JAMES has 3 decades of experience in the wine trade and now spends his time running Fine Vintage which operates in 15 countries.

Since 2010, James has personally designed each Fine Vintage tour, paying meticulous attention to the smallest detail. He has hosted all of them for several years. Today, James oversees every tour, directing the itineraries and ensuring the quality standards are at the highest level on every single trip.

MINI joined the wine tasting team at university, whilst studying Politics & Economics, and thereafter a hobby became a career. She started in London at the wine department of Harrods, followed by becoming a sommelière in a fashionable restaurant in the City of London. She continued her career with the Symington port family, who have been in Oporto for over 130 years and own the prestigious houses of Warre’s, Dow’s, and Graham’s amongst others.

In 1987 Mini moved to France with her husband and became an agent sourcing wines from South-West France for the UK trade. Since 2003 she has been running her own business, Tastevin du Monde, which has a number of different facets. It includes teaching WSET courses, mainly for young wine professionals, in France, in Bordeaux, and in China, in Shanghai.  Mini also blends wines for various vineyards in South-West France and when replanting helps them choose which grape varieties to use to increase complexity, to cope with climate change, and to lessen the use of chemicals in the vineyard. The final, very enjoyable facet is accompanying groups in France and Spain on luxurious, fun wine tours.

COLIN became a Master of Wine in 2003 is the lead lecturer in the Wine Business Masters programs at Kedge Business School. He previously worked for the Boredaux-based wine broker Europvin with such illustrious estates as E. Guigal, Vega Sicilia, and Emilio Lustau sherries. He provides sales and marketing consultancy services to importers and exporters alike, as well as offering high-end wine education and wine tourism.

Colin is an accomplished public speaker and expert taster, having hosted seminars, masterclasses, and dinners all over the world. His greatest pleasure is sharing his knowledge and passion for wine, and the history, the geography and culture that shape it. You are in expert hands when traveling with Colin.

ROD is currently the Vice-Chair of the Institute of Masters of Wine, and is a wine educator, marketer, and journalist based in the South of France. With a client list that includes some of the wealthiest, most discerning and demanding customers, Rod is the owner/director of the Riviera Wine Academy.

Prior to this, Rod worked for Vins Sans Frontières – the leading wine supplier to the superyacht industry in the South of France. He has also worked for a variety of wine importers and retailers in the UK and is an established WSET educator. Rod has been extensively involved in judging wine competitions in such countries as the UK, the USA, China, and Australia.

With a deep knowledge and passion for wines, Rod is an expert on Bordeaux and is the perfect gentleman and host for your tour.