Stephen Brook

Stephen Brook studied English and philosophy at Trinity College, Cambridge. After many years as a publisher’s editor, in both the United States and Britain, he became a freelance writer in 1982 and has written many award-winning books on travel and wine. Among the latter, his “Liquid Gold: Dessert Wines of the World” won the Andre Simon Award in 1987. He has also completed two comprehensive revisions and updatings of the wine encyclopaedia “Hugh Johnson Wine Companion” (Der Grosse Johnson) in German, and in 2003 wrote “The Wines of Germany”, an in-depth look at the history of German wine.

He is a contributing editor to Decanter Magazine, where he writes regularly on wine, as well as a regular wine columnist for Fine Wine Magazine and Falstaff. His articles on food and restaurants have been published in Food & Travel and The Financial Times, among other publications. Furthermore, Stephen Brook is active as an experienced wine judge in competitions in England, France, Australia, California and Canada.

He has also written a book on the perennial British obsession with social class and, for good measure, a study of the Salvation Army, entitled God’s Army. In what spare time is left he enjoys travel, opera, going to the theatre and looking at buildings, both ancient and modern.