Remembering Matthew Jukes, The European’s Wine & Fine Drinks Correspondent

The European pays tribute to Matthew Jukes, one of Britain’s most respected wine writers, whose extraordinary career spanned almost four decades and whose knowledge, enthusiasm and passion for exceptional wines earned him international recognition

The European is deeply saddened by the death of Matthew Jukes, our Wine & Fine Drinks Correspondent, who passed away on 6 August 2026 while on holiday with his family in Portugal. He was 58.

An internationally acclaimed wine critic, author, broadcaster and entrepreneur, Matthew spent almost four decades championing exceptional wines, supporting producers and sharing his considerable knowledge with readers and audiences around the world.

As Wine & Fine Drinks Correspondent for The European, he covered global wine markets, collectors’ trends, fine drinking culture and the business of wine, bringing commercial insight and tasting expertise to the magazine’s coverage of luxury, trade and international markets.

His career began in 1987, aged just 19, at Barnes Wine Store in London, where he worked alongside wine consultant James Rogers. According to fellow wine expert David Gleave MW, it was here that Matthew developed the rigorous approach to blind tasting that would become a hallmark of his work, learning to judge wines on their merits rather than their labels.

In 1990, he became wine buyer at London’s renowned Bibendum Restaurant, a position he held for 26 years. He subsequently established himself as one of the country’s best-known wine journalists, combining an exceptional palate with an ability to communicate his knowledge to experienced collectors and newcomers alike.

He wrote a weekly wine column for the Daily Mail’s Weekend Magazine for 22 years and contributed to MoneyWeek for more than two decades. A prolific author, he published 14 books, including The Wine Book, and produced detailed annual reports covering some of the world’s most celebrated wine regions.

His broadcasting career also included a regular BBC radio slot and presenting Channel 4’s Wine Hunt, introducing his distinctive combination of expertise, wit and enthusiasm to television audiences.

His achievements also earned him numerous industry accolades, including the International Wine and Spirit Competition’s Wine Communicator of the Year award in 2002. In 2011, Off Licence News named him the UK’s most influential wine writer.

Matthew was particularly renowned for his contribution to Australian wine. Over more than 30 years, he championed the country’s producers, promoted their wines internationally and developed an extraordinary understanding of its rapidly evolving wine industry.

His annual 100 Best Australian Wines report, launched in 2004, became an important showcase for Australian winemaking, reflecting the industry’s continuing development and introducing international audiences to established producers and emerging talent.

Alongside fellow wine critic Tyson Stelzer, he also founded The Great Australian Red competition, which ran from 2006 to 2023 and celebrated Australian wines made from Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz.

In 2012, his contribution to promoting Australian wine was formally recognised when he was named Honorary Australian of the Year.

His enthusiasm extended across Europe, particularly to Italy’s Piemonte region. In a tribute published by Liberty Wines, David Gleave MW recalled organising an extensive tasting trip to Barolo and Barbaresco for Matthew in 2015. Matthew subsequently produced 11 editions of his Piemonte report, drawing on hundreds of tastings and visits to local producers.

His publications also included influential reports on Bordeaux and Burgundy, reflecting the breadth of his knowledge and his determination to celebrate outstanding wines wherever he discovered them.

Matthew shared his expertise generously, hosting showcase tastings in London, New York, Hong Kong, Guangzhou, Paris, Melbourne and Sydney. He also founded One Day Wine School, helping enthusiasts develop their knowledge and appreciation of wine.

His entrepreneurial ambitions extended beyond journalism and hospitality. During the 1990s, he co-owned the acclaimed Crescent Wine Bar on London’s Fulham Road with wine merchant Hilary Gibbs.

He subsequently developed Jukes Cordialities, a range of premium, non-alcoholic botanical drinks inspired by an old English recipe and designed to accompany food. The business went on to achieve international recognition, winning the Best Alcohol-Free Range Trophy at the 2024 World Alcohol-Free Awards.

Beyond his professional achievements, Matthew is remembered by the team at The European as a gifted communicator. He possessed the rare ability to make even the most complex aspects of wine accessible and entertaining, sharing his knowledge with the same excitement whether discussing an inexpensive everyday bottle or one of the world’s most prestigious vintages.

Away from wine, he was passionate about food, hospitality and sport, particularly rugby. Friends and colleagues knew him as an energetic host, an enthusiastic traveller and a devoted family man.

Writing in his personal tribute, Gleave, who had known Matthew since the late 1980s, recalled his extraordinary palate, his determination to champion deserving producers and an enthusiasm for discovering exceptional wines that remained undiminished throughout his career.

Gleave also remembered Matthew’s willingness to look beyond fashionable labels and recognise genuine quality, an approach that helped establish his reputation among producers, collectors and fellow critics around the world.

Such was his contribution to Australian wine that the Australian flag at Australia House in London was flown at half-mast on 10 August in recognition of his life and achievements.

Matthew’s passing is an enormous loss to the international wine community and to everyone at The European. We were proud to have him as our Wine & Fine Drinks Correspondent and privileged to share his remarkable knowledge, experience and enthusiasm with our readers.

Our deepest condolences go to his wife, Amelia, their sons, Rollo and Victor, his daughters, Isadora and Elspeth, and his wider family, friends and colleagues.

All that remains is to raise a glass in Matthew’s honour, to celebrate a remarkable life and to say cheers for everything. He will be greatly missed.

READ MORE: Prosecco, Cava and Champagne have gone flat – but British fizz is popping. With Prosecco losing its sparkle, Cava no longer the bargain it once was and Champagne painfully pricey, Matthew Jukes says Britain’s best sparkling wines are ready for their sunshine moment.

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_{Main image: A final toast to Matthew Jukes, The European’s Wine & Fine Drinks Correspondent, whose passion for wine and infectious enthusiasm will be greatly missed. Credit: Matthew Jukes}