Michael Broadbent facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Michael Broadbent
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Michael Broadbent in 2005
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| Born | 2 May 1927 Yorkshire, England |
| Died | 17 March 2020 (aged 92) Berkshire, England |
| Occupation | Writer Critic |
| Language | English |
| Spouse | Daphne Broadbent Valerie Smallwood |
| Children | Emma Arbuthnot Bartholomew Broadbent |
John Michael Broadbent (born May 2, 1927 – died March 17, 2020) was a famous British wine expert. He was known as a wine critic, writer, and auctioneer. He held a special title called Master of Wine (MW). Michael Broadbent was a top expert on tasting wines and knowing about very old wines.
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Michael Broadbent's Career
Michael Broadbent was born in Yorkshire, England. He went to Oundle School and first trained to be an architect. However, in 1952, when he was 25, he changed his career. He decided to work in the wine business.
He started by working for different wine companies. In 1960, he earned the special qualification of Master of Wine. This title shows he was a true expert in the world of wine.
Working at Christie's
In 1966, Michael Broadbent began working at Christie's, a very famous auction house in London. He started their wine auction department. This new job allowed him to buy, sell, and taste more rare and expensive wines than almost anyone else.
He kept detailed notes on all the wines he tasted. It is believed he had over 90,000 tasting notes in more than 140 notebooks! He was the main director of Christie's wine department until 1992. He continued to work as a senior advisor there until 2009.
As a Wine Writer
Michael Broadbent was also a well-known wine writer. He published many of his tasting notes from his long career. His book, The Great Vintage Wine Book, is a very important guide. It has notes on over 6,000 wines, some dating back to the 1600s.
He wrote several other books about wine. He also wrote for popular wine magazines like Vinum and Falstaff. Since 1975, he wrote a monthly column for Decanter magazine. Michael Broadbent also gave talks about wine starting in the mid-1950s. He used a simple star system to rate wines, unlike other critics who used numbers.
Awards and Recognition
Michael Broadbent received many honors for his work. In 1979, he was made a Chevalier (Knight) of the Ordre national du Mérite in France. He also became an honorary member of the Académie du Vin de Bordeaux and other French wine groups.
He held many important positions in the wine world. He was Chairman of The Institute of Masters of Wine in 1970. He also led the Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) from 2007 to 2009. In 1993, he served as Sheriff of the City of London.
In 2006, he was a judge in a special wine tasting event. This event was a repeat of the famous "Judgment of Paris" competition from 30 years earlier.
Michael Broadbent's Family Life
Michael Broadbent was first married to Daphne Broadbent (1931–2015). They had two children. Their son, Bartholomew Broadbent, works in the wine business in the United States. He also makes special wines like Port and Madeira in Portugal.
Their daughter, Emma Louise Arbuthnot, is a very important judge in England and Wales. She is the Chief Magistrate. She is married to James Arbuthnot, who is a Member of Parliament.
On April 25, 2019, Michael Broadbent married Valerie Smallwood in London. Michael Broadbent passed away on March 17, 2020, in Berkshire, at the age of 92.
See also
- List of wine personalities
