Robert Joseph developed a interest in wine while growing up in his parent's hotel in Sussex, in the south of England. A fascination with the different labels and the flavours of customers' unfinished bottles led him to move to Burgundy for six years, during which Joseph survived by teaching English, translating, and, finally and most usefully, working with American-born broker Becky Wasserman. 

Joseph learned there that wine, even from a small area, can be infinitely complicated; and that people - from the producer to the drinker - ask too few questions about it. In 1983, he launched the forerunner of Wine International magazine. The following year, he set up the International Wine Challenge, became wine writer for the London Sunday Telegraph, and wrote his first book, The Wine Lists. Over 25 other books followed, including the Ultimate Encyclopedia of Wine, the Robert Joseph Good Wine Guide, French Wines, Bordeaux and its Wines and the Wine Travel Guide to the World. He is now preparing a study of the future of wine, and an introductory book on wine.

Robert Joseph has chaired over 50 wine competitions across the globe. Foremost among these is the International Wine Challenge, in London, Hong Kong, Russia, Singapore, Bangkok, Shanghai, Beijing, Tokyo, Vietnam, Poland and India. Others include the Tri Nations in Sydney and Swiss International Wine Awards

Robert Joseph won the inaugural Jacob's Creek "Golden Vine", for "increasing the appreciation of wine throughout the world". Other awards include the Cointreau Gourmand Book Awards " Best Wine Guide in the World", the Glenfiddich (twice), The Wine Guild of the United Kingdom Premier Award and the Marques de Caceres. He is a Chevalier de Tastevin; and a member of the Commanderie du Bontemps du Médoc et des Graves in Bordeaux.

Robert Joseph regularly appears on television and radio in the UK and overseas. He has addressed senior members of the wine industry in countries ranging from France and Spain to Australia and the USA. Audiences at other events have included customers and/or staff of companies such as the Royal Bank of Canada, IBM and Starbucks. He is a regular speaker at events run by Taste-In. He will be a major presenter at the Wine Show in London in October.

For the fuller version (and photos and an interview in Harper's Wine & Spirit, click here)