Jancis Robinson

Jancis Mary Robinson OBE, MW (born in Cumbria on April 22 1950) is a British wine critic, journalist and editor of wine literature. She currently writes a weekly column for the "Financial Times", and writes for her website jancisrobinson.com. She also provides advice for Queen Elizabeth II's wine cellar.

Biography

Robinson studied mathematics and philosophy at Oxford University and worked for a travel company after leaving university. Robinson started her wine writing career on December 1, 1975 when she became assistant editor for the trade magazine "Wine & Spirit".Robinson, Jancis, jancisrobinson.com [http://www.jancisrobinson.com/articles/20070106_1 Who on earth are we?] , accessed on March 16, 2008] In 1984 she became the first person outside the wine trade to become a Master of Wine. She also served as British Airways's wine consultant, she supervised the famousFact|date=October 2008 BA Concorde cellar.

As a wine writer, she has become one of the world's leading writers of educational and encyclopedic material on wine. "The Oxford Companion to Wine", edited by Robinson, is generally considered to be the most complete wine encyclopedia. The first edition was published in 1994, and took five years to write after she was signed on as editor in 1988. [ [http://gremolata.com/jancis.htm gremolata.com: Jancis Robinson Interview] , accessed on March 16, 2008] In addition, "The World Atlas of Wine" by Hugh Johnson and Jancis Robinson is one of the leading wine atlases. In 1995, Jancis Robinson appeared in a 10-episode wine course on BBC 2 television. This series has later been reissued on DVD. A book titled "Jancis Robinson's Wine Course" was written to accompany the series and has gone through several editions.

She has an honorary doctorate from the Open University, and was made an OBE in 2003, among numerous other awards for her writing. Her accolades include multiple Glenfiddich Awards and André Simon Memorial Awards, and "Decanter"'s "1999 (Wo)Man of the Year".

Following a difference of opinion with Robert Parker over the 2003 vintage of Château Pavie, the following media coverage frequently described a "war of words" between the two critics.cite web|last= Styles |first= Oliver, "Decanter" |title= Parker and Robinson in war of words |url= http://www.decanter.com/news/48406.html |date= April 14, 2004 ] cite web|last= Voss |first= Roger, "San Francisco Chronicle" |title= Robinson, Parker have a row over Bordeaux |url= http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2004/05/27/WIG6J6RKEP1.DTL |date= May 27, 2004 ] Less dramatic than the predominant press view, Robinson and Parker have a cordial relationship.Cite web|last= Robinson |first= Jancis, jancisrobinson.com |title=Parker and Robinson in clinch | url= http://www.jancisrobinson.com/articles/20080331 |date= March 31, 2008 ]

Jancis Robinson is married to the food writer Nick Lander; they have three children called Julia, William and Rose.

Selected publications

*cite book| first = Jancis | last = Robinson | title = Confessions of a Wine Lover | id = ISBN 0-14-023529-9
*cite book| first = Jancis (Editor) | last = Robinson | title = The Oxford Companion to Wine | edition = 3rd edition | id = ISBN 0-19-860990-6
*cite book | authorlink = Hugh Johnson (wine writer) | first = Hugh | last = Johnson | coauthors = Robinson, Jancis | title = The World Atlas of Wine | edition = 6th edition | id = ISBN 1845333012
*cite book| first = Jancis | last = Robinson | title = Vines, Grapes and Wines | id = ISBN 1-85732-999-6
*cite book| first = Jancis | last = Robinson | title = Jancis Robinson's Wine Course| id = ISBN 0-563-37098-X

See also

*List of wine personalities

Sources

External links

* [http://www.jancisrobinson.com/ Jancis Robinson's Purple Pages]
* [http://www.cityweekend.com.cn/shanghai/articles/blogs-shanghai/shanghai-book-club/live-blogging-with-jancis-robinson-writing-about-wine-impossible-or-imprudent Podcast of Jancis Robinson discussing "Writing about wine" at the Shanghai International Literary Festival]