Oz Clarke - The UK's & Arguably The World's Most Loved Wine Expert

Don’t miss your chance to meet wine writer, expert and all-round entertainer Oz Clarke with Wine Events Scotland

Oz Clarke, OBE, has to be one of the world’s most-popular wine experts, certainly in the UK, quite possibly in the world. Which is just one of the reasons we are delighted to welcome him to Edinburgh Uncorked Wine Fair with Oz Clarke this June.

With a passion for wine dating from his student days at Oxford University, his wine tasting skills have won him an international reputation. It is widely acknowledged he has one of the finest palates of anyone currently writing about wine, but it is his genuine passion for and love of wine that really makes him stand out.

Oz Clarke speaks a language of wine we can appreciate

It is perhaps his no-nonsense approach to wine and his accessible manner, as well as his humour and directness, that have brought him quite so much to public attention. Quite simply, he speaks a language of wine that brings it to life. His passion is engaging and his wine knowledge undeniable, which are several more reasons that we will be thrilled to meet him at our first ever summer wine fair at The Assembly Rooms on Edinburgh’s George Street. Oz will attend and address the new wine tasting event, which will host a diverse range of wine makers, producers and experts under one roof, with something for every stage of your wine journey. What many might not know is, prior to his wine career, Oz was a full-time actor and singer. He toured with the Royal Shakespeare company and appeared in hit West End shows including Evita, Sweeney Todd and The Mitford Girls, as well as having movie roles.

Becoming the ‘face’ of wine for a generation

His TV career started with BBC show Food and Drink - first broadcast between 1982 and 2002. It was a revolutionary programme at the time, the first to cover food and drink without cookery demonstrations. Oz teamed up with fellow wine expert Jilly Goolden to become the faces of wine for a generation. Oz partnered with motoring journalist James May (who at the time was a Top Gear presenter) for the popular Oz and James’s Big Wine Adventure for the BBC. On a road trip together, Oz set out to convince committed Bitter drinker James of the complexity and enjoyment of wine. (Perhaps not surprisingly, May does pick up a fair bit of wine knowledge along the way!) There have been numerous TV and radio appearances, as well as awards for presenting and writing. Oz was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2020 New Year Honours for services to broadcasting and journalism. Oz has won all the major wine writing awards going both in the UK and the USA, including the Glenfiddich (three times), André Simon, Louis Roederer, Wine Guild (three times), James Beard, Julia Child, World Food Media and Lanson (five times) awards.

Award-winning wine speaker comes to Edinburgh

In 2001 he was the keynote speaker at the Boston Wine Expo, the world’s largest consumer wine event, and he has been the keynote speaker at both the Wine Experience in New York and the California Wine Experience in San Francisco, where he was voted best keynote speaker by those attending. In 2006 he won the prestigious International Wine & Spirit Competition International Drinks Communicator of the Year Award. This is by no means an exhaustive list - we’ve barely touched the wine writing awards - so you can understand just why we are so delighted Oz will join us this June, when you can hear him speak in person to a wonderful Edinburgh audience.

Books about wine and wine tasting

Quite frankly, there are too many Oz-penned tomes to mention here, but his bestsellers include The History of Wine in 100 Bottles, Bordeaux, Grapes & Wine (with Margaret Rand), World of Wine, Wine by the Glass and English Wine. Recently published, Oz Clarke On Wine is full of facts as well as stories about wine, aimed at all levels of expertise. An essential guide, we can currently offer £5 off the price. Regardless of your level of wine knowledge, we are sure Oz Clarke will have something interesting and entertaining to share with you. His Edinburgh Uncorked appearance is a rare one for Scotland, so grab a ticket to the Capital’s only independent summer wine fair so you can and enjoy a unique wine tasting experience not to be forgotten.