Alun Griffiths MW brings over 35 years of expertise to the wine trade, with profession highlights together with senior roles at Fortnum & Mason, Harrods and as wine director at Berry Bros & Rudd.
His ardour for wine started throughout his college years, the place a yr in France ignited a deep appreciation for viticulture. In 1991, Griffiths achieved the distinguished Grasp of Wine title on his first try, incomes the esteemed Madame Bollinger Medal for distinctive blind tasting expertise.
At present, he serves as non-executive chairman of Thorman Hunt & Co. Ltd, director at First Selection Wines and co-founder of The Previous Vine Convention, a non-profit devoted to preserving historic vineyards.
This Might Griffiths returns to Decanter World Wine Awards (DWWA) judging week in his new function because the joint Regional Chair for Bordeaux alongside Matthew Stubbs MW.
With DWWA 2025 entries closing on 18 March, we caught up with Griffiths to mirror on his inspiring journey and his ideas on the evolving world of wine.
What sparked your curiosity in wine?
I studied French at college and as a part of the course I used to be required to spend a yr in France. I used to be despatched to Nantes within the Loire Valley and it was right here that I actually started to take a eager curiosity in wine, not simply the consumption of it, but in addition the way it was made and what function it performed in individuals’s lives.
I really like seafood, which, in fact, is prevalent in Nantes, and I consumed a considerable amount of Muscadet whereas tasting it. That proved to be the set off for me to accumulate extra data.
What’s the Most worthy lesson you’ve realized within the wine trade up to now?
The significance of service.
It’s a very aggressive trade and shoppers have loads of selections as to the place to purchase any wine. No one has a monopoly, and evaluating costs is simple for shoppers via the web. I’ve been lucky to work in some prestigious retailers with spectacular wine portfolios, however even there it was doable for patrons to purchase the identical merchandise extra cheaply elsewhere, so offering a excessive diploma of private, well-informed service grew to become the important thing means to distinguish our supply.
In a world the place human contact is ever much less frequent when conducting commerce, I consider that customers will all the time favour retailers who can supply a superior service.
Which wine producing area or varieties would you encourage individuals to discover extra of?
The Loire Valley. Local weather change helps the Loire, all the time a considerably marginal area climatically, to attain extra constant ripeness. With the worth of prime white Burgundy going past the attain of most shoppers I’d level to the standard of wine produced from Chenin Blanc and Anjou.
Nice Savennieres has immense ageing potential and but remains to be extremely reasonably priced. Much more noteworthy is the standard of the crimson Loire wines; the leafy, under-ripe, inexperienced pepper notes of the previous are more and more giving option to lovely, contemporary, red-fruit scented wines from the Cabernet Franc grape.
What do you discover thrilling within the wine world proper now?
The emergence of ‘new’ areas corresponding to Turkey, the Balkans and Jap Europe. They’ve been making wine there for hundreds of years however they’re solely now receiving due recognition.
Just a few years in the past, after I was a decide at DWWA, I used to be requested to go and sit on the panel judging Jap Mediterranean and South-East Europe. My data of these areas was removed from deep so I approached the duty with trepidation but in addition an open thoughts. I used to be really astonished by the standard of wines whose names I may scarcely pronounce and of which I had hardly heard.
What are your favorite Bordeaux vintages and why?
I all the time favour magnificence and finesse in wines somewhat than energy and opulence, so my favorite vintages are these with steadiness and freshness. 1996 on the Left Financial institution, 2001 on the Proper Financial institution, 2010, 2016 and 2019. After all I benefit from the nice, revered years corresponding to 2005 and 2009, however my favourites are these the place the Cabernets are ripe and supply the spine of the wines. These are wines with complexity, ripe tannins and balancing acidity.
What’s an attention-grabbing reality about wines from Bordeaux?
I’d level to the truth that Bordeaux, as a wine with international attain and fame, has proved to be the area most in a position to adapt to altering worldwide tastes. To offer a few examples, a few of the crimson wines grew to become extra opulent and alcoholic to fulfill a perceived demand, particularly from new markets, whereas right now the dearth of fashionability of nice Sauternes is main producers there to discover the manufacturing of fantastic dry white wines from the identical terroir.
What recommendation do you’ve got for DWWA entrants that don’t win a medal?
Learn the tasting notes made by the judges about your wine. This can inform you why it failed to achieve recognition, and exhibits you what it’s essential to do to acquire the next rating. Don’t hand over.
