David Hunter
David went to Germany in 1968 for three months’ work experience in the wine cellars of H Sichel Söhne, Mainz and ended up staying with the company for 25 years. After finishing his apprenticeship at Maison Sichel Bordeaux, he returned to London where he later became the company’s purchasing director. This involved frequent trips to Germany, spending time in the key regions of Mosel-Saar-Ruwer, Nahe, Palatinate, Rheingau, Rheinhessen, as well as the Ahr, Baden, Franconia and Württemberg. He also made regular buying trips to the wine producing regions of France, focusing in particular on Bordeaux, Burgundy, the Rhône and Loire where he was responsible for purchasing wines in bulk and in bottle for the Sichel portfolio. This included buying French classed growth clarets “en primeur” or “futures”. He spent time in Oporto, where he helped to blend port and in Spain including Jerez where he got to appreciate and understand the joys and complexities of sherry. David then spent 20 years with Wine and Spirit Education Trust lecturing on all aspects of wine. He is holder of the Diploma qualification and lectured regularly to Diploma students on his specialist subjects of Bordeaux, France in general and Germany, Austria and Hungary as well as the fortified wines of Port, Madeira, and Jerez. He has visited some of the wine regions further afield, including California, South Africa and Australia. David is a liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Distillers, which dates back to the reign of King Charles 1st where he is secretary of their Spirits and Wine Committee.