May 16, 2025 (Bordeaux, France) — Jane Anson, author of Inside Bordeaux and founder of www.janeanson.com, and Chinedu Rita-Rosa, entrepreneur/owner of Vines by Rosa Consultancy, founded Bordeaux Mentor Week in 2022 with the intention to improve equity, inclusion and access in a region that is crucial to the global fine wine industry.
The fourth edition of Bordeaux Mentor Week will take place from 22nd – 28th September 2025, the first edition since the Bordeaux Mentor Week & Gérard Basset Foundation partnership was presented with the V d’Or award for Best Education & Knowledge Sharing by Vinexposium’s CEO Rodolphe Lameyse during Wine Paris in February 2025.
More than 200 applications for this innovative mentor programme were received from 40 countries, with selected scholars coming from Brazil, China, Rwanda, Mauritius and Malawi for the first time, alongside scholars from the United States, Kenya and India.
The 2025 scholars are as follows:
- Gaius Yerima (Rwanda)
- Kevin Dias (Brazil)
- Mohan Vasudevan (Mauritius)
- Nicole Okech (Kenya)
- Phuziro ‘Trent’ Jannah (Malawi)
- Raul Toscano (USA)
- Roxanne D’Souza (India)
- Yang ‘Eden’ Zhang (China)
To learn more about the 2025 Bordeaux Mentor Week scholars and see their photos: https://janeanson.com/meet-our-scholars-for-the-2025-bordeaux-mentor-week
According to Jane Anson, “With the challenges in the global wine market right now, this kind of programme is more important than ever. Opening doors for the next generation, and fostering meaningful exchanges, is critical. We can’t wait to welcome the group in September and give a huge thank you to all sponsors and châteaux who welcome us so warmly every year.”
The week is split into five distinct days, covering all aspects of the Bordeaux wine industry. Many of the scholars, even those who work as sommeliers and have great theoretical knowledge of wine as well as experience tasting wines, will visit vineyards for the very first time. The first day of Bordeaux Mentor Week is always practical, as Jane and Chinedu let the scholars get their hands dirty and really experience what it means to be in a busy wine region as that year’s particular harvest is being brought into the cellars. This initial experience sets the scholars up for a true boot camp throughout the week. Scholars explore a variety of themes, including a class on harvest, blending and terroir, a tutored tasting of mature vintages, a chance to interact with wine startups and entrepreneurs, the importance of wine tourism, and innovations in virtual reality and artificial intelligence. The scholars will also visit négociants and smaller producers alike, learn about organic viticulture and all aspects of winemaking.
All travel and accommodation to the region is covered for the scholars by generous funding from sponsors including The Gérard Basset Foundation, Académie du Vin Foundation, Terroirs du Monde et Paysages Culturels, Wine Scholar Guild, and Château Belfont-Belcier.
All scholars will be enrolled in Wine Scholar Guild’s Bordeaux Masters programme.
All scholars will be housed at Château Bellefont-Belcier in Saint-Émilion. “Bordeaux Mentor Week is about opening the heart of Bordeaux, meeting its actors, showing the mosaic of terroirs and flavours to young professionals who might have imagined that it is a very closed world,” said Jean-Christophe Meyrou, CEO of Château Bellefont- Belcier.
