The world’s best-selling wine author Hugh Johnson OBE, The World of Fine Wine’s editorial adviser, was joined by other contributors and leading wine writers, including Jancis Robinson OBE, Tim Atkin MW, Ch’ng Poh Tiong, Elin McCoy, Margaret Rand, Anthony Rose, Tom Stevenson and David Williams, as well as former World Sommelier Champion Gerard Basset MS, MW, OBE at the star-studded event.
Producers attending included Christian Seely of AXA Millésimes and Penfolds head winemaker Peter Gago with decanters and wine coolers provided by luxury brand Georg Jenson.
These famous writers celebrated by bringing a bottle of their favourite wine from their own cellar to enjoy with a sumptuous four-course dinnerprepared by the Lutyens head chef Henrik Ritzen after a Champagne Henriot reception.
The dinner included some incredible wines including Old World classics (Coche-Dury Meursault, Huet Vouvray, Châteaux Latour, Pichon-Longueville, Suduiraut, and d’Yquem), to New World icons (Dominus, Grange) and legendary fortified wines (Graham’s 20 Year Old Tawny, Quinta do Noval Nacional Vintage Port, ancient Equipo Navazos Palo Cortado Sherry and 1900 Bual Madeira).
Explaining what is distinctive about the title, Hugh Johnson commented: “The World of Fine Wine takes wine journalism in a new, more sophisticated direction. It is not a consumer magazine, but the first cultural journal of the wine world.
“It acknowledges that wine-lovers have other interests, too, and the same high standards in whatever they do. The first ten years have been a remarkable demonstration of new possibilities, and I look forward with even greater excitement to the next ten.”
The World of Fine Wine’s editor Neil Beckett said: “We are absolutely delighted to have been able to celebrate our tenth anniversary at Lutyens, a brilliantly wine-friendly and wine-savvy restaurant, and are very grateful to the owners, Sir Terence and Lady Conran and Peter Prescott, as well as to so many distinguished friends and supporters, for honouring us with their presence.”
The World of Fine Wineis a 216-page quarterly review that launched in May 2004 and was recognised as Louis Roederer International Wine Publication of the Year all three years that the award was offered (2010, 2011 and 2012). It is now sold on subscription in over 30 countries worldwide as well as being available as an app and online.