The second part of the interview with Tom. See part one for further details ..read more

Tom became the first wine journalist to specialise in Champagne when, after six years of research, he published Champagne (Sotheby’s Publications, 1986). His Christie’s World Encyclopedia of Champagne & Sparkling Wine (Absolute Press, 1998) reproduced a 17th-century document proving that the English invented sparkling Champagne six years before Dom Pérignon set foot in Hautvillers. This historical revelation ensured the encyclopedia itself made history by becoming the only wine book to warrant a leader in any UK national newspaper (The Guardian, 14 October 1998). Today Tom is the author of ..read more

For more on Stephen please see his website : English Wine. Stephen Skelton has been involved with growing vines and making wine since 1975. He spent two years in Germany, working at Schloss Schönborn in the Rheingau and studying at Geisenheim, the world-renowned winegrowing and winemaking college, with the late Professor Helmut Becker. In 1977 he returned to the UK to establish the vineyards at Tenterden in Kent (now the home of the UK’s largest wine producer, Chapel Down Wines), and made wine there for 22 consecutive vintages. From 1988 to 1991 he was also winemaker and general manager at Lam ..read more

Simon has more than 30 years’ experience in different commercial sectors of the wine industry, including senior roles with Waitrose, Constellation, Negociants and Fells. He has been a board member of both the Institute of Masters of Wine and the WSET, and continues to work with both organisations. Passionate about the British wine industry, he took over the role as CEO of WineGB in October 2020 and was appointed to the Board on 13th April 2021. Simon lives in the beautiful county of Shropshire, and spends his spare time with his wife Louise and three sons, walking the dogs, weeding the garden ..read more

Simon has more than 30 years’ experience in different commercial sectors of the wine industry, including senior roles with Waitrose, Constellation, Negociants and Fells. He has been a board member of both the Institute of Masters of Wine and the WSET, and continues to work with both organisations. Passionate about the British wine industry, he took over the role as CEO of WineGB in October 2020 and was appointed to the Board on 13th April 2021. Simon lives in the beautiful county of Shropshire, and spends his spare time with his wife Louise and three sons, walking the dogs, weeding the garden ..read more

Annabelle Bond, OBE, earned the title "fastest woman climber in the world" in 2005 after scaling the highest peaks on the seven continents in just 360 days. At the end of 2003, she began intensive training with a Chilean team 6 months prior to going to Everest. She reached the summit of Mount Everest on May 15th 2004, the fourth British woman to stand on top of the world. After climbing Mount Everest, Annabelle went on to climb the other six mountains that comprise the Seven Summits, making her the only woman in the world to have achieved that extraordinary physical and logistical feat in less ..read more

Part 2 of the interview with Steven Spurrier ..read more

Steven Spurrier born 5th October 1941, was educated at Rugby School and the London School of Economics. In 1964 he joined the wine trade as a trainee with Christopher and Co (established 1665). In 1970 he moved to Paris and purchased Les Caves de la Madeleine, a small shop in the centre of the city, and in 1973 opened L'Academie du Vin, the first independent wine school in France. As a partner, he became involved in divers ventures allied to wine: Le Bistrot a Vin, a winebar/restaurant in the business quarter of La Defense; Le Chemin des Vignes, a warehouse and bottling plant on the outskirts ..read more

Simon Berry Podcast FINAL by Guy Heywood ..read more

Hugh Johnson OBE is the world’s most pre-eminent and prolific writer on wine. Starting out more than fifty years ago as a wine correspondent on Vogue magazine he has progressed through the world of wine, writing, editing and broadcasting giving us some of the most influential information around, including The Story of Wine. Hugh has also won almost every wine book award in existence to his Pocket Wine Book now in its 37th edition. Along the way he has received numerous medals and awards, been the Director of a French Champagne house and helped to save wine production in Hungary, all the while ..read more