The reasons to preserve old vines are myriad. But one of the least-often-discussed reasons to keep them around ends up being the fact that they are simply beautiful. Just as with people, time, weather, and the vicissitudes of life turn grapevines into living sculptures that I find endlessly captivating in their forms.

Photographing old vines and vineyards in general can be notoriously tricky. For every interesting vineyard photograph made out there, hundreds, if not thousands, of boring ones exist. But that doesn’t stop me (and plenty of other people) from trying to capture the shapes, the light, and the special qualities of old vineyards and their vines.

In celebration of these efforts, the Old Vine Conference launched the Old Vine Photography Contest this year, and the shortlists of finalists have just been announced. The images are available for your appreciation and for your vote. The winner will be announced on Old Vine Day, July 15th 2026.

Enjoy the images, vote for your favorites, and continue to support old vines!