John Salvi MW

John was born on April 6, 1937. He is the son of Giuseppe Umberto Salvi, president of the British Wine and Spirits Association. He was privately educated at Hill Brow and Westminster.

John served in the 5th Royal Inniskillin Dragoon Guards and was a temporary colonel in the Intelligence Corps. He is also a Russian interpreter and was sent to Hungary to cover the 1956 revolution.

He was awarded the title of Master of Wine in 1970, marking the start of his 62-year career in the wine trade. He sat on the board of directors of Allan Sichel Ltd and was sales director of Maison Sichel and Mähler-Besse. Between 1957 and 1959, he obtained a diploma in oenology under the guidance of Emile Peynaud.

John is a member of several prestigious organizations, including the Travellers Club, the Fédération Internationale des Journalistes et Écrivains du Vin (FIJEV), the Association Française de la Presse de Gastronomie et de Tourisme (AFPGT), the Association Professionnelle des Chroniqueurs et Informateurs de la Gastronomie et du Vin (APCIG), the Association de la Presse du Vin (APV), the Club des Gastronomes de France, the Circle of Wine Writers and the Press Club de Bordeaux.

As head winemaker for Changyu in China, John produced wine. He has also made wine in India and consulted for the Taj hotel group. He has judged wine competitions in 35 countries.

John represents Great Britain at the Union Internationale des Œnologues. He is a member of an expert committee of the Organisation Internationale de la Vigne et du Vin (OIV). He is an officer of the Commanderie du Bontemps de Médoc et des Graves, Sauternes et Barsac, and a member of the Jurade de Saint-Émilion. He is also a member of the Académie Internationale du Vin and the Académie du Vin de Bordeaux.

John is an active professional wine taster, wine consultant and wine writer.