News
Dom Pérignon 2018 unveiled in Bilbao as Bollinger and Old Vine Conference mark a busy week
A week of notable industry activity saw Dom Pérignon present its Vintage 2018 in Bilbao, Bollinger host a major appointment, and the Old Vine Conference launch its first photography competition.
What happened
The week of 12 June 2026 brought a cluster of significant moments across the fine wine world, with events unfolding in Spain, Champagne, and London simultaneously.
Dom Pérignon chose Bilbao as the setting for the unveiling of its Vintage 2018, bringing the release to a Spanish audience in a city that has established itself as a cultural destination of considerable standing. The occasion drew producers, sommeliers, and trade figures to the Basque capital.
Elsewhere, Bollinger hosted a major appointment during the same period, adding further weight to a week already marked by high-profile gatherings across the industry. The precise nature of the appointment was not disclosed, though its significance within the context of the broader week was clear.
Meanwhile, the Old Vine Conference announced the launch of its inaugural photography competition, inviting participants to engage with the subject of old vines through the lens. The initiative marks a new direction for the organisation, extending its reach beyond the purely viticultural into the realm of visual culture.
Why it matters
Taken together, these events reflect the breadth of activity that now characterises the fine wine calendar. A vintage release, a major house appointment, and a creative competition may appear disparate, yet each speaks to the same underlying dynamic: an industry attentive both to its heritage and to the ways in which it communicates that heritage to new audiences.
The decision to unveil Dom Pérignon 2018 in Bilbao rather than in Champagne or a more conventional capital is itself telling, suggesting an appetite for presenting prestige cuvées in contexts that carry their own cultural resonance.
The Old Vine Conference's photography competition points in a similar direction — using image-making as a means of deepening public engagement with viticulture's most storied assets.
Context
The events spanned three countries — France, Spain, and the United Kingdom — with Champagne, London, and Bilbao each serving as a distinct node in a week of industry activity. Participants included producers, sommeliers, and photographers, reflecting the increasingly varied professional communities that gather around fine wine. The Old Vine Conference's competition is its first of this kind.