IN 1994 John Hoskins was the first person from the hospitality industry to pass the MW exams, also winning the Bollinger Award. In the same year he set up his own company, Huntsbridge, a group of restaurants including The Old Bridge Hotel at Huntingdon, to which he added a wine shop. In 2023 he sold the business and is now free to spend more time on wine (IMW, consultancy, judging), family and fun.

For IMW he ran the Study Programme for several years before joining the Practical Exam team, chairing it for 8 years. He was then overall Exam Chair for a further 6 years, and is now Chair of ESPB, which oversees both the exam and the study programme.

He lives with his wife Julia in Norfolk and London.

Industry sector(s): Buying, Educator, Off trade, On trade, Wine judge

Specialisms: Independent retail, Restaurant wines, Wine judging