Daniel Pontifex Scholarship for BBR’s Felipe Carvallo

By Michelle Perrett

Published: 15 December, 2017

Felipe Carvallo, wine advisor at Berry Bros. & Rudd in London has been awarded The Daniel Pontifex Scholarship 2017.

He was selected for the accolade from The Daniel Pontifex Memorial Trust, with the support of Wine Australia, by a panel of judges including Laura Jewell MW, Wine Australia; Michael Hill Smith MW, Shaw + Smith; Alessandro Marchesan, Zonin UK; and writer and Chef-Consultant Rowley Leigh.

The scholarship, which has been running since 1998, recognises the efforts and enthusiasm of tomorrow’s leading hospitality professionals. The award commemorates Daniel Pontifex who died in a car accident during his employment at Kensington Place Restaurant in London.

Each alternate year, a scholarship winner from the UK and Australia respectively is invited to experience the trade in the other country.

Carvallo has won a trip to Australia in late 2018 to explore the country’s food and wine culture and learn more about the trade.

Carvallo said: ‘I'm delighted to have been awarded The Daniel Pontifex Scholarship 2017. The trip will be a fantastic opportunity to discover more about Australia, experience the food and wine sector first-hand, and I’m sure it will have a very positive impact on my current role and in my MW studies.’

Michael Hill Smith MW, Shaw + Smith and Tolpuddle Vineyard, said: “The quality of candidates was very high, but Felipe’s enthusiasm and professionalism shone through. The scholarship will allow him to travel to Australia and experience the vibrancy, diversity and excitement that is Australian wine today.’

Laura Jewell MW, Wine Australia head of market EMEA, said: “We look forward to sharing Australia’s vibrant food and wine culture with Felipe and helping to develop his career with this unique experience.”

The Daniel Pontifex Scholarship was last awarded in the UK in 2015 to Quinby Frey who works at Cambridge Wine Merchants.

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