Knightor Meets: Joanna Simon

In our latest interview series installment, we had the pleasure of speaking with Joanna Simon, the founding editor of Waitrose & Partners Drinks Magazine and a former wine critic for The Sunday Times. We sat down to discuss her illustrious career within the industry and what drives her passion for wine.  

What was your first experience within the industry?
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I joined a big hotel group (renowned for its wine lists and cellars but now defunct) as a rather grandly named Graduate Management Trainee in the wine department. I was the first and last such trainee! Although I learnt a lot from tasting, setting up tastings, working in the cellars and doing WSET courses, there wasn’t any real training programme, so I left after about a year.

What made you first fall in love with the industry? 

I became interested in food and cooking in my late teens and happened to pick up a book on wine that I found lying around and I was immediately hooked.

Did you always want to become a writer?

No, it didn’t occur to me until I’d left the hotel group and spotted an ad for an editorial assistant on a wine & spirits trade magazine. I quickly rewrote my CV, applied for the job, wrote a couple of trial pieces for them and got the job – slightly to my surprise.

What do you love most about reviewing different wines? 

Finding out more about exactly where the wines come from, who grew the vines and how they made the wines; then trying to give readers a flavour of all this at the same time as conveying the style and taste of the wine, so that they know whether it’s their kind of wine or not.

Which country/region do you feel is producing the best wine currently?

In terms of numbers, I think France produces more of the world’s greatest wines than any other country, but that’s not the same as the most exciting wines or the best value. Two of the most exciting developments – they often go hand in hand – are the focus on old vines, often rediscovered in hard-to-access, high altitudes, and on rescuing old grape varieties from obscurity. Almost every country from Spain to Italy, South Africa to Australia and Georgia has old vines, although the UK obviously trails them. Talking of Spain: this is where you can find some really interesting, good value wines, often made, for example, from old Garnacha vines.

Is there anything about the industry you'd change? 

The way wine is packaged. We’ve got to move to more sustainable packaging and away from heavy glass bottles with their disproportionate carbon footprint.

What is your favourite Knightor product? 

I like the originality of Trevannion. There’s nothing else quite like it. It’s very aromatic, equally refreshing and reminds me of lychees, roses, peaches and Pink Lady apples.