Shortlisted Nominees For The Best Viticulture Team Award
Voting Now Open
We've received another inspiring haul of nominations for the third Old Vine Hero Awards and our judges have had the agonising task of reaching 5 shortlists from 14 countries! Below you'll find the profiles of the finalists in the BEST VITICULTURE TEAM category an award that celebrates the collective efforts of the team responsible for managing and maintaining old vine vineyards. From vineyard managers and lead viticulturists to field workers and seasonal labourers, this award acknowledges the tireless contributions of the entire crew who ensure the health, sustainability, and productivity of old vines.
Voting will close on Wednesday 26th March at 21.00 GMT.
To vote for your Old Vine Hero in this category:
Bogedas y Viñedos Yokich
Bodegas y Viñedos Yokich, a fifth-generation family winery, is dedicated to preserving the old vines of the Cinti Valley in Bolivia. Established in a historic Jesuit winery dating back to around 1670, Yokich has been working closely with local smallholder growers for over 20 years to protect and promote the region’s ancient vineyards. The Cinti Valley is home to some of the world’s oldest vines, ranging from 150 to 300 years old, growing in a unique high-altitude terroir at 2,450 meters above sea level.
The team, led by Patricia Mendoza alongside dedicated local growers, combines traditional viticulture with international best practices. Patricia, who studied viticulture in Italy and the UK, has brought valuable knowledge to the region, helping raise awareness of the importance of old vines. Their innovative approach includes the preservation of rare indigenous grape varieties, agroforestry staking techniques using native trees, and sustainable viticultural methods such as minimal intervention farming, organic fertilizers, and the use of animals for weed and pest control.
Yokich has implemented programs to incentivise old vine preservation, including paying premiums for old vine grapes, offering multi-year contracts to smallholders, and creating Bolivia’s first nursery for rare grape varieties. Through ongoing research collaborations with universities and local institutions, the team is ensuring that Cinti Valley’s viticultural heritage is protected for future generations.
Viticultura Viva SL
Viticultura Viva SL, based in San Martín de Unx, Navarra, is a viticulture consultancy dedicated to preserving Spain’s traditional vineyards and ensuring their longevity. Founded by agricultural engineer and winegrower Julián Palacios in 2007, the team also includes Dr. Bárbara Sebastián, Ignacio Arzoz, and Carmen Fernández. They work across Spain’s key wine regions, including Rioja, Ribera del Duero, Navarra, Rueda, and Rías Baixas, and have expanded their training internationally to France, Portugal, Italy, and Chile.
The team specializes in advising on old vine care, with a focus on goblet-trained vineyards, and has become a reference for sustainable vineyard management. Their research has shown that traditional vineyards often outlive modern trellised plantings, leading them to advocate for pruning methods and vineyard designs that promote vine longevity. They organize technical conferences, such as "How to Look After Vineyards So They Live to Be 100 Years Old," and have co-produced the documentary "Las Podas Olvidadas," which explores the premature decline of vineyards due to modern practices.
Through consultancy, research, and training, Viticultura Viva helps wineries adopt sustainable practices, ensuring that today’s vineyards become the old vines of the future.
Watch "Las Podas Olvidadas" documentary: YouTube
Article written by Julian Palacios: “Old vineyards beyond romanticism” Revista Terruños nº 31 (2021):
https://culturadelvino.org/biblioteca/#terrunos
Article written by BárbaraSebastián: “Old vineyards, why preserve them and how to bring them back to life” Revista Terruños nº 33 (2022).
https://culturadelvino.org/biblioteca/#terrunosT
Parés Baltà Winery
The winegrowing team at Parés Baltà, led by Marta Casas, is dedicated to preserving old vines and ancestral grape varieties in Penedès, Catalonia. Managing 200 hectares across five estates, with vineyards ranging from 150 to 800 meters above sea level, the team integrates biodynamic and organic farming to ensure the longevity of century-old vines. Certified organic since 2003 and biodynamic since 2013, their sustainable approach protects both the land and its historic vineyards.
Their expertise in old vine viticulture is demonstrated through the careful management of vineyards over 100 years old. A key technique they employ is poda de respeto, or respectful pruning, which follows the vine’s natural growth patterns to minimize stress, prevent disease, and extend lifespan. This method is essential in maintaining the vitality of their oldest vineyards.
Collaboration is central to their success, as the team works closely with researchers, viticultural experts, and oenologists to enhance traditional practices with modern innovation. They also focus on biodiversity, soil regeneration, and water conservation to protect vineyards from climate change. By propagating cuttings from old vines and safeguarding rare varieties, Parés Baltà ensures that their historic vineyards continue to thrive for future generations.
Atze's Corner
Atze’s Corner – 1912 Vineyard, managed by Andrew, John, and Barbara Kalleske, is one of the oldest Shiraz vineyards in the Barossa Valley, Australia. Planted in 1912, this historic site has been carefully nurtured by five generations of the Kalleske family, ensuring its longevity through sustainable and traditional viticulture methods. Their hands-on approach, from pruning to harvest, preserves the vineyard’s health while producing world-class Shiraz.
The team specialises in dry-grown viticulture, relying on natural rainfall to enhance vine resilience. They employ low-yield, high-quality fruit management, allowing the vineyard’s natural characteristics to shine with minimal intervention. Their sustainable practices include organic compost, minimal synthetic inputs, hand-pruning, and hand-harvesting to maintain soil health and vine balance.
Innovation plays a key role in their vineyard management. They integrate precision pruning for vine longevity, microbial soil enrichment techniques, and climate-adaptive canopy management to protect against environmental challenges. The team also collaborates with viticultural experts, ensuring their techniques align with best practices for old vine preservation.
Through their dedication, Atze’s Corner continues to champion old vine viticulture, preserving the legacy of their 1912 vineyard for future generations.
Ridge Vineyards
Ridge Vineyards has been preserving California’s historic vineyards for over 60 years. Based in Sonoma County and the Santa Cruz Mountains, the viticulture team, led by David Gates, Mauro Maldonado, Kyle Theriot and Vicky Cordero is dedicated to the preservation and advancement of old vine Zinfandel and field blends. They collaborate with Zinfandel Advocates & Producers (ZAP), UC Davis, UC Berkeley, and the Historic Vineyard Society to promote the importance of old vines.
Their expertise is evident in the 100-year-old Lytton Springs Estate Vineyard and Monte Bello Vineyard, two of California’s most historic sites. Ridge Vineyards is committed to sustainability, with 100 percent certified organic estate vineyards and partnerships with the California Land Stewardship Institute, Wild Farm Alliance, and Sonoma Resource Conservation District. Their efforts in water conservation and environmental stewardship have been recognized by the U.S. House of Representatives and the California State Legislature.
The team employs composting, cover crops, no-till farming, hedgerows, integrated pest management, and beneficial insect introduction to ensure vineyard longevity. Their focus on field blends, a traditional practice of co-planting and co-fermenting grape varieties, preserves the vineyard’s historic character.
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