Entrepreneur of the Year
Rudolf Knickenberg, Schlumberger
Rudolf Knickenberg began his career with a waiter apprenticeship and quickly rose to become a top sommelier in a fine-dining restaurant. For the past 20 years, he has served as the Managing Director of the trading company Schlumberger in Meckenheim, near Bonn. Under Knickenberg's leadership, Schlumberger has become synonymous with the fine wine market, catering to upscale gastronomy and specialty retailers. "This focus has significantly contributed to the company's success," said Alexandra Wrann, Editor-in-Chief of the German wine trade magazine Weinwirtschaft.
Wine Family of the Year
Planeta Family
The Planeta family has been engaged in agriculture in Sicily for 17 generations. Over time, this dynamic family has dedicated nearly their entire 400-hectare estate, spread across six vineyards in almost all of Sicily's top terroirs, exclusively to winemaking. Today, they are the international flagship of Sicilian viticulture. "Francesca, Alessio, and Santi have made the name Planeta globally renowned in less than four decades with their exceptional yet approachable wines," said Sascha Speicher, Editor-in-Chief of Meininger's Sommelier.
Jury Honorary Award
Bettina Bürklin-von Guradze, Dr. Bürklin-Wolf
Bettina Bürklin-von Guradze is a significant wine pioneer who, with determination and entrepreneurial vision, successfully introduced biodynamic viticulture and gained societal approval for it in Germany. In 2001, she converted the legendary Dr. Bürklin-Wolf estate to biodynamic winemaking. The winery, located in the Pfalz, now flourishes with a resilient and stable ecosystem. With her uncompromising commitment to quality and quantity regulation, Bettina Bürklin-von Guradze was far ahead of her time. Today, her Rieslings are counted among the best in the world.
Spirits Company of the Year
Anora Group
The Anora Group is a leading Scandinavian wine and spirits company and a global pioneer whose vision is to achieve growth through sustainability. A notable achievement is the circular production of Koskenkorva Vodka. "We need visionary companies like Anora that intertwine responsibility and market success, addressing the challenges of the present with the help of the latest scientific insights and modern technology," said Barbara Becker, Editor-in-Chief of the gastronomy cult magazine Fizzz, during the award ceremony.
Lifetime Achievement Award
Javier R. de Galarreta, ARAEX
The lawyer Javier R. de Galarreta owned a small Basque wine company when, in 1993, he founded ARAEX with nine winemakers from the Rioja-Alavesa region. His goal was to strengthen through collaboration, produce the finest wine qualities, and boost exports. The association of independent wineries quickly grew into a unique entity in the Spanish wine industry. Today, ARAEX markets wines from approximately 4,000 hectares of prime vineyards in 14 Spanish wine regions.
