Bordeaux Index Proud to Sponsor Curious Vines' 2025 Education Support Awards

Applications are now open for Curious Vines’ 2025 Education Support Awards, and Bordeaux Index is proud to be a sponsor of this initiative.

Curious Vines, led by Queena Wong, is a supportive community and network of women in the UK wine industry. Created as a safe space to connect and foster a more accessible and balanced wine industry, Queena runs mentorship programmes, workshops, masterclasses and, for the second year in a row, is delivering the education support awards.

Designed to uplift and retain existing talent in the wine sector, these considered and extensive education programmes support women and non-binary people across MW, MS, WSET Diploma and CMS Advanced qualifications.

As a sponsor, we are particularly proud to champion the MW programme, an essential pathway for those in the industry to expand their knowledge and become leading voices in the sector. Our own buyer, Alex, is currently working towards this prestigious qualification, having sat his Stage 2 Exams for the first time over the summer.

The awards will provide expert insights and strategies to pass exams, excel at blind tasting and perform under exam pressure; whilst purposeful use of in-person group sessions will create new networks among next generation wine professionals.

"Supporting the education and progression of talented individuals is critical to ensuring the wine industry thrives and adapts to a changing world. At Bordeaux Index, we are committed to ensuring that women working in the wine sector achieve their maximum potential and are appropriately represented in the next generation of leadership. Sponsoring the MW programme within the 2025 Education Support Awards allows us to directly contribute to the development of future leaders, strengthening not only their careers but the wine industry as a whole." Matthew O'Connell, CEO of Bordeaux Index's trading platform, LiveTrade

Curious Vines

Curious Vines led by Queena Wong is a supportive community of women in the UK wine industry that cultivates connectivity. Its objective to improve wine industry gender diversity has a two-prong approach: firstly, by the provision of a community where women feel safe, seen and supported and secondly, providing education and development initiatives for career advancement. Both strategies work together in addressing the priority issues from the UK Women in Wine survey to PROTECT, RETAIN and UPLIFT female resources.

"Investing in leadership diversity benefits the entire wine industry by mitigating costly talent drain and enhancing business performance. These support awards provide equity for success before or during the strains of caring responsibility, and consistent long-term efforts will future-proof routes to leadership through increased knowledge, qualifications and connections. I am thankful for the people and entities who have enabled real action to keep the wine industry in line with social progression." Queena Wong, Founder, Curious Vines

For more information or to apply, contact Queena Wong at [email protected]. The application deadline is Friday, 20th December 2024, at 11:59 pm GMT, with winners announced by Monday, 6th January 2025.