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Mike retired from a career as an academic doctor to devote more time to his love of all things wine. He cut his student teeth (literally) on rustic French wines before enjoying the wave of new world riper styles arriving in the UK in 1980s and 1990s. In 2013, Mike was one of the early students at YWS getting underway with WSET Levels 2 and 3, then COVID became the stimulus for a deep dive into French, Spanish and Italian Wine Scholar exams. The allure of becoming a real wine expert beckoned and so he took the plunge by giving up his medical career in 2021 and devoting 2 years of study to graduate with WSET Level 4 Diploma. He now enjoys watching his friends’ envious reactions when he tells them he’s a tutor at Yorkshire Wine School!
Here's more about Mike in his own words...
What's your favourite midweek wine?
Wednesdays usually mark the end of a 4-day alcohol fast, so it’s got to be something fresh, zingy and savoury to wake up my palate; a Sancerre, Alsace Riesling or a good Austrian Gruner Veltliner hit the spot.
Most memorable wine drinking moment?
A bottle of Meursault I’d randomly found as a bin-end in the local Wine Cellar shop in 1995 having no idea how famous this appellation was. Two young sons under 3 that didn’t sleep, a big mortgage, and long medical shifts on-call meant that my wife and I were pretty worn down. One evening we started drinking this golden nectar with a finish that went on forever, and we realised there was hope in this life after all!
What's your favourite 'non-wine' drink?
Something intense and deep in flavour. In the mornings it’s a couple of double espressos, while a late-night treat might be a peaty single malt from Islay or Skye.
If you were a grape variety what would you be?
Tempranillo. I’m ready early and a hard worker behind the scenes (La Mancha, Navarra), but prone to being intense and brooding on my own (Ribera del Duero). I’m probably at my best when blended with generous oak and a few good friends (Rioja). I improve with ageing and am capable of being quite boozy in optimum growing environments!
Favourite course or tasting to teach at the Wine School?
I really enjoy teaching the all-day Saturday tastings with lunch. Helping guests understand winemaking in the context of 12 different wines all from a particular county or region is a real pleasure. And hopefully this inspires everyone to explore wine with more confidence in the future!
