Pancho Campo's MW restored.....?

'Cala Pancho Campo MW'

17th May 2019: Tasting of 10 wines 

presented by Pancho Campo MW

In these grim days it is cheering to have a Good News story. Pancho Campo's many friends and admirers will doubtless be delighted that Pancho has apparently returned to the MW fold. Campo famously resigned as an Master of Wine in early May 2012. 

'Pancho Campo MW' will be London tomorrow presenting Spanish 10 wines. Unfortunately I somehow missed the official announcement from the Institute of Masters of Wine of Pancho's return. Perhaps curiously, for the moment, Campo also does not appear to listed as as a current MW neither alphabetically nor by region. 

 

Update: 
Clarification – comment from Pancho Campo:

Well, that is totally inaccurate.

 

My bio is in the website of my company chrand.es and in my personal site panchocampo.com

 

It must be a mistake from whoever published those news. 

 

I shall inform the people who hired me.

 

      

Pancho Campo's MW still has legs!

'Primer Master of Wine español'

I was intrigued to receive a copy of marketing blurb from The Wine Academy twinned with Chrand Management about a three day course – Curso de Marketing, y Organización de Eventos para la Industria del Vino. The course will be held in Marbella on the following dates: 16th-18th November 2012 and 22nd-24th February 2013. The blurb was sent out this week to a potentially interested party.   

'Primer Master of Wine español'...... Curiously there is no mention that Francisco 'Pancho' Campo is the first Spanish/Chilean Master of Wine to resign his MW. I assume that the Institute of Masters of Wine* are relaxed that ex-MW Campo is still making use of the qualification he resigned in May 2012 because of a change of direction – as he told the Institute of Masters of Wine: 'in light of his move into more sports and music events and away from wine'. 


*: Siobhan Turner, executive director of The Institute of Masters of Wine'  clarified the Institute's position in early May 2012 in response to a query from Harold Heckle regarding whether a ex-MW could use their previous qualification to 'vie for business'. Her response:  

'It is a matter of fact that someone passed or did not pass the MW exams, and as long as it was clear that the person in question was no longer a member of the Institute, we could not complain.' (6.5.2012)

Does Pancho Campo make it clear above that he is no longer a 'Master of Wine'? I leave you to judge. 

I'm also impressed that Francisco is still claiming, despite all the evidence to the contrary, that he organised Pink Floyd concerts – a master of elasticity!  

Pancho Campo resigns his MW

Pancho Campo

I understand that Pancho Campo has today notified the Institute of Masters of Wine that he has decided to resign from the Institute with immediate effect. Apparently The Institute of Masters of Wine investigation was complete and this week the report was due to be considered by the IMW Council.  

Message this afternoon from Siobhan Turner, executive director of the Institute of Masters of Wine, to the MWs:

'Pancho Campo has today informed the Institute, that in light of his move into more sports and music events and away from wine, he has decided to resign his membership of the Institute of Masters of Wine, effective immediately. We wish him the best in his new endeavours.

 

Kind regards

Siobhan Turner

Executive Director'

It is thought that the report from the disciplinary committee recommended that Campo should be suspended for a period of two or three years. Expulsion may also have been an option for the Council to consider.

Under the Institute’s disciplinary procedures Campo would have had a month to accept or appeal against the Council’s decision. If a member accepts the decision then the report is not published. If there is an appeal the report is published along with any submissions the disciplined member has submitted.

Jim's Loire understands that Campo may well issue a statement explaining the reasons for his resignation. 

**

In case anyone thinks that Spain is now without an MW, the country still has Pedro Ballesteros Torres MW, Spanish born although currently working in Belgium. 

**

Report on Proensa (3.5.12) http://www.proensa.com/ 

El fin de Pancho Campo como Master of Wine

El ex tenista abandona el mundo del vino y se dedicará a organizar festivales musicales

Madrid, 3 de mayo de 2012.-RP.-La noticia ha llegado, al menos hasta esta edición, a través de un somero tuit del Master of Wine Tim Atkin: “última hora: Pancho Campo renuncia a su título de Master of Wine”. Sin más datos ni ninguna comunicación por su parte o la del Instituto, se acaba así, en cuestión de cuatro años, la historia del que fue primer español en conseguir este preciado título.

Pancho Campo: False claims regarding the Institute of Masters of Wine and the Wine Academy

Extract from front page of official programme for the 1st International Wine Symposium 

Extract from page 23 of the official programme of I Simposium Internacional del Vino: June 2004

The Wine Academy is the Institute of Masters of Wine representative in Spain  – untrue

Following on from today's earlier post about the false claims of an affiliation between CIE Marbella and Middlesex University in the UK, this post highlights further false claims, which were made in the official programme for the First International Wine Symposium held at Marbella – 4th and 5th June 2004. The Symposium was organised by Pancho Campo and Jancis Robinson MW was the keynote speaker.
        

In the programme for the First Symposium of Wine, which was held in June 2004 there is a claim in an article that The Wine Academy Marbella is both an official centre for training MW candidates and is the representative of the Institute in Spain. 

Relevant extract (page 23 of official programme): 

'Hay que destacar que en las instalaciones de The Wine Academy se impartirán los cursos y titulaciones del Wine & Spirit Education Trust de Londres, organización que es, además, el centro oficial para formarse de cara a obtener el prestigioso título de Master of Wine, ya que The Wine Academy ostenta la representación para España de esta institución.

Translation of the extract passage:

'We would like to highlight that courses and qualifications of the Wine & Spirit Education Trust of London will be imparted in the facilities of The Wine Academy, an organisation that in addition is the official centre for training in order to obtain the prestigious title of Master of Wine, as The Wine Academy holds the representation of this institution in Spain.' 

Comments on the claims by Siobhan Turner, executive director of the Institute of Masters of Wine:

'The Institute does not have any official training centres.  The study programme is self-directed, with residential seminars organised by the Institute in a number of different locations around the world.  We have not held any such in Spain.

The WSET Diploma is one of our preferred qualifications for entry onto the MW study programme, but, except for those who gain a Distinction, it is neither a necessary nor a sufficient qualification in and of itself.

I should add that this was not the first nor the last time that someone involved with giving WSET courses implied a direct link onto the MW programme from it – it is a fairly common event.  We have managed to deal with all those of which we’ve been made aware to our satisfaction.

We do not have official representatives other than the Institute’s employees and Council members or those officially appointed into specific roles – e.g. head of the Education and Exam Board, head of Exam Panel, etc. We have no 'representative for the Institute' in Spain, nor any other country.  The Institute has an official organisation in North America and in Australia, but these are parts of the Institute itself, and not representatives.'

Looks like Campo, The Wine Academy Marbella – precursor of The Wine Academy of Spain, and CIE Marbella are again mistaken as they were with Middlesex University.   

Before posting I invited Pancho Campo MW to comment. However, as yet I have received no response from him. 

Institute of Masters of Wine open investigation into Pancho Campo MW

'Statement from the Institute regarding Pancho Campo MW (issued 16th December 2011)

The Institute of Masters of Wine is aware of certain claims being made in regard to the alleged conduct of one of its members, Pancho Campo MW. Membership of the Institute and the right to use the title Master of Wine is reserved for those individuals who have passed all aspects of the Masters of Wine Examination, agreed to abide by the Institute’s formal Code of Conduct and who remain members in good standing. 

The Code of Conduct sets out the professional and personal standards which are expected of a Master of Wine. The Institute takes alleged breaches of its Code of Conduct very seriously, and investigates all such alleged breaches once a formal complaint is made. In the event that a breach of the Code is proven, a range of sanctions is available to it. 

Having received a formal complaint into Pancho Campo MW’s alleged conduct, the Institute of Masters of Wine has opened an investigation. No conclusions have been reached, investigations will continue, and no further statement will be made until such time as the investigation has concluded.'

Media contact

Nathaniel Anderson, Communications Manager, The Institute of Masters of Wine

T: +44 (0)207 621 2830

E: nanderson@mastersofwine.org

Details of the IMW Code of Conduct are here on Jim's Loire.

Pancho Campo MW: Institute of Masters of Wine – Code of Conduct

Pancho Campo MW: certificate issued by The Institute of Masters of Wine 5th November 2008

There have been a number of questions posed and comments made on Facebook, Jim's Loire and elsewhere questioning whether Pancho Campo MW has breached the Institute of Masters of Wine Code of Conduct.

For information here is the IMW Code of Conduct and the declaration all successful candidates sare required to sign on admission to The Institute of Masters of Wine. I have taken this from the 'Introduction to The Masters of Wine Education Programme 2010-2011'. This can be freely downloaded from the net.

The Code of Conduct is on pages 28 and 29 of the above document and The Declaration on Admission on pages 29 and 30.

3.0 The Code of Conduct

3.1 General ­ Members must recognise the importance of maintaining and enhancing the reputation of wine and the wine trade in general, and the Institute in particular.  It is a basic requirement that members will ensure so far as lies in their power that they and any organisation of which they are part will observe all relevant laws and regulations in both letter and spirit.

3.2  Sales and promotion ­ Members engaged in sales, promotion, advertising and writing about wine professionally should be careful always to describe the subject truthfully and with good sense, neither claiming virtues or prospects that do not exist or cannot be justified nor unreasonably exaggerating merit.  Individual and group endorsements of advertised products by members of the Institute must be viewed in the same light.

3.3 Purchasing ­ Members involved in purchasing should at all times endeavour to buy honest and sound quality. They should not condone the marketing of any such quality as might damage public respect for and interest in wine.

3.4 Wine­making ­ Members involved in production of grapes or making of wine should not knowingly engage in any practice or technique (whether or not such practice or technique shall infringe regulations relating to the production of wine) the practice of which by a member may tend to bring the Institute into disrepute.

3.5 General commercial probity ­ Members involved in commerce are expected to maintain the highest standards of dealing, in particular in relation to dealings through limited liability companies, and not knowingly engage in any enterprise or commercial practice which would be regarded as unacceptable by the majority of members of the Institute, whether or not such practice may comply with local laws where it is carried out.  

3.6 Personal ­ Members are expected to be sensitive to the social and behavioural problems associated with the immoderate consumption of wine. Members must ensure that they do not engage in inappropriate behaviour which would reflect badly on the Institute.

3.7 Members are required to preserve the good name of the Institute at all times and refrain from any public statements detrimental to the Institute or (in relation to statements concerning another member or members) which tend to bring the Institute into disrepute.

3.8 Responsibility for others ­ Members must in principle accept that they will be regarded by the Institute as answerable for the commercial conduct of any

person acting on their instructions.

**

5.0 The Declaration on Admission

5.1 Before admission as a member of the Institute, candidates for admission will be required to sign a declaration.  The original of this declaration, of which the following is the text, remains with the Institute.

Declaration on Admission

I. I confirm that I have read and understand the Code of Conduct of  Members of the Institute of Masters of Wine.

II. As a condition of my admission into the Institute, I therefore acknowledge and confirm my obligation to conduct myself in all matters relating to wine and the wine trade in accordance with such Code.

III. I accept that should the Council of the Institute after due investigation determine my conduct at any time to be in breach of the Institute's Code of Conduct, the Council may take steps to terminate my membership of the Institute, remove my name from the Register of Masters of Wine and thus withdraw my right to use that designation, or its abbreviated form M.W.

 Signed..............................................  Dated ..................

 Name in Capitals  .............................................

Campogate: 'Not an official Wine Advocate trip, it's a freelance' Campo claims

'

Pancho Campo MW: 'Collaborates with Robert Parker and The Wine Advocate organizing their visits to Spain.' 

(from Campo's biography on The Institute of Masters of Wine website)

Pancho Campo MW has defended his actions in The Baltimore Sun: 

'Campo said in that exchange (the Madrid emails) he wasn't arranging a visit by Miller to any wineries, but rather that he was negotiating fees for Miller to host a seminar. The speaking engagement — not Miller's first — had nothing to do with The Wine Advocate, and the governing body for the local wine region, not any wineries, paid for it.

"It was not an official Wine Advocate trip, it's a freelance," Campo said. "When he does appearances on his own, those have nothing to do with The Wine Advocate."

See article here: Wine critic's representative defends deals

If all of these trips – Madrid, Murcia, Navarra, Valencia were freelance when did Miller have time to do his day job – reviewing Spanish wine for The Wine Advocate and erobert?  

Campos claims are contradicted by Jay Miller, The Wine Advocate and emails.

Jay Miller: 'Miller says he did go to the wineries in question and plans to write about them.' The Baltimore Sun 6th December 2011.* 

The Wine Advocate: email received 6th December 2011 13.51 (GMT)

Dear Mr. Budd,

Yes, Jay will be writing reports on the wines he recently tasted in Spain. However, depending on timing and space limitations in the paper copy, those reports may only appear on the eRobertParker.com web site.

Sincerely, Joan Passman, Secretary, The Wine Advocate

Emails from regional organisers, The Wine Academy of Spain and Pancho Campo MW:

All make it clear that during Jay Miller's proposed visits to Madrid, Murcia and Valencia he will be tasting, assessing and rating wines following the criteria dictated by Robert Parker and The Wine Advocate. The email sent by Pamela Beltrán (2.11.2011) 14.05 of DO Valencia is particularly clear:

'As reported, we can confirm Jay Miller's visit to Valencia, which will take place on the 28, 29 and 30 of November. During his three-day he will accompanied by Pancho Campo (president of The Wine Academy, the company currently responsible for organizing and coordinating the visit). Miller is planning a wine tasting of each of the three D.O.s of Region for The Wine Advocate, the magazine run by Robert Parker. The details of this tasting are specified below.'

and: 

'Tuesday, November 29 - VALENCIA

    · 09.00 - 13.00 - Tasting of 80 wines from DOP Valencia for the magazine The Wine Advocate to be held at the D.O.'s offices).'

Read the rest here.

I have not suggested that the wineries paid Campo directly instead as he says the money was either paid by the DOs or through organisations like Asevin. Why would DOs, especially in these cash-strapped times, pay The Wine Academy €29,000 (Murcia) Navarra (€100,000), €35,000 (Valencia) or €20,000 proposed to Madrid solely for a 'speaking engagement' running for around two hours?      

**

* However, Miller is also quoted in Jill Rosen's article:

'Miller confirmed Wednesday that Campo helped him arrange free-lance speaking engagements, events where he would receive between $8,000 to $15,000. At the events, often attended by several hundred people, he would talk about his favorite wines, and attendees could sample those varieties.'

If Jay Miller includes the trip to Valencia 28th-30th November as an example, this presumably means that all of Monday (28th), Tuesday (29th) and Wednesday up to 18.30 when the lecture and masterclass started was an official Wine Advocate visit. It became a 'freelance' speaking engagement for the duration (18.30-21.00) of the 'Lecture and MasterClass'.