| Steven Spurrier
| Steven Spurrier joined the London wine trade in 1964 as a trainee, travelling extensively through the main European vineyards during 1965. In 1970 he relocated with his wife to Paris and purchased the Caves de la Madeleine, a small wine shop which he transformed during the next few years into one of the most interesting and dynamic in the city. In 1973 he opened, next door to the Caves, L'Academie du Vin, France's first independent wine school. In 1976, l'Academie held a tasting comparing top California Chardonnays and Cabernets with top white Burgundies and Red Bordeaux, judged by a highly prestigious panel of French tasters. California wines took first places in both white and red in this event that was subsequently known as The Judgement of Paris, and which helped introduce California to the international wine scene. After diversifying into wine warehousing, a restaurant and a wine bar, Spurrier returned with his wife and children to London in 1982 to set up the Christie's Wine Course on the invitation of Michael Broadbent of Christie's Wine Department and Robert Cumming of Christie's Education.
During the 1980s, Spurrier wrote several books including L'Academie du Vin Wine Course, L'Academie du Vin Guide to French Wines and How to Buy Fine Wine, none of which are currently in print. In 1988 he sold his Paris businesses to become an independent wine consultant. Clients have included Harrods, Delta Air Lines and Hediard and since 1989 he has been Singapore Airline's wine consultant. In 1999 he collaborated with Oz Clarke on The Clarke-Spurrier Fine Wine Guide, which was updated and reissued in 2001. After two terms as Chairman, he is currently Vice-President of the Circle of Wine Writers.
Recipient of several national and international awards, Spurrier is a regular official judge on the international wine competition circuit and is Chairman of the Japan Wine Challenge. He lives in London and Dorset.
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