‘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)*
For me, wine is 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.
Explain with authority
I am now a researcher and writer of study materials for the Wine and Spirit Education Trust, the world’s largest provider of wine education. Our distinctive role is to explain with authority, drawing on reliable sources and the best contemporary knowledge and understanding. Since 2015, I have worked on the top-level qualification, the Diploma in Wines, as one of the two principal writers of the completely rewritten Diploma study guide, launched in 2019. This was a massive project running to 400,000 words. I researched and wrote Italy for this project and, with the help of many other experts, also wrote the unit on Sparkling Wine, plus the sections on France, South Africa and China. I also contributed to the Wine Production unit. In addition, I took many of the photos that appear in that study guide, as well as those on this website. It has been a remarkable journey of discovery, learning and enjoyment.
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. If you want to read about the twists and turns of this project, read and subscribe to the Diary. 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.
For Nebbia e Luce, I have interviewed and written 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 magazine. I made a detailed presentation of the data with a tasting at Vinitaly 2025 in Verona. Finally, I am the wine guide for Wine Scholar Guild’s in-depth tour of Piemonte.
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.
For all things Italian wine and wine education, contact me.
Qualifications
University of Oxford MA and DPhil, Durham University BA
Wine qualifications
WSET Level 4 Diploma. Prizes awarded: The Champagne Prize 2013; The Wine Trade Club Paten Prize 2014
Master of Wine student, 2013-19, passed MW Theory 2015. Prizes awarded included the AXA Millésimes scholarship and the New Zealand Family of Twelve prize.
* Natural History, translation John F. Healy, Penguin 2004, p. 183
