Definition: Pro Bono Vinum award

These are the first awards to recognise the specific contribution made by the recipients in three different areas of wine: innovation, terroir (recognition of a contribution to a specific region); and Pro Bono Vinum, an award that honours an exceptional contribution to wine and wine lovers. These are also the first wine awards to be judged by a specialist panel and wine lovers from around the world.

The Innovation Award went to California wine legend Robert Mondavi;

The Terroir Award was presented to Vosne Romanée producer Henri Jayer;

and the Pro Bono Vinum Award was won by author, journalist and Master of Wine (MW) Jancis Robinson.

Inspired by the principles of the International Wine Challenge awards, which are widely recognised as the 'Oscars of the Wine World', more than a hundred of the most influential members of the wine world were invited to nominate the most deserving winners for these three awards.

Readers of Wine International magazine around the world and visitors to its website www.wineint.com were also asked to vote for their favourites. The results of the competition made it easy to select the three winners.

Innovation: award presented to Robert Mondavi in the year of his 90th birthday. This title awarded to Mondavi, says Dominique Lafon of Domaine Lafon in Meursault, is well deserved: "He had a great vision, believing that great wines could be produced in regions other than the Old Continent. Throughout his life, he championed high-quality wine." Mondavi's neighbour in California, Josh Jensen, added: "He was the pioneer who forced the American wine industry to take inspiration from the legendary European classicism in wine production."

Pursuing all new technologies and discarding them when necessary. Teaming up with influential visionaries from other regions such as Bordeaux, Italy and Chile... He devoted enormous energy to promoting his beloved Napa Valley, so that California wine production and consumption would become an essential part of life. Mondavi is an Innovative Ambassador."

Terroir: Awarded to Henri Jayer, the famous producer of Vosne-Romanée, of whom Paul Draper of Ridge Vineyard in California simply said: "Over the years, Jayer's wines - authentic and truly expressive of this great terroir - have helped build the reputation that Burgundy enjoys today." Dominique Lafon, another supporter, said of Jayer: "He served Burgundy and its vineyards all his life, trying to express every fraction of land with all its typicity; he was also very open-minded in welcoming and training young winemakers, as was my good fortune. He simply showed me his working methods - without any secrets - and shared his experience with great generosity.

Pro Bono Vinum award: awarded to Jancis Robinson MW, author of numerous books on wine, including her famous "The Oxford Companion to WINE". Among the stars who voted for Jancis Robinson was Ernst Loosen from the Dr. Loosen estate in Moselle. Here are his comments:

"I can't think of anyone more deserving of this award. She has a remarkable gift for explaining the mysteries of wine to passionate enthusiasts and novices alike, using only simple, common-sense methods. She surrounds herself with humanity and realism, behind the wines and the people who create them."

Robert Hill-Smith of Yalumba in Australia added: "Through her depth of thought, clarity of mind and communication skills, she has made everything complex seem simple. A popular winner of great merit."