CV / Biog

‘One of the few youngsters in a field cluttered with ageing baby-boomers: fresh and challenging’ (harpers)

Peter Richards is a writer, broadcaster and Master of Wine.

Peter is a regular presenter on BBC1 cult show Saturday Kitchen, recommending wines that sell out in shops across the nation as a result.

Other TV credits include ESPN, Taste (Sky One), Saturday Kitchen Best Bites (BBC2), The Alan Titchmarsh Show (ITV1), Market Kitchen (BBC2/UKTV), Great Food Live and Food Uncut (UKTV Food). His leisurely tones also unfurl across the radio waves on BBC Radios Four (Food Programme; You & Yours), Two (Simon Mayo Drivetime), Solent and Five Live.

One of Peter’s favourite pastimes is hosting events. He’s a regular at the BBC Good Food Show and other satisfied clients include M&C Saatchi, Taste of London, Diablo Supper Club, The Wine Show and Decanter Fine Wine Encounter.

Peter’s work can also be found in print. He has written two books: the Gourmand World Award-winning Wineries with Style and the Andre Simon short-listed The Wines of Chile, reviews of which described him as, ‘a polished and fluent writer’ (Evening Standard) and, ‘illuminating and unpretentious’ (World of Fine Wine). Peter has also contributed to and consulted on many other acclaimed books including The World Atlas of Wine, The Wine Opus and three editions of the Saturday Kitchen cookbooks. Further writing (and photography) credits include Decanter, Times Online, Food & Wine, FHM, The World of Fine Wine, London Lite, Daily Mail, The Guardian and a stint as columnist for The Liberal.

Peter became a Master of Wine in 2010, a year after his wife Susie. Both Peter and Susie won three awards as a result of their MW results, including a double whammy of the IMW Outstanding Achievement Award (formerly the Tim Derouet). Peter and Susie are now the youngest married Masters of Wine.

Together, Peter and Susie run their Wine School and Wine Club to share their expertise and enjoyment of wine; both their events and wine choices prove to be regular sell-out successes. They also head up the What Food What Wine competition to find the best wines to go with classic dishes from fish’n'chips to chicken tikka massala.

The pair also provide consultancy services for the wine, food and hospitality industries, with satisfied clients including Kyoto Kitchen, Swiss Airlines and luxury aviation group Vistajet.

As a result of their many joint and solo initiatives, Susie and Peter were named the IWSC Communicators of the Year 2010 – the first time this prestigious prize (previous recipients including Jancis Robinson OBE MW and Hugh Johnson) had ever been awarded jointly. Further recognition for Peter’s work includes a Young Wine Writer award, a short-listing for the Louis Roederer Awards 2011 and nomination for the Imbibe Personality of the Year 2012.

When not sniffing, swilling or munching, Peter plays tennis and tries to watch The Simpsons without his wife and kids noticing.

‘Richards represents the young, hip wing of the wine-writing fraternity, with a style as light and bubbly as a crisp cava.’ (Everything Spain)