Decanter Names Burgundy Pioneer Lalou Bize-Leroy 2026 Hall of Fame Winner, Honours Jerez Producers as Rising Stars
Decanter has awarded Burgundy biodynamic pioneer Lalou Bize-Leroy its 2026 Hall of Fame accolade, while Spanish winemakers Ramiro Ibáñez and Willy Pérez received the Rising Star award for their historical research and development of unfortified wines in Jerez.
Decanter has announced the recipients of its 2026 Hall of Fame and Rising Star awards, recognizing influential industry figures who have shaped production practices and regional identities in Burgundy and Marco de Jerez. Burgundy winemaking pioneer Lalou Bize-Leroy received the 2026 Decanter Hall of Fame award, while Spanish winemakers Ramiro Ibáñez and Willy Pérez were jointly awarded the 2026 Rising Star award.
Bize-Leroy, founder of Domaines Leroy and d’Auvenay, began her career buying wines for négociant business Maison Leroy in 1955 alongside her father, Henri Leroy. She served as co-director of Domaine de la Romanée-Conti (DRC) from 1974 until resigning in 1992 to focus on her own domaines, with her daughter Perrine Fenal taking over her position at DRC. Bize-Leroy established her own domaines in 1988, which are today among the most sought-after Burgundy names by collectors. Decanter Burgundy correspondent Charles Curtis MW highlighted Bize-Leroy's leadership in biodynamic grape-growing, low yields, and rigorous sorting, noting that her precision has left a lasting impact on regional winemaking standards.
The 2026 Rising Star award was presented to Ramiro Ibáñez and Willy Pérez for their work in the Marco de Jerez region in Spain. After meeting at university, the duo conducted extensive historical research into the region's vineyards, which led to the revival of the historic De la Riva brand and the revitalization of unfortified white wines known as vinos de pasto.
Decanter regional editor Ines Salpico noted that Ibáñez and Pérez have inspired a new generation of growers during a challenging period for the fortified wine sector. Pérez highlighted that connecting unfortified vinos de pasto to the region's established heritage—including biologically aged, oxidative, and sweet wines—is essential to ensuring the long-term commercial success of white wines from Jerez.
Key facts
- Lalou Bize-Leroy received the Decanter 2026 Hall of Fame award for her contributions to Burgundy winemaking and biodynamic viticulture.
- Bize-Leroy began working at Maison Leroy in 1955, co-directed Domaine de la Romanée-Conti from 1974 to 1992, and established Domaines Leroy and d’Auvenay in 1988.
- Ramiro Ibáñez and Willy Pérez were awarded the Decanter 2026 Rising Star award for their work in Spain's Marco de Jerez region.
- Ibáñez and Pérez revived the historic De la Riva brand and spearheaded interest in unfortified white wines known as vinos de pasto.
Why it matters
The awards highlight key commercial and viticultural shifts in premium wine markets. Bize-Leroy's recognition underlines the long-term market value of ultra-low yield, biodynamic Burgundy, while Ibáñez and Pérez demonstrate how historical research and unfortified 'vinos de pasto' can innovate traditional, fortified wine regions like Marco de Jerez during broader category challenges.
- Decanter — 2026-10-02: “Decanter Hall of Fame and Rising Star 2026 winners revealed”
This article was prepared by WBI.org from the sources listed above with the assistance of AI and reviewed by a WBI editor before publication. Information is attributed to its original sources.