Wine Guides
To ensure you get the best out of the region you are visiting on an Arblaster & Clarke Wine Tour, we make sure that most tours are accompanied by an expert Wine Guide. All our guides are accessible and can make light of talking in depth, making even the most complex wine issues interesting, easy to understand and fun! Many of our guides are Masters of Wine (MW), the highest qualification in the wine trade, or are renowned experts in their field.
Cindy-Marie Harvey
Cindy-Marie Harvey is our Senior Programme Manager. She takes many tours to Italy, Spain, Portugal and South America as the Tour Manager with great enthusiasm. Cindy-Marie also takes tours as a Wine Guide. |
Conal Gregory MW
Conal Gregory MW was for many years the only MP – MW. His wine interests include the classic French regions of Champagne, Bordeaux and Burgundy. He writes frequently on these regions and on the subject of wine as an investment, he has written the ‘Cognac Companion’. Conal is also the wine compere on ITV’s The Food Programme. |
Gordon Ritchie
Gordon Ritchie is a wine merchant who works for the Italian specialist importer Tria. Gordon has been immensely popular since he led his first tour for us in 1999. He is deeply passionate about Italy and you will find his enthusiasm infectious! He will be leading some of our exciting Italian tours in 2010. |
James Lawther MW
James Lawther MW is a Bordeaux-based wine writer and consultant. James retailed wine at Steven Spurrier’s Caves de la Madeleine in Paris in the 1980s, passed the Master of Wine examination in 1993 and is presently a contributing editor to Decanter. |
John Avery MW
John Avery MW is Chairman of Avery’s of Bristol, Vice President of the International Wine & Food Society, a former chairman of the Institute of Masters of Wine and a past master of the Vintner’s Company. |
Lance Foyster MW
Lance Foyster MW (here eagerly awaiting a sample of Madeira) has been guiding tours for us since 1988. A successful merchant, Master of Wine and wine writer, his interests (besides Portugal) include Austria and the Midi. |
Louisa Pearson
Louisa worked for Grahams Port in Oporto and Torres in Spain and has proved to be a great hit with our clients. You are likely to meet her in Spain, Portugal or France as Tour Manager and sometimes as Wine Guide. |
Matthew Boucher
Matthew is a very charming and thorough wine guide. He has worked in the trade for many years, including for the German Wine Bureau and arranges tastings for groups and companies. |
Nicola Arcedeckne-Butler
Nicola specialises in the classic regions of Bordeaux and Burgundy as a buyer for Private Cellar, but has a love of all things Italian having lived there in her twenties. MW since 1996, and in the trade for 20 years all told, she is fluent in French and Italian.
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Paul Attwood-Philippe
Paul Attwood-Philippe is a resident of Burgundy and leads our wine breaks and some other French tours. Paul works for a tonnelier and has worked at several wine domaines. He is very knowledgeable on wine, particularly from his own region. |
