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Simon Field, an Oxford languages graduate, was lucky to escape from the world of Chartered Accountancy, having qualified with KMPG in 1991, and then spent a couple of misguided years working for an American Bank in such cosseted dens as Monaco, Guernsey and Gibraltar. In 1995 he joined Oddbins, scaling the heights of a managerial position in the Belgravia branch, an up-market broom cupboard as it...

Pam Strayer specializes in organic and biodynamic wines and writes for Wines & Vines, Wine Business, Civil Eats and Daily Seven Fifty. She is senior editor of Slow Wine Guide USA, a guide to eco-friendly, boutique wineries in the U.S. Pam was the conference program director for Demeter USA’s 2018 International Biodynamic Wine Conference in San Francisco and is the author of five apps on org...

Based in Farnham in England, Richard obtained the WSET Diploma earlier this year. He teaches part-time at WSET London School. After 20 years working in medical publishing (he still freelances for The Lancet), Richard decided to move into the wine industry after spending a year in south-west France. Richard lost his sight 30 years ago from an inherited eye condition; he can only recall the a...

Shantell Martin, the renowned London-born, New York-based artist known for her large scale black-and-white drawings, has designed the artwork for The Golden Vines Awards Trophy.  Shantell Martin is one of the most groundbreaking young artists working today and is known for her exploration into the vast potential of the drawn line. Using an ink marker, she creates small personal sketches, large-sc...

Wine writer and Circle member Timo Jokinen's restaurant in Tampere, Winebridge, has become the third restaurant in Finland to have won a Wine Spectator Award of Excellency. Winebridge joins the two other Finnish restaurants recognised by the awards, Restaurant Pastis and Restaurant Muru, in the esteemed list which evaluates restaurants not only based on their cuisine and service but pays signif...

Bella Spurrier, the late wife of wine industry legend Steven Spurrier, received The Oeno Golden Vines Honorary Award in honour of Steven Spurrier's extraordinary achievements at an intimate event hosted by Liquid Icons and The Macallan at The Macallan Golden Vines Dinner.  The dinner took place at The Manor House in The Rosewood Hotel London on 6th July. Jane MacQuitty, Spurrier’s friend and The ...

Liquid Icons – the fine wine research and content production company founded by the late, great Gerard Basset OBE MW MS and his friend Lewis Chester DipWSET – are delighted to announce the recipients of twelve new scholarships for BAME/BIPOC wine students: The Golden Vines™ Masters of Wine Scholarship, The Golden Vines™ Master Sommelier Scholarship and The Golden Vines™ Wine Scholar Guild Scholars...

Originally from the Chicago area, Robin is a Master of Wine who is presently based in Lugano, Switzerland, where she works as an independent wine consultant, buyer, journalist, educator and judge. Following studies in French and English literature, she changed career paths in 1998 when she left her teaching position at the Université de Nice to study wine at the BIVB in Beaune, France and the Un...