About Beth
I am an Australian with a wealth of experience spanning nearly 20 years in the wine industry. Speaking several European languages and living in various countries has brought me a profound knowledge of different cultures, business practices and, of course, wines. I have a serious interest in the wines of Central and Eastern Europe but my passion for Spain has led me on the most exciting path of all and I am now based in the country.
Wine is at the heart of the Spanish experience: it tells a story of the country’s past, it is central to its culture, and it is now on the precipice of an exciting future with the potential to be the greatest wine region in the world.
By telling the stories of people and places – with passion, profound knowledge and personal experience - I can connect wines to wine lovers by explaining their rich cultural and historical context, and I hope to play a part in building the future of the Spanish wine industry.
Background
I started my wine journey in Australia, visiting wineries with my parents when I was young. We travelled from Sydney to Melbourne every year to visit family and always stopped over in Victoria’s wine country. It may have been boring as a child but there was something about the smell and atmosphere of the cellar doors that stuck with me.
Having studied European languages and politics at university, I was looking for a way to travel and experience different cultures. Wine seemed to be the thing! First working at Hardy’s Canberra winery and then the Syndicat des vins AOC Bordeaux et Bordeaux Supérieur, I then made my way to the UK to work as a buyer for importers and eventually a major retailer. Having had over a decade of experience buying wines for the UK, USA and Asia-Pacific markets, I wanted to focus on writing about wine and the wonderful people behind the bottles.
I am now Co-Chair of the Decanter World Wine Awards, as well as a feature writer for Decanter magazine. I collaborate with Tim Atkin MW to write reports on Spain’s diverse and dynamic regions, and work with various wineries and regional bodies to promote their wines.
