IMW

Biography

After a career with John Harvey and Sons of Bristol, Michael Broadbent was invited by Christie's to become a Director of the Wine Department, which opened in 1966, having been closed during the war. Michael remained with Christie's until his retirement. He co-founded the Christie's Wine Course with Steven Spurrier in 1982.

Despite his formidable list of qualifications, honours and awards and his age, Michael's enthusiasm is infectious and unbounded. He likes to say that the wine itself does the talking and that he is merely the interpreter - for this essence of his, indeed of all the speakers, is to concentrate on the wine in the glass; the appeal of colour, the significance of the 'nose,' the elements of taste, what makes a wine tick and why one wine differs from another. Theory, geography, vinification, how ever important take a back seat, for one can read about where, how and by whom wine is made; Michael's gift is to illuminate the wine itself.

Michael is author of The Pocket Guide to Wine Vintages, The Pocket Guide to Winetasting; How to Approach and Appreciate Wine and The Great Vintage Book, all of which have gone through many editions in several languages.