What
the hell is a "wine writer" anyway, or indeed why, you might well
ask? Oh, and a hint of travel and eating too…
journalism that is. Funny job I suppose but somebody's got to do it, especially as
there are more and more of you wine enthusiasts out there... I live in the
deep south of France, by the way, not far from Spain and
the Mediterranean, and
have been slowly exploring
the diverse wine regions of Roussillon,
Languedoc, Provence and Catalonia. Apart from composing, editing and
publishing
WineWriting.com, a stimulating although time-consuming and so far not very
profitable (potential advertisers
should click here) venture kick-started in 2002, I write or have written
freelance for a variety of publications and media:
www.winetravelguides.com (UK),
Decanter (UK),
Time Out
South of France guide
(UK 2004-2009 editions),
www.winetourisminfrance.com (France),
Off Licence News (British
drinks retailing fortnightly 1998-2007),
Harpers (British wine
business and on-trade title
2002-2007),
Wine Business Monthly (US 2006),
Redhot (in-flight
magazine Virgin Express 2005),
French
Property News (2004),
City Life
Manchester (UK
1998-2003),
Wine magazine
(UK 2002-04), Refresh magazine
(2003), Class magazine
(2002), Restaurant
magazine and sister website therestaurantgame.com
(2000-01), Virgin.net (2000-01), 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'm still working on that great idea for a populist wine best seller that people will
actually want to read and isn't yet
another already-out-of-date guide, "branded" rehash or celeb ego trip
(jealous, moi?)... let alone finding a publisher for it! In the meantime, I ventured
"sideways" a
few years ago into fiction (now out of print but an e-edition may well
resurface at some point...) Now there's a thought: a
European-set, Hollywood-esque 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
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 got the WSET Diploma back
in the mists of time in 1989/90. More recently, I passed the
Master of Wine exams (tasting & theory
papers) between 2002-2004; but seem to have lost interest in doing yet another boring formulaic
dissertation
about "methodology"
(probably something to do with sour grapes)! But hey, never say never... 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. By the way, I also do translations and other editorial
work - click on the links below
to find out more or send me an email.
Thought for the week: with fine wine, less is more. I wish I could afford it...
Richard
M James
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