Mike Roberts MBE – Ridgeview and Chairman of English Wine Producers dies

Mike Roberts MBE@The Circle of Wine Writers Christmas party December 2012

I am very sorry to hear that 71-year-old Mike Roberts MBE, co-founder of Ridgeview – one of England's leading wine estates, and Chairman of the English Wine Producers, died early this morning. I understand he had been ill for sometime. My sincere condolences to Mike's family and friends. 

2012 interview with Wine Searcher magazine. 

Here are a few photos of Mike Roberts.   

Mike Roberts MBE@The Circle of Wine Writers Christmas party December 2012

 Mike@the first International Sparkling Wine Symposium

@Denbies Wine Estate, March 2009

Oz Clarke's views on English wine

Oz Clarke (above and below)

Oz Clarke's gives his views on English wine at the Circle of Wine Writers Christmas Party (4th December 2012)

Circle Christmas Party – some more photos

More photo from the Circle of Wine Writers Christmas Party (4th December 2012) kindly hosted by the English Wine Producers. 

Emma Wellings of Emma Wellings PR 

Fiona Sims 

Alice Wooledge Salmon and Christopher Fielden

 Itemising: Anne Burchett (Sopexa UK) and Rupert Ponsonby (Rest & Recreation PR)

 Listening to the speeches (above and below)

 Stuart Walton and Julia Trustram Eve 

 Simon Hoggart

 Susan Keevil

 Tom Stevenson (above and below)

 Eloise and Janet Price 

 Chandra Kurt – leading Swiss wine writer and author (above and below)

 Jamie Goode being served some Hush Heath

 Photographer Mick Rock (Cephas) understandably dubious about amateur paparazzi  

 Mike Paul

Linda Johnson Bell

English Wine Producers host Circle of Wine Writers Christmas Party

  

 Mike Roberts of Ridgeview and chairman of the English Wine Producers

(above and below) 

Yesterday evening The English Wine Producers kindly hosted the Circle of Wine Writers 2012 Christmas party at The Royal Society, 6-9 Carlton House Terrace, London SW1 5AG. 

Some photos of the producers present. More to add.  

 

Julia Trustram Eve, marketing director of the English Wine Producers 

 

Steven Spurrier, chairman of the Circle of Wine Writers thanking our hosts

 Caroline Stevens, Sales/Marketing: Danebury Vineyard

 (above and below)

Cherie Spriggs. winemaker@Nyetimber

 Christian Holthausen, communications@Nyetimber

 Jan Pollard: manager@Gusbourne Estate

Pouring Ridgeview from magnum

 The delicious 2000 Blanc de Blancs from Ridgeview

 Simon Bladon, owner of Jenkyn Place

Stuart Barford i/c sales@The Bolney Estate

 Patrick Westropp of Danebury Vineyard

Vicky Fish and Hush Heath

More to follow