File this under things I always meant to do but have never gotten around to…. Every year an organization called the Geoffrey Roberts Trust picks several people to give about $5000 to so they can travel someplace in the world to eat, drink, and write about it, or do something that makes a positive difference in the culinary or beverage world.

Yes, you heard that right, you could get $5000 towards some fabulous culinary or wine adventure provided you had a good reason to go other than simply wanting to see how much Barolo you could drink before falling over.

Geoffrey Roberts was a lawyer-turned-wine-importer whose personality left him endeared to many, and whose passion for wine and food left few tables unoccupied or bottles untasted. The award set up in his honor after his untimely death at 46 is given each year to commemorate his life and his passions.

Applicants must simply be prepared to demonstrate that “by winning the travel bursary the winner is likely to make a positive different to their chosen field of food, drink and/or travel rather than simply advancing their own knowledge or career.” Other than that, there are few criteria to win.

Past winners have included a baker interested in learning artisan techniques, a biochemist studying a particular kind of pineapple and the dishes made from it, a Master of Wine student studying indigenous grape varieties in Eastern Europe, a cider brewer interested in sharing techniques with brewers in other countries… the list goes on and on.

I highly encourage anyone who is truly passionate about doing something in the wine or food world (other than simply imbibing) to apply. Who knows, maybe I’ll even get around to it myself this year.

See more at http://www.geoffreyrobertsaward.com/