The Old Vine Conference showcases the beauty of age

From France to Australia, by way of many territories between, the shrinking global vinescape has become enough of a concern that its impact was reported in The Economist this November. With wine drinking in decline, cash-strapped consumers reining in spend and thus an industry feeling the pain of oversupply, vineyards are being ripped out, with other, more profitable crops often being planted. And a troubling fact – at least where future quality wine production is concerned – is that older vines, by dint of the fact that they are less productive and sometimes harder to work, are often first in the firing line.

5 mins with: Paul Draper, chairman of the board, Ridge Vineyards

In conversation with Jancis Robinson MW at the opening of the Old Vine Conference in Napa, legendary Californian winemaker Paul Draper explains his lifelong affection for old vines

Livestream registration open for Old Vine Conference 2025

There is a week to go until The Old Vine Conference 2025: Meeting of the Minds, a five-day event dedicated to the preservation of heritage vineyards globally.

Q&A: Asieh Hagh Shenas, researcher, wine lover and old vine champion

Iranian-born Asieh Hagh Shenas is yet to qualify as a winemaker, but nonetheless is already a rising star in the wine world, as Andrew Catchpole discovers. 

Bolivian winery among the winners at Old Vine Hero Awards 2025

The winners of the Old Vine Hero Awards 2025 have been announced, with five champions being recognised across categories including ‘Next Generation’, ‘Best Viticultural Team’ and ‘Communication & Education’. The awards are organised by the Old Vine Conference, a non-profit organisation dedicated to raising awareness and understanding of the work being done to nurture old vines around the world.

Old Vine Registry surpasses 4,000 entries

The Old Vine Registry, the world’s first database of old vineyards, has now accumulated over 4,000 entries from 39 countries around the world. The announcement illustrates healthy progress in terms of the registry’s goal of registering 10,000 vineyards by 2027.

Old Vine Registry announces ‘vine hunt’ on first anniversary

One year on from its official launch, Old Vine Registry is upping its efforts to catalogue and protect the world’s heritage vineyards via a new incentivised search.

Producer Q&A: Antonio Capaldo, Feudi Di San Gregorio

Campania icon Feudi di San Gregorio’s old vine project has landed the 2024 Old Vine Hero Award for Research. Jason Millar catches up with the estate’s president to find out more.

Age as a thing of beauty

The concept of old vines has been a marketing tool for decades. From California to France and Spain, ‘vieilles vignes’ and other – unregulated – designations are a generally agreed-upon method of sending a message to the consumer. The message is usually about quality and development – how smaller yields and nutrient-rich vines are likely to result in more concentrated, complex wines.

Domaine Jones releases new range of old vine cuvées

Ex-pat winemaker Katie Jones, owner of Domaine Jones in the Languedoc-Rousillon, has launched the Vineyard Collection – a range of wines from very old vines.

Chile's old vine renaissance

Registrations now open for the Old Vine Conference 2021

The third edition of the Old Vine Conference will take place between 1-2 December and is now open for registrations.

Tim Atkin MW: Valuing our old vines

Call it serendipity, call it fate, but there are times when events and conversations seem to align. You go for months without thinking about something and then it’s everywhere, filling your inbox and your brain. Spooky, possums, as Dame Edna Everage once put it.

Initiative to support world’s oldest vines launches

An initiative to support the global group of winemakers and viticulturists engaged with the world’s oldest vines has been launched by Leo Austin, Sarah Abbott MW and Alun Griffiths MW.

Argentina report: Darling of 
the on-trade

Argentinian wine continues to be a UK success story, fighting through currency woes and falling wine consumption, 
as James 
Lawrence reports

Tim Atkin MW: What it takes to be the best

TIM ATKIN, WINE CRITIC, BROADCASTER, CO-CHAIR OF THE IWC