Welcome to Bordeaux Mentor Week
Jane Anson, author of Inside Bordeaux and founder of janeanson.com, and Chinedu Rita-Rosa, entrepreneur and owner of Vines by Rosa Consultancy, founded the 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.
Best Education & Knowledge Sharing
V d’Or, Vinexposium Awards, 2025, Winner
‘As a wine writer and critic who has lived in Bordeaux for 20 years, I know how an understanding of Bordeaux, with its complicated trading system of brokers and négociants, its astonishing global reach, and its internationally-planted grape varieties, can provide a shortcut to greater knowledge and understanding of wine in general. The aim of this week is to help share that knowledge, and to provide our scholars with skills and motivation that they can practically make use of in their future careers – and we hope then pay that forward by encouraging others on their path in wine.’ – Jane Anson
‘This opportunity gives them an unparalleled access to sit one on one and talk about the bias they face day to day and difficulties to be educated practically in this space. And it allows the chateaux and their top management team to see the potential in these individuals with passion who despite their struggles have created a place for themselves in the wine trade, and actively making it better’. – Chinedu Rita-Rosa
About
The whole week provides an incredible opportunity for both the scholars and the host châteaux to see how the wine world is evolving and to allow exchanges between different cultures – a reminder that this is part of a wider movement that is working towards a common goal: diversifying not just the Bordeaux wine industry but the wine industry in general, and ensuring that it is reaching out to the next generation in a positive way.
The week is split into five distinct days, covering all aspects of the Bordeaux wine industry. As many of our scholars, even sommeliers with great theoretical knowledge of wine and wine tasting, are visiting vineyards for the first time in their lives, we ensure that the first day of every year is practical – letting them get their hands dirty and really experiencing what it means to be in a busy wine region as that year’s harvest is being brought into the cellars. This then sets them up for a true boot camp throughout the week…For an example of what to expect – Harvest, Blending and Terroir Class, Tasting + Mature Vintages Tasting, Wine startups, meeting win entrepreneurs, Startup WinOrganic winemaking, Wine tourism, virtual reality innovations, Négociant visits, CVBG and Les Vins de Crus, Press interviews
Testimonials
“The program has opened my eyes to a world of possibilities, and I’m committed to applying everything I’ve learned and passing it on to both my generation and the next”
Lorna Kipkosgei
“A week full of knowledge, inspiration, emotions, connections, memories, laughter, hugs and lot more. From sharing knowledge to sharing laughter, we all became friends and it was such an honour to be able to spend time with everyone”
Savi Wakchaure
“One of the most important and enriching weeks for my career as a sommelier”
Sebastian Gonzalez
“Participating in the mentor week was a true once in a lifetime opportunity. Jane and Chinedu, experts in their own rights, introduced us to so many talented professionals leading the way in Bordeaux. They gave us an insider’s look at the region, visiting producers but also engaging with all aspects of the industry. Forging friendships with the the other scholars has also been a real highlight – it’s a real treat to stand among such impressive and enthusiastic people. Bordeaux Mentor Week has inspired and enriched beyond what I could have dreamed”
Eric Palmer
A wonderful program curated by Jane and Chinedu, it is definitely going to change the way we look forward to getting into the beautiful and diverse wine industry.
Tanmay Rathod
Create Your Own Website With Webador