Jasper Van den Heuvel wins Lafite Laureate and is Vinologist of the Year 2023

Jasper Van den Heuvel is the proud winner of the Lafite Laureate 2023, the prize sponsored by De Monnik Dranken and Domaines Barons de Rothschild Lafite associated with achieving the title of Vinologist of the Year. In second place finished ex aequo Lisa van der Werf and Karin Muires. Jasper not only gets to call himself 'Vinologist of the Year' for a year, he and his partner also win a visit to Château Lafite Rothschild in Bordeaux. - TEXT + IMAGE UNITED VINOLOGEN NEDERLAND

Final Vinologist of the Year 2023

Every year, the Verenigde Vinologen Nederland (VVN) and De Monnik Dranken organise a competition for the title of Vinologist of the Year. After several preliminary rounds, the winner was determined last Friday, 27 January 2023, in the finals in Oldenzaal.

During the final, the nine best blind tasters had to identify 12 wines in a blind tasting through a series of questions. The test started with eight 'signature wines' (four white wines and four red wines), which are wines that a country or region identifies with. For example, Sauvignon Blanc and Marlborough and Tannat and Uruguay. A total of 4 countries cq territories were represented; each has a white and a red signature wine.

The finalists first had to enter the grape variety of these 8 signature wines. Then the blind tasters had to decide which white signature wine belonged to which red signature wine; the wines of each pair (4 pairs in total) were thus from the same country/area of origin. Of the last four wines, again the grape variety had to be determined and the age of the wines.

Jasper Van den Heuvel wins Lafite Laureate and is Vinologist of the Year 2023

Jasper Van den Heuvel beat the other finalists, scoring especially well on the signature wine section. "A handsome performance, as these pairs of signature wines caught many finalists off guard," said the jury consisting of Cees van Casteren and Andrea de Leeuw. In second place finished ex aequo Lisa van der Werf and Karin Muires, they received 2 beautiful bottles of wine and a crystal Lafite Rothschild decanter.

The Monk Drinks bears the vinologists' heart and therefore, together with Domaines Barons de Rothschild Lafite, is making available a nice prize: the winner will be invited with partner to a private visit to Château Lafite Rothschild.

Finalists Vinologist of the Year final 2023

1. Martin Favié
2. Jasper Van den Heuvel
3. Angelique Meulendijks
4. Rik van Nieuwkerk
5. Bjorn Scholten
6. Bernard Witzel
7. Lisa van der Werf
8. Ed Carper
9. Karin Muires

This article was produced in collaboration with the United Vinologists of the Netherlands (VVN) and De Monnik Beverages

Don't want to miss a single edition? Subscribe then subscribe to WINELIFE Magazine now!

Want to stay up to date with the best articles? Follow WINELIFE Magazine on Instagram, Facebook and sign up for our fortnightly newsletter.