Wine is about more than just tasting, it's about the stories, moments, and artistry surrounding the world of wine, and few platforms celebrate this better than the Errazuriz Wine Photographer of the Year.

Over the years, this prestigious competition has showcased the incredible intersection of wine, culture, and photography, spotlighting the beauty and craftsmanship of winemaking through the eye of a lens. Below are some of our personal highlights.

The competition is divided into 3 categories: People; highlighting the human element in winemaking, Place; focusing on the places and spaces that make wine, and Produce; a category dedicated to the wine itself, from the grapes to the packaging.

Adrian Chitty’s "The Eye" captures a mesmerizing moment in winemaking, turning what is often overlooked into a striking visual masterpiece. The photograph shows Chardonnay lees settling at the bottom of a stainless steel fermentation tank, forming this intricate and organic pattern.

The image highlights the beauty found in the minutiae of winemaking – the lees that play such an important role in aging wine yet are rarely seen by anyone outside of winemaking. Its circular composition and the abstract nature of the lees evoke both artistry and precision, making it a standout in the Produce category of the Errazuriz Wine Photographer of the Year 2023 competition.

Lana Svitankova’s “The Vanishing Craft” is a poignant piece that took first place in the Places category of the Errazuriz Wine Photographer of the Year 2021. Captured in a cooperage in Porto, Portugal, the photograph highlights the dwindling number of traditional craftsmen who work with barrels, a vital part of the winemaking process.

The image not only showcases the physical space but also reflects the fragility and fading of age-old practices in modern times. Svitankova’s photo serves as both a tribute to these artisans and a reminder of the importance of preserving such crafts within the wine industry.

Matt Wilson's 2nd place shot from the 2019 People category "The Body Plunge" is a striking and memorable image featuring New Zealand winemaker Grant Phelps submerged in a vat of Syrah grapes.

The image captures both the playfulness and the deeply personal connection that winemakers have with their craft. It’s a bold representation of winemaking as a tactile, sensory experience – one in which the winemaker is not just an observer but fully immersed in the process. The photo exemplifies how winemaking can be as much an art form as a labor-intensive practice, and it earned widespread recognition for its creativity.

Robert Holmes' "Mayasara Winery, Willamette Valley, Oregon" placed 1st in the Places category of the 2016 award, and captures the practice of burning sulfur sticks inside wine barrels. This process is a critical step in preparing barrels for reuse, as it prevents spoilage organisms, such as bacteria and unwanted yeast, from contaminating the wood.

The photograph, taken at the Maysara Winery, shows this practice in action, the smoke and glow from the sulfur creating an atmospheric scene, highlighting the traditional and meticulous care taken in the winemaking process. This image is not only visually captivating but also speaks to the dedication and precision required in maintaining the integrity of wine barrels​

George Rose's "Morning Dew, Sonoma County" took 3rd place in the 2018 Produce category of the Errazuriz Wine Photographer of the Year competition. The image captures a tranquil moment in a Sonoma County vineyard, where heavy fog has left tiny, ornate droplets of water on the delicate Pinot Noir grapes.

This photograph showcases the cool climate's vital role in the winemaking process; a crisp portrayal of the intricate minutiae of dew enhancing the grapes' freshness. Rose's skillful use of natural light and texture beautifully conveys the intimate connection between nature and the craft of winemaking.

Alessandra Spairani's "Il Fruttaio" took first place in the Produce category of the 2019 Errazuriz Wine Photographer of the Year competition. The image showcases a traditional fruit cellar, or "fruttaio," once used to store fruit during the winter. In modern times, winemaker Riccardo uses this space to hang the finest Bosco, Albarola, and Vermentino grapes from his small vineyards in Cinque Terre, Liguria. These carefully selected grapes are dried to produce Sciacchetrà, one of the region’s most sought-after and precious wines.

The soft pastel organic hues contrasting the patinaed metal of the frame capture the interplay between tradition and craft, highlighting the inherently pragmatic but largely unchanged approach of traditional winemaking.

Jon Wyand's "Late Afternoon in March, Vallée des Vaux Côte Chalonnaise" earned 2nd place in the Places category of the Errazuriz Wine Photographer of the Year. This captivating photograph captures the shimmering, golden glow of the late afternoon sun illuminating the vineyards of the Vallée des Vaux in the Côte Chalonnaise region of Burgundy.

The image showcases the magnificence of the vineyard landscape, where light and shadow play across the rolling hills, highlighting the natural textures of the vines and the intricate geometry of the rows. Wyand’s composition perfectly conveys the serene atmosphere of the region, inviting viewers to appreciate the vineyard’s quiet elegance and the connection between land and light.

The Errazuriz Wine Photographer of the Year Award offers a peak behind the scenes, lifting the veil on what can often seem like an almost clandestine practice. As we look back on some of the most striking images from the competition, we celebrate the artistry, dedication, and creativity that shape the global wine industry.

Here’s to many more years of remarkable submissions and to seeing how future photographers will continue to capture the enduring beauty of winemaking through the lens.

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