Edmund Penning-Rowsell
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Edmund Lionel Penning-Rowsell (1913–2002) was a British
journalist considered the doyen of Britain's writers on wine
, and possibly the world's longest-serving wine correspondent.
, his father's printing business went bankrupt, his education at Marlborough
was cut short. He joined The Morning Post of London in 1930, and in 1935 he moved into publishing.
His interest in wine was stimulated by a wedding gift in 1937 of membership of the Wine Society
, his love for wine sparked by a tasting of the 1923 Château Talbot
. He later became the Wine Society's longest-serving chairman, from 1964 to 1987. Aided by those in the trade he gradually built up his knowledge and wine came to dominate his life.
In 1954, he started writing a column on wine for Country Life
, the first of many such enterprises. For 23 years, he was a wine columnist for Financial Times
, and also wrote wine articles for Marxism Today
. His speciality was the wines of Bordeaux
, where his expertise was recognised, and which provided the subject of his magnum opus The Wines of Bordeaux, considered a masterpiece of research.
Michael Broadbent
noted that Penning-Rowsell had one of the best private wine collections in England. Working with Broadbent, he became an adviser on wine to auctioneers Christie's
, and regularly reported on wine auction results.
Penning-Rowsell was awarded by the French government the Ordre du Mérite Agricole in 1971 and the Ordre du Mérite National in 1981. He was known for using the phrase, "Speaking as a man of the Left"
Edmund Lionel Penning-Rowsell (1913–2002) was a British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
journalist considered the doyen of Britain's writers on wine
Wine
Wine is an alcoholic beverage, made of fermented fruit juice, usually from grapes. The natural chemical balance of grapes lets them ferment without the addition of sugars, acids, enzymes, or other nutrients. Grape wine is produced by fermenting crushed grapes using various types of yeast. Yeast...
, and possibly the world's longest-serving wine correspondent.
Biography
During the Depression yearsGreat Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
, his father's printing business went bankrupt, his education at Marlborough
Marlborough College
Marlborough College is a British co-educational independent school for day and boarding pupils, located in Marlborough, Wiltshire.Founded in 1843 for the education of the sons of Church of England clergy, the school now accepts both boys and girls of all beliefs. Currently there are just over 800...
was cut short. He joined The Morning Post of London in 1930, and in 1935 he moved into publishing.
His interest in wine was stimulated by a wedding gift in 1937 of membership of the Wine Society
Wine Society
The Wine Society is the world's oldest wine club having been founded at the Royal Albert Hall in London on 4 August 1874. The Wine Society was created and still operates as a co-operative with each member owning one share...
, his love for wine sparked by a tasting of the 1923 Château Talbot
Château Talbot
Château Talbot is a winery in the Saint-Julien appellation of the Bordeaux region of France. Château Talbot is also the name of the red wine produced by this property...
. He later became the Wine Society's longest-serving chairman, from 1964 to 1987. Aided by those in the trade he gradually built up his knowledge and wine came to dominate his life.
In 1954, he started writing a column on wine for Country Life
Country Life (magazine)
Country Life is a British weekly magazine, based in London at 110 Southwark Street, and owned by IPC Media, a Time Warner subsidiary.- Topics :The magazine covers the pleasures and joys of rural life, as well as the concerns of rural people...
, the first of many such enterprises. For 23 years, he was a wine columnist for Financial Times
Financial Times
The Financial Times is an international business newspaper. It is a morning daily newspaper published in London and printed in 24 cities around the world. Its primary rival is the Wall Street Journal, published in New York City....
, and also wrote wine articles for Marxism Today
Marxism Today
Marxism Today was the theoretical journal of the Communist Party of Great Britain and was disestablished in 1991. It was particularly important during the 1980s under the editorship of Martin Jacques...
. His speciality was the wines of Bordeaux
Bordeaux wine
A Bordeaux wine is any wine produced in the Bordeaux region of France. Average vintages produce over 700 million bottles of Bordeaux wine, ranging from large quantities of everyday table wine, to some of the most expensive and prestigious wines in the world...
, where his expertise was recognised, and which provided the subject of his magnum opus The Wines of Bordeaux, considered a masterpiece of research.
Michael Broadbent
Michael Broadbent
John Michael Broadbent MW is a British wine critic, writer and auctioneer in a capacity as a Master of Wine...
noted that Penning-Rowsell had one of the best private wine collections in England. Working with Broadbent, he became an adviser on wine to auctioneers Christie's
Christie's
Christie's is an art business and a fine arts auction house.- History :The official company literature states that founder James Christie conducted the first sale in London, England, on 5 December 1766, and the earliest auction catalogue the company retains is from December 1766...
, and regularly reported on wine auction results.
Penning-Rowsell was awarded by the French government the Ordre du Mérite Agricole in 1971 and the Ordre du Mérite National in 1981. He was known for using the phrase, "Speaking as a man of the Left"