Collection context
Summary
- Title:
- Michael Broadbent Papers
- Dates:
- circa 1960-2009
- Creators:
- Broadbent, Michael (1927-2020)
- Abstract:
- The Michael Broadbent Papers consist of documents, clippings, and correspondence related to his work in wine.
- Extent:
- 1 linear foot
- Language:
- English .
- Preferred citation:
-
[Identification of Item], Michael Broadbent Papers, D-753, Archives and Special Collections, UC Davis Library, University of California, Davis.
Background
- Scope and content:
-
The Michael Broadbent Papers consist of documents, clippings, and correspondence related to his work in wine.
- Biographical / historical:
-
Michael Broadbent, Master of Wine, was a renowned British wine critic, auctioneer, and author. John Michael Broadbent was born on May 2, 1927, in West Riding, Yorkshire, England. In 1952, Broadbent started his career in wine when Laytons, a London wine merchant, hired him. After gaining experience with various wine merchants, he achieved his Master of Wine qualification in 1960.
Many people credit Broadbent with establishing wine as a valuable commodity, like antique furniture or art, with enough demand to warrant auctions of rare and coveted bottles. In 1966, Broadbent proposed to the chairman of Christie's Auction House (London) that they should create a department focused on buying and selling old, rare wines. They agreed, and he became the sales director of the newly introduced fine wine auctions. During his long career at the auction house, he became senior director of the Christie's wine department and remained in a consultancy role until 2009.
Broadbent also published various works and articles on wine. His most important works, "The Pocket Guide to Wine Tasting," first published in 1968, and "The Great Vintage Wine Book" (1980), have appeared in many editions and languages. In "The Pocket Guide to Wine Tasting," Broadbent established a methodology that gave structure to the field of wine tasting. He outlined the importance of every element, such as the time of day, his preferred glassware, and the order of wines. Broadbent was also an editor for Decanter magazine and wrote over 400 articles. An interesting but lesser known fact about Broadbent is that he was an amateur illustrator and several unattributed illustrations are in this collection. Through his contributions, he became an internationally known author and the face of fine wine.
References
Asimov, E. (2020, March 24). Michael Broadbent, who put wine on the auction block, dies at 92. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/24/dining/drinks/michael-broadbent-dead.html
(n.d.) Michael Broadbent MW, Author at Decanter Magazine. Decanter. https://www.decanter.com/author/michaelbroadbent/
- Acquisition information:
- Gift of Dame Emma Arbuthnot, known professionally as The Honourable Mrs Justice Arbuthnot, DBE.
- Physical location:
- Researchers should contact Archives and Special Collections to request collections, as many are stored offsite.
- Rules or conventions:
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Indexed terms
About this collection guide
- Date Encoded:
- This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2025-02-28 10:46:26 -0800 .
Access and use
- Restrictions:
-
The collection is not yet processed. Please contact Archives and Special Collections to inquire about access.
- Terms of access:
-
All applicable copyrights for the collection are protected under chapter 17 of the U.S. Copyright Code. Requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Head of Special Collections. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the Regents of the University of California as the owner of the physical items. It is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the researcher.
- Preferred citation:
-
[Identification of Item], Michael Broadbent Papers, D-753, Archives and Special Collections, UC Davis Library, University of California, Davis.
- Location of this collection:
-
University of California, Davis, Special Collections, UC Davis Library100 NW QuadDavis, CA 95616-5292, US
- Contact:
- (530) 752-1621