Remembering Steven Spurrier

Decanter pays tribute to its former consultant editor, who passed away in March 2021, but whose huge impact on the whole world of wine will endure

Tributes from around the world have been paid to Steven Spurrier, who passed away on 9 March at his home, the Bride Valley English wine estate, surrounded by his family.

The news was announced by the Académie du Vin Library, which Spurrier co-founded. It said in a short tribute: ‘He will always be remembered for founding the Académie du Vin, for the celebrated Judgement of Paris, and in recent years the Académie du Vin Library and, together with his wife Bella, the Bride Valley Vineyard in Dorset, England – as well as much else besides.

‘He was also a hugely loved husband, father and grandfather. He will be sorely missed, not just by his immediate family and friends, but by people right across the world of wine.’

Leading light

Spurrier’s contribution to the wine world has been vast, yet he will forever be associated with the famous Judgement of Paris tasting in 1976. California wines scored more highly than top bottlings from France, and the result spread quickly across the world’s media in the pre-internet age.

As a passionate wine communicator, Spurrier also made an invaluable contribution to Decanter as a consultant editor, writer and critic. He wrote more than 300 columns for the magazine.

He also helped to found the Decanter World Wine Awards in 2004, and he was awards chairman for more than 10 years.

Amy Wislocki, editor of Decanter magazine, worked with Spurrier for 20 years. ‘Steven was an incredible ambassador for Decanter, and his passion for celebrating greatness in wine wherever he found it – not only in the classic regions, but in new and emerging areas – shone through on the page. His open-mindedness and generosity have helped to inspire winemakers across the globe, and to make the wine world a richer place.’

Many in the industry paid tribute on social media to a leading wine expert who was unfailingly generous with his time. Wine writer Charles

‘I am still totally in love with it all... wine has brought me more than I ever could have imagined’ Steven Spurrier, Decanter 2018

Metcalfe said on Twitter: ‘Sad to hear of the death of Steven Spurrier. He was modest, despite amazing achievements, charming, and a quiet authority on wine. The wine world has lost a true gentleman.’

Retailer Greg Sherwood MW described Spurrier as a ‘true gentleman and wine legend’. He added: ‘A very influential figure in my own personal wine journey. He will be greatly missed.’

Consultant and writer Elizabeth Gabay MW said: ‘Can’t believe the news of the eternally young Steven Spurrier’s death. I met him in 1987 when he encouraged me to go into wine, and has been so supportive throughout the years.’

In his 2018 memoir, Wine – A Way of Life (reissued in 2020 as A Life in Wine – see p10), Spurrier wrote about how a Cockburn’s 1908 Port sparked a fascination that would last a lifetime. Having joined the wine merchant business in 1960s London, he subsequently moved to France and would go on to found L’Académie du Vin in Paris in the early 1970s. This venue would play a leading role in the Judgement tasting.

In a 2018 Decanter column, citing his memoir, Spurrier said: ‘I am still totally in love with it all. I have been very fortunate indeed, for wine has brought me more than I ever could have imagined.’