The Madame Bollinger Foundation awards the 2024 Madame Bollinger Medal to Dror Nativ MW
Dror Nativ MW was announced as the 2024 winner of the Madame Bollinger Medal, which is awarded for excellence in tasting and outstanding achievement in the Institute of Masters of Wine practical exams, at the Institute of Masters of Wine annual awards ceremony. The winner’s certificate was presented by Justin Liddle, Managing Director of Mentzendorff and Secretary of the Madame Bollinger Foundation, on behalf of Etienne Bizot, the Chairman of the Madame Bollinger Foundation and also President of the Bollinger Family Group, at the annual Institute of Masters of Wine awards ceremony held at Vintners’ Hall in London.
This year marks the 36th occasion that the Madame Bollinger Medal has been presented since its inauguration in 1988.
Commenting on the importance of such recognition of achievement in wine education, Etienne Bizot, great-nephew of Madame Bollinger said; “The ‘Madame Bollinger Foundation’ was launched by my Father, Christian Bizot, at Vintners Hall in 1988. The aim of the Foundation is to foster quality, education and ethics in all matters relating to wine at an international level and the Institute of Masters of Wine is without question the global reference in the pursuit of wine excellence in education. I am therefore delighted to award the 2024 Madame Bollinger Medal to Dror Nativ MW for this great achievement in honour of Madame Bollinger.”
Upon being presented with the award, Dror Nativ MW said; “I’m super proud and really excited about winning the Madame Bollinger Medal. I couldn’t have done it without my family, especially my wife who has supported me throughout the whole MW journey. A lot of hard work has gone into it and it’s very emotional for me, so thank you.”
Nativ is a wine buyer at Marks & Spencer, responsible for Champagne & sparkling wine, England, Bordeaux, Burgundy and South America. His career in the world of drinks started in the hospitality industry, opening and running the first Irish pub in Tel Aviv. His love of wine developed when he worked for a fine wine importer in London, and his retail wine buying career in the UK spans SPAR, Sainsbury’s and M&S. He has a passion for the growing English wine industry. He lives in Hertfordshire with his wife and three children.
Nativ will be invited with his family for a private visit to be presented the medal itself by Etienne Bizot, at the House of Champagne Bollinger in Aÿ.
ENDS
Notes to editors
Dror Nativ MW (UK) biography
Dror Nativ is a wine buyer at Marks & Spencer, overseeing Champagne and sparkling wine from England, Bordeaux, Burgundy and South America. His career began in hospitality, where he opened the first Irish pub in Tel Aviv. His passion for wine grew while working for a fine wine importer in London. Dror’s UK retail buying experience includes roles at SPAR, Sainsbury’s, and now M&S. He has a keen interest in the burgeoning English wine industry. Dror lives in Hertfordshire with his wife and three children.
Previous winners:
1988 – Michael Hill Smith MW
1989 – Mark Pardoe MW
1990 – Joanna Locke MW
1991 – Alun Griffiths MW
1992 – Jonathan Pedley MW
1993 – Andrew Caillard MW
1994 – John Hoskins MW
1995 – Peter Marks MW
1996 – Matthew Stubbs MW
1997 – Anne Tupker MW
1998 – Gerard Basset MW (d.2019)
1999 – John Atkinson MW
2001 – Linda Jotham MW
2000 – Not awarded
2002 – Konstantinos Lazarakis MW
2003 – Toni Paterson MW
2004 – Simon Larkin MW
2005 – Susan Hulme MW
2006 – Essi Avellan MW
2007 – Ulf Sjodin MW
2008 – Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW
2009 – Isabelle Legeron MW
2010 – Alex Hunt MW
2011 – Samantha Caporn MW
2012 – Andreas Wickhoff MW
2013 – Anne McHale MW
2014 – Louise Sydbeck MW
2015 – Rebecca Gibb MW
2016 – Mary Margaret McCamic MW
2017 – Jeremy Cukierman MW
2018 – Lindsay Pomeroy MW
2019 – Christine Marsiglio MW
2020 – Heidi Iren Hansen Vestvik MW
2021 – Álvaro Ribalta MW
2022 – Justin Martindale MW
2023 – Wojciech Bońkowski MW
2024 – Dror Nativ MW
About the Institute of Masters of Wine
The Institute of Masters of Wine (IMW) is a membership organisation with an exceptional international reputation. For almost 70 years, its members – the Masters of Wine (MWs) – have been at the forefront of leadership and expertise in the world of wine. The IMW’s mission is to foster excellence, interaction and learning across all sectors of the global wine community. MWs prove their comprehensive understanding of wine by passing the MW exam, recognised worldwide for its rigour and exacting standards. In addition to passing the exam, members must sign the code of conduct before they are entitled to use the initials MW. This requires them to uphold the highest standards of commercial conduct within the industry. Today, there are 421 Masters of Wine working in 30 countries. The membership encompasses winemakers, sommeliers, buyers, journalists, shippers, consultants, academics, educators and more. There were 367 students from 40 countries in the 2023-2024 MW study programme. The IMW works with 37 supporters and four research and industry associates, who help promote the IMW’s mission. The five principal supporters are Austrian Wine, AXA Millésimes, Constellation Brands, Champagne Bollinger/the Mme Bollinger Foundation and VSPT Wine Group.
About the Madame Bollinger Foundation
The Madame Bollinger Foundation was founded in honour of Madame Lily Bollinger who tirelessly headed the eponymous Champagne house from 1941, following the death of her husband, to retirement in 1973. Founded in 1987, and established as the first partner of The Institute of Masters of Wine in 1988, the purpose of The Madame Bollinger Foundation is to promote excellence in oenology and to foster quality, education, professional qualification and ethics in all matters relating to wine at an international level. The Foundation and the board of trustees have determined that the Institute of Masters of Wine is the best organisation to help reach this aim, and are proud of their long and continuous association with the Institute for over 30 years.
About Champagne Bollinger
Champagne Bollinger: Eminent, distinctive, and distinguished fine wines of Champagne since 1829. Guaranteed through the integrity of a resolutely independent family house in Aÿ and through the artisanal know-how of people dedicated to growing and blending excellence. Devotion extending beyond the wines to support a sustainable environment and integration with local communities.
On 1st July 2022 Maison Bollinger outlined ambitious plans for its upcoming Bicentenary in 2029, as well as a new environmental and societal charter, marking the official launch of Bollinger’s ambitious plans for their Bicentenary Year. The countdown has started to successfully complete significant projects that reflect the Maison’s values and history, so they will be well prepared for the 200 years to come. The renovation of a historic site; a cathedral like cellar open to the vines, an oenotourism site with the capacity to provide unique experiences at the heart of the vines and cellars; and environmental and societal engagement. These are all undertakings that will reaffirm and support Bollinger’s values.
As of September 2023, Bollinger was pleased to announce they had achieved their objective of obtaining the B Corp certification. By obtaining the B Corp certification, Champagne Bollinger commits to a structure of ongoing development and must submit to an evaluation and verification process every three years to demonstrate that it still meets the constantly advancing certification standards. This certification recognises the merit of Bollinger’s daily actions. It engages all employees in a collective approach to progress.
For more information, visit www.champagne-bollinger.com
For more information contact:
Adam Jones
Marketing Manager
Institute of Masters of Wine
+44 (0)207 383 9139
ajones@mastersofwine.org