DAVID MOLYNEUX-BERRY

David Molyneux-Berry, M.W., joined family-owned wine merchants John Harvey & Sons Ltd. (Harveys of Bristol) in 1964 as a commercial trainee, but quickly rose to become a trainee buyer in the group wine and spirit buying department and the sales division. In 1970, he left to set up a full time wine department at Sotheby’s the international fine art auction house, eventually directing all sales of wine worldwide. He pioneered wine sales in many countries including South Africa, Thailand and Japan and held auctions all across Europe. His last important sale at Sotheby’s was of part of the Tsar’s cellar removed from the Crimea just before the attempted coup d’etat when President Gorbachov was holed up in his dacha just a few miles from Yalta.

In December 1990, he resigned from Sotheby’s to form a consultancy business and has since worked with auctions for Morrell & Company in New York, including a major benefit auction in aid of the families of New York police and firemen following the 9/11 disaster. He currently serves as chairman of the judging panel of the Champagne Ruinart/Academy of Food and Wine Service Sommelier of the Year Competition in the UK and is a member of the judging panel for the Ruinart Trophee d’Europe. He is past chairman of the International Wine & Spirit Competition and remains a panel chairman and member of the judging and technical committee. He has also been an international guest judge at wine competitions across the globe.

Molyneaux-Berry became a Master of Wine in 1979, has served on council, chaired the education committee and has been the longest serving practical examiner.

In the last two years Molyneaux-Berry has been heavily involved in research into wine fraud and counterfeiting, inspecting cellars and advising clients and authorities about authenticity.