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Walsh, Gary - Sydney, Australia
English by birth but have lived in Australia for most of my life. Thirty three years old at the time of writing and happily married. I drink wines of all colours and varieties from all over the world. There is nothing I am specifically against or dislike apart from cork closures. I specialise in Australian wines primarily because that is what I have the greatest exposure too. My palate preference is for more elegant Bordeaux blends and spicy cooler climate Shiraz. I have been very seriously into wine for about 8 years now but wine has been my favourite drink since (and infact before) turning 18. Some of you who hop over to the Auswine forum every now and then may be familiar with me as Gary W. I find this forum to be one of the more informed, civil and urbane examples and hope to contibute something useful every now and then. (03/03)
Wannell, Julian - London, UK
Wine lover and collector with some formal wine education, a good reference library and a subscription to The Vine. Write a regular column for a South African wine magazine, attend/host tastings frequently and have a miniature sideline advising other enthusiasts on buying wine. Have emerged from privacy-conscious obscurity after years of browsing this and other winesites mainly in order to participate in VinXchange, due to desire to rationalise cellar, which has grown out of control over the last 2 years of obsessive collecting. (02/04)
Weaver, Richard - London, UK
Though in the trade, I'll try bring something more to the forum than shameless plugs! I joined the trade with Majestic in 1997 and now run our website. My personal preference is for Southern European reds, especially Rhone, Southern France and Spain, although I'd like to think my palate was as varied as it is travelled. My one wish would be to be able to afford to drink better wine every day - but then whose isn't? (08/00)
Webb, Tim - Cambridge, UK
Chief compiler and editor of Good Beer Guide Belgium (CAMRA Books) since 1992 (6th UK edition due out March 2009) and 100 Belgian Beers to Try Before You Die (with Joris Pattyn, CAMRA Books, Sep 2008). Also owner and managing editor of Cogan & Mater Limited (www.booksaboutbeer.com),
publishers of LambicLand (2005, 2nd edition Autumn 08) and Around Bruges in 80 Beers (2006, 2nd edition Winter 08), Around London in 80 Beers (out July 08) and two others - still a secret! Former Organiser Great British Beer Festival & CAMRA National Exec. Specialist in Belgian
beers and trying to keep abreast of the growth of proper craft brewing (as opposed to badwagon-jumping), sometimes in the most unlikely places. Not as regular a contributor as I would like to be, yet. (2008)
Welch, Gareth - Fareham, UK
Hi, my names Gareth, I've been an avid reader of the forum for a couple of years now. I don't post very often - no net at work, and five children at home means I most often log on last thing at night, so usually just a browse - sorry. I've been into wine for maybe ten years. For me it fulfils all three of the things a good hobby should, its endlessly fascinating and you keep on learning and discovering. It allows you to collect, catalouge and maybe even hoard. And most importantly its sociable and makes you feel good. My main loves are White Burgundy, Dry Riesling from Alsace or Australiam Pinot Blanc, Red Burgundy and Rhone (both North and South), and good Aussie Shiraz and Cabernets. But really I'll drink most things, including the 3 for a £10 cellar protectors :-)) Cheers. (01/04)
Westcott, Ian - Australia
I'm 49 y.o and live near Melbourne (on the Mornington Peninsula) in Australia married to a French lady ex Bordeaux and have two children, girl 14, boy 12. Since my early twenties I have had a great love of good food and wine. My palate has evolved from Aussie blockbusters to Aussie cool climate wines to Bordeaux and Rhônes then to an almost sole concentration on the beauties of Burgundy. A long term friend and I have establish a Burgundy wine tasting group from which has evolved a group to buy wines direct from the domaines for our own cellars. I have visited Burgundy at least once a year since 1994 and have been fortunate to develop a number of strong friendships with vignerons there. With the ever climbing price of white burgundy in particular we have started exploring the fascinating world of the small Champagne producers with much success and satisfaction. Again due to our groups passion we have been able to get allocations of a number of fine producers and been able to convince them , where thought desirable, to hold the wines on lees for later more optimal disgorgement. My recommendations of these producers is solely based upon my conviction as to what great quality and value they represent (I have no commercial interest in wine other than purchasing the wines for our private cellars.) (01/02)
Wharton, Simon - Dalston, UK
Had a general interest in wine since University when some friends set up a College wine society. Only became more focused again in the last year or so when the birth of our first child has necessitated more time spent at home. Generally interested in trying new and different wines with my attention constantly being dragged on to new areas - current favourites Alsace and Rhone. Now my expenditure is increasing, I'm looking to expand my knowledge.(11/02)
Whiteley, Nick - London, UK
27 year old whose interest in wine came from my dad and uncle. Was a member of Bath University wine society and interest has grown from there. Working in the City let me start a cellar, although redundancy last year has slowed the pace of expansion. Initial enthusiasm was for Australia, although this I year want to get into Italy. Main New Year resolution is to start taking and keeping proper tasting notes, so you may have to put up with a few…. Other main interest is sport, especially rugby. (01/02)
Wilkie, Linden - London, UK (ex-New Zealand)
Finished work in the corporate world in 2002 to come to London in pursuit of wine. Started with an MBA at Brunel in Uxbridge, then set up The Fine Wine Experience (finewineexperience.com), organising wine tastings and dinners for enthusiasts and for the corporate hospitality market. Meanwhile drinking and tasting as much as possible - trade tastings, and other people's tastings too - doing my bit to prop up the industry! Loving it! (05/04)
Wilkins, Phil - London, UK
I am a 36 year old wine lover having set up residence in Wandsworth, married, with 2 little boys filling up the terraces in Nappy Valley. Since leaving Australia half my lifetime ago, I am now pigeon-holed as a so-called specialist freelance food photographer with over 70 titles photographed to date, along with numerous magazine features and supermarket commissions (ie the pictures you get on the packaging of your Chinese ready-meal, cornflake box or package of biscuits for example). Yes, it's my job to make the food you eat look appetising, day in and day out! My wine interest began extremely casually and then took over when my father sent me an article on a wine for which "to mortgage your house over". That was the Grange 1990. The subsequent search for it was my downfall (actually £35 at Tesco's in the end) and since then it has been a self-educational quest, trying wines from around the globe. The learning has been real trial and error (and there have been lots of errors). Great fun though! My favourite wine is still Australian Shiraz but my new quest is to find the more elegant and restrained (80's) versions of those and, of course, the exquisite Rhone Valley reds - both Southern and Northern. I haven't had much luck with white wines that really satisfy, from anywhere, as yet. So much more to learn though. (02/01)
Wilson, Andy - Cambridge, UK
I am 31 and have been facinated with wine for some 10 years now. My eyes were really opened to wine after attending Wine tasting evening classes and being able to taste some of the great wines of the world. I now organise a wine tasting group for fellow wine lovers in Cambridge. I only have a small cellar of some 150 bottles at various prices and vintages. I have a great passion for the wines of Alsace and the red wines of Rioja. (04/00)
Wise, Nick - London, UK
Hello to everyone. I've been working in the wine industry for 10 years now. Worked for different wine companies such as John Armit, Fullers and such before starting my own on-line wine company-casevalue.com. We mostly deal with selling wine to the corporate market- gifts, incentives etc., but also have a dedicated site for private customers. I have come across quite a few posters on the Squires board. I live in South Ken next to the new Hanford shop(used to be the Vig) with my Jack Russell and I like to drink and collect plenty of wine (11/03).
Worsley, Jari - St Albans, UK
I've drunk wine on and off for years, and seem to have realised only recently that there is more variation and fun in wine than choosing just "red" or "white". My first memorable wine encounter was as a 15 year old in a nouvelle cuisine restaurant (remember them?) in the south of France with my parents. The food was absolutely dreadful, but the wine even to me as a young'un was quite superb. A bottle of 1966 Haut Brion bought for something like 200 Francs - because it was so old the proprietor was having trouble shifting the stock... *sigh* my subsequent wine drinking hasn't lived up to the initial promise. The "dark" years of university saw much experimentation with home brew... with young professional days pursuing quantity not quality... The recent trigger came from a bottle of 1994 Cos d'Estournel enjoyed over my first wedding anniversary meal last September (2002). Quite frankly it blew me away compared to the wines I've drunk in the past (and yes I know it's not supposed to be a great year, etc, etc...). I finally realise why people paid the subject so much attention... Since then I have been like a magpie, trying anything and everything I can to try and find some more WOW experiences, and broaden my everyday drinking knowledge. Shock, horror, German wines, dessert wines, pinotage, Zinfandel, all have crossed my palate, and yet there's still so much to try! My wife is bemused by it all and accuses me of being on the road to becoming a wine bore. Frankly I don't mind... Lastly, I am labouring under the delusion that this is a controllable habit, and that I will calm down with a few years tasting under my belt... please tell me this is so? ;) (03/03)
Wright, James - Paris, France
I am 40 and live in Paris although I hail from Glasgow via London. I work in the car business. I have been interested in wine and things wine related for longer than I now care to remember. However I beccame seriously interested (anorak?) in wine probably about 5 years ago when I started to explore fine burgundy, which remains my personal weakness. I benefit from living in driving distance of the worlds finest vineyards and I try and make the most of it. Whilst I do enjoy new world wines, I am at heart a lover of French wine. My current project is in it's early day's. I have started planning for a cellar to see me through my retirement and old age, France being the ideal place to research such a long term project. My ever patient wife fortunately shares the wine bug although perhaps less seriously. (07/01)
Wright, Mark N - Southport, UK
I have been interested in wine for a long time now and my simple philosophy is to try as many different wines as possible. As a result I rarely buy the same wine twice unless it is a particularly good one or a unbelievable offer. I have recently had a career change and have just qualified as a teacher. I live in Southport in the North-West of England, although I am originally from Coventry. My one disappointment in living here is the lack of good wine merchants to purchase wine from, and so I use the Internet. Ideally I would like to contact people in this area with a similar interest in wine - i.e. wine club. (07/08)
Wylie, Gary - Doncaster, UK
I am a 40-something originally from Wales, but working and settled in Doncaster for over 20 years. My interest in wine includes running a small " fine wine circle" and writing the occasional wine piece for a local newspaper. I drink the stuff too of course, mainly red with a particular penchant for Bordeaux and the Rhone, though I'm not adverse to new world wines if balanced and moderately oaked. (03/00)
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