‘Pre-eminence in the vine is so much Italy’s special distinction that even with this one asset she can be thought to have surpassed all the blessings of the world…’ (Pliny the Elder, d. AD 79)*

David Way is a wine writer, educator, and regional specialist, with a particular focus on Piemonte and other Italian regions. His work combines historical context, vineyard and winemaking analysis, and contemporary producer assessment to provide a deep understanding of the region’s wines.

What I do

• Author of The Wines of Piemonte; Italian edition: I vini del Piemonte (April 2026)
• Writer of the Northern Piemonte Annual Report 2026, forthcoming, Spring 2026
• Contributor to wine education materials (WSET Diploma)
• Specialist tastings, masterclasses, and lectures for trade, educators, and enthusiasts

Explain with authority

I am a researcher and writer of study materials for the Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET), the world’s largest wine education provider. Since 2015, I have worked on the WSET Diploma, co-authoring the fully rewritten 2019 study guide (400,000 words), including Italy, Sparkling Wine, France, South Africa, China, and Wine Production. I also contributed many of the photographs in the guide and on this website. This work has been a remarkable journey of research, learning, and discovery.

For me, wine is a pleasurable exploration through grape varieties, wine styles, landscapes and countries, and of course, meeting producers and wine people. But I owe Italy a particular debt. While I have drunk the wines of Burgundy and the Rhône throughout my adult life, since 2005 I have immersed myself in the world of Italian wine and learnt the language. I started to write about wine and created this website in 2010. My background was in academic research, and this instinct has been with me for as long as I can remember. I want to know about a chosen subject in as much depth as possible, accompanied by the desire to help others find their own path towards understanding.

The Wines of Piemonte

In 2020–2024, I focused on writing The Wines of Piemonte, a 400-page book published by the Académie du Vin Library. The unique feature of the book is that it treats all 60 Piedmontese denominations with the seriousness usually given only to Barolo and Barbaresco. It was awarded by the OIV in 2024. As a result, I led a tasting on the diversity of Piedmontese wines at Texsom, Dallas, my first ever visit to the USA, and made presentations in Italian in Turin and Alba, an absolute honour. The translation into Italian is available here.

For Nebbia e Luce, I interviewed and wrote detailed profiles of 25 leading producers of Nebbiolo, a dream job. My article on the growing trend for planting white grape varieties in Piemonte, traditionally thought of as a red wine region, appeared in Decanter. I made a detailed presentation of the data with a tasting at Vinitaly 2025 in Verona. I am the wine guide for Wine Scholar Guild’s in-depth tours of Piemonte.

Northern Piemonte annual report

My new project is to write an annual report on the wines of northern Piemonte, Nebbiolo and the great, undiscovered white variety, Erbaluce. It will be the most comprehensive report on the region, which deserves much more attention than it gets.

In all this, I am indebted to Janet Tomlinson, editor and companion. She has a great ability to ask the wider question, challenge assumptions, and scrutinise my English. We make a great team.