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Justin Martindale MW awarded 2022 Madame Bollinger Medal
The Madame Bollinger Foundation has announced Justin Martindale MW as the recipient of the 34th iteration of its Madame Bollinger Medal, awarded for excellence in tasting and outstanding achievement in the Institute of Masters of Wine practical exams.
Martindale was announced as the winner by Alan Montague-Dennis, director of prestige Sales for Bollinger’s UK importer, Mentzendorff, on behalf of Etienne Bizot, chairman of the Madame Bollinger Foundation and president of Groupe Bollinger, at the annual IMW awards ceremony held at Vintners’ Hall in London.
This year marks the 34th 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 aiming to foster quality, education and ethics in all matters relating to wine at an international level. The Institute of Masters of Wine is without question the global reference in the pursuit of wine excellence in education and I am therefore delighted to award the 2022 Madame Bollinger Medal to Justin for this great achievement.”
Upon being presented with the award, Justin Martindale MW said: “I’m absolutely delighted to have won this coveted award and hugely grateful to Champagne Bollinger for their generosity and support. I’m very proud to follow in the footsteps of so many other illustrious MWs who have won this award before me. I owe a huge thanks to the IMW and everyone else who supported me through this journey.”
Martindale is an educator, consultant and wine judge based in Edinburgh. He joined the wine trade with Majestic in 2008, following a stint as a classical musician after studying music at Leeds University.
In 2013 Martindale established Lothian Wine School in Edinburgh, where he now works as head tutor teaching WSET courses, masterclasses and bespoke private events, as well as running a consultancy business and judging at international wine competitions.
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