I am a wine lover and published wine writer.  I also live in London, which is probably the best place in the world to be a wine enthusiast.  Lucky me!  I can’t think there are many other places in the world with the diversity of bars and restaurants and the range of wines available to buy.  I love to share what I’ve learned and introduce people to something new.  That’s why I wanted to start my wine diary. 

My taste is quite eclectic and I like to taste wines from different regions and in different styles, both fine wine and, the Holy Grail: well-made, good value wine.  The key thing for me is that the wine is made with love and care.  I don’t go mad on spending, but I do believe tasting wine should be a sensual pleasure, so I’m happy to spend more money on fewer bottles if that means being able to enjoy something extra special.

I always enjoy travelling to vine growing areas as they are often found in some of the most beautiful parts of the world, but my interest in wine really took shape when I worked in Paris for 18 months and was able to spend some time in the Loire, Burgundy and Champagne.  As the months went by the trips became longer: Bordeaux, Beaujolais, Alsace, Rioja…  This is also when I started buying wine, which has become a rewarding, albeit budget- and space-consuming, activity.

I started learning about wine more formally about 10 years ago when I took part in Michael Schuster’s fantastic beginner’s and fine wine courses.  I then worked my way through the WSET Intermediate and Advanced Certificates before completing the WSET Diploma in 2011 for which I was awarded the IWSC Waitrose Scholarship for outstanding achievement and the Hors Concours prize for the highest placed non-trade candidate worldwide.

I hope you enjoy my blog and that it inspires you to try something new.

Jane