What
the hell does a 'wine writer' do and why, you might well
ask? Oh, and a hint of travel, food, distilleries and restaurants too…
journalism that is. Funny job but somebody's got to do it, especially as
there are more and more of you wine enthusiasts out there...
I live in the south of France, by the way, not far from
the Med and Spain, and
have been slowly exploring
the diverse wine regions of Roussillon,
Languedoc, Provence and Catalonia. Apart
from publishing & editing
WineWriting.com, a stimulating (although time-consuming and so far not very
profitable - potential advertisers
click here
please!) venture kick-started in 2002, I write or have written
freelance for a variety of publications and media:
www.winetravelguides.com (UK),
www.winetourisminfrance.com (France),
Decanter (UK),
Off Licence News (British
off-trade fortnightly),
Harpers (British wine & spirit weekly and on-trade magazine),
Wine Business Monthly (US),
Redhot (in-flight
magazine for Virgin Express, 2005),
Time Out South of France guide (contributor 2004 edition), French
Property News (2004), City Life Manchester (1998-2003), Wine magazine
(2002-04), Refresh magazine
(2003), Class magazine
(2002), Restaurant
magazine and sister website therestaurantgame.com
(2000-01), Virgin.net (2000-01,
now
editorially defunct), everywine.co.uk
(2001), ICE magazine
(2001), Home magazine
(1999-00),
Attitude magazine (1999) and Wine & Spirit International
(1998-99).
I’m also a member of the
Circle of Wine Writers and the Society of Authors.
I did some research for a publisher for a doomed wine book project a
few years ago; and I'm still working on that great idea for a truly
populist best seller that people will really want to read, and isn't yet
another insubstantial guide, rehash or ego trip (and that somebody would
be willing to publish)! In the meantime, I ventured 'sideways' a little a
few years ago into fiction. Now there's a thought: a
European-set, Hollywood wine film noir (watch this space)...
Wearing my
Wine Education Service hat (1998-2002)
when I lived in Manchester, England, I used to run evening wine courses. Before that I did a few
tutored tastings, consumer shows and market research for generic bodies
such as Wines of South Africa and German Wines. Delving further into the
past before becoming self-employed, I worked for a wine importer and
producer for nearly ten years latterly as marketing manager.
As regards professional
qualifications, I passed the Wine & Spirit Education Trust Diploma back
in the mists of time in 1989/90. I sat the
Master of Wine exams from 2002-2004,
passing the tasting papers first then conquered the theory; but I've now
lost interest in doing yet another formulaic
dissertation
(probably something to do with sour grapes)! What else: I spent
four eventful years at the University of St. Andrews, Scotland, and
escaped with a Master of Arts in French and German in 1987. The rest is,
as they say, history and probably a touch dull.
French Catalonia Wine Adventures is a new
'wine school' idea, based on
the firm belief that wine lovers don't just want to see and taste the same old
things. The Roussillon and Catalunya have so much to offer for
vineyard travellers: great wines, nice weather of course, stunning
landscape and coastline, lovely restaurants, friendly people and so on. Details
of planned courses and activities will be published when (and if) I get
it off the ground, following an extended stay in southern Catalonia. I also do translations and other editorial
work - click on the links below
to find out more or send me an email.
Have fun and remember: better to relish fewer glasses of wine worth
drinking!
Richard James
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