Richard Bampfield MW joined the wine trade upon graduating with a French degree from Cambridge University in 1981. He managed retail wine shops in the North West of England for JW Lees Brewers, and then spent a year getting his hands dirty in vineyards around the world, including working in wine cellars in California and Australia. After passing the Master of Wine exam in 1990, Bampfield joined Australian producer Brown Brothers, and managed their European operations until 1999. He left them to set up his own company, specialising in public relations, and offering wine talks, tours and courses. Principal clients include: Yvon Mau (Bordeaux), Albert Bichot (Burgundy), Lidl, Leith’s School of Food and Wine, Santa Rita (Chile), Château Sociando-Mallet, and the English Wine Group. Bampfield is a past chairman of the Association of Wine Educators and was the European Champagne Ambassador 2009.
