Announcing Wine Enthusiast's 2013 Wine Star Award Winners

(WineMag) -  Each year since 2000, the editors of Wine Enthusiast have honored those individuals who contributed to the success of the wine and spirits industries with our Wine Star Awards.

Over the years, we’ve honored individuals and companies from all parts of the world, representing varied mindsets, origins, generations and types of businesses. Our winners—past and present—are notable for their energy and groundbreaking vision, coupled with the courage to take risks and the skill to succeed.

In this, our 14th year of giving the awards, we’ve added a category to honor new or young members of the industry—our Rising Star award. It’s open to candidates from all sectors of the business, but this year goes to someone blazing trails on the production side.

In another first, our 2013 Person of the Year is a woman. With the growing involvement of women in the wine world, we have high hopes that more like her will distinguish themselves in this once traditional industry. We invite you to turn the page and find out her identity.

The 2013 Wine Star Award Winners:
Wine Person of the Year: Barbara Banke

 When her beloved “partner and soul mate,” Jess Jackson, died in April 2011, Barbara Banke might have felt like the world had come crashing down around her shoulders.

Overnight, she became the sole proprietor of Jackson Family Wines (JFW), whose largest winery was the iconic Kendall-Jackson.

A forceful high-achiever, Banke enjoyed a fast-track career before meeting Jackson.