Biography
Scope and Contents
Arrangement
Access
Processing Information
Acquisition
Preferred Citation
Publication Rights
Contributing Institution:
University of California, Davis Library, Dept. of Special Collections
Title: Jancis Robinson Papers on Wine Writing
Creator:
Robinson, Jancis
Identifier/Call Number: D-612
Physical Description:
33.4 linear feet
Date (inclusive): 1967-2016
Abstract: Jancis Robinson (1950-present), OBE MW, is a British wine writer, journalist, and television presenter. Her papers include
tasting notes from commercial and trade tastings, wine festivals, and informal occasions. The collection also includes a clipping
books and clipping files containing copies of Jancis Robinson's articles, articles about Ms. Robinson and her work, and publications
edited by Ms. Robinson. Ms. Robinson's television work is documented through press clippings and videocassettes of selected
programs, including "Matters of Taste", "The Wine Programme", "Vintner's Tales", "Jancis Robinson's Wine Course", and "Taste
with Jancis Robinson". Photographs in the collection include formal publicity photographs, posed and informal photographs
from award events and tastings, and photographs taken during filming of television programs. The collection also includes
a small amount of personal and professional correspondence, a selection of books authored by Jancis Robinson, and a number
of award medals.
Physical Location: Researchers should contact Special Collections to request collections, as many are stored offsite.
Language of Material:
English
.
Biography
Jancis Robinson (1950-present), OBE MW, is a British wine writer, journalist, and television presenter. Ms. Robinson is the
author of twenty-nine books and hundreds of articles. Among her books are
The 24-Hour Wine Expert (2016),
How to Taste/Jancis Robinson's Wine Tasting Workbook (2002 and 2008),
Tasting Pleasure/Confessions of a Wine Lover (1997),
Jancis Robinson's Wine Course (1995 and 2003),
Vines, Grapes & Wines (1986),
Masterglass (1983), and
The Wine Book (1979). She is editor of
The Oxford Companion to Wine, co-author with Hugh Johnson of
The World Atlas of Wine, and co-author of
Wine Grapes: A complete guide to 1,368 vine varieties, including their origins and flavours. Her television work includes, among others, "The Wine Programme" (1983-1986), which was the world's first television series
about wine; "Matters of Taste" (1988 and 1991); "Vintners' Tales" (1992 and 1998); "Jancis Robinson's Wine Course" (1995,
with accompanying book); and "Taste with Jancis Robinson" (1999).
Jancis Robinson studied Maths and Philosophy at Oxford University from 1968-1971. In the following years, she worked in marketing
for Thomson Holidays and subsequently spent a year in Provence. In 1975, Ms. Robinson returned to London and became assistant
editor of
Wine & Spirit, later serving as editor from 1976-1980. She was wine correspondent to
The Sunday Times of London from 1980-1986, a columnist at
Wine Spectator from 1989-1995, and has been wine correspondent for the
Financial Times since 1990. She was also wine consultant for British Airways from 1995-2010. In 2000, JancisRobinson.com was launched as
an online home for wine news and reviews. The site is updated daily with tasting notes, articles, and reviews written by Ms.
Robinson and a team of authors.
Ms. Robinson is the recipient of dozens of accolades and awards, including high honors from France, Germany, Portugal, and
Spain, and was the first person outside the wine trade to earn the title Master of Wine. In 2003, Jancis Robinson was made
Officer of the Order of the British Empire and from 2004 to the present has been a Member of the Royal Household Wine Committee
advising on the Queen's cellar. Ms. Robinson is married to food writer and restaurateur Nick Lander, the former owner of L'Escargot.
Selected Career Highlights:
1976-1980: Editor,
Wine & Spirit
1979:
The Wine Book
1980-1986: Wine correspondent,
The Sunday Timesof London
1983: Writer/presenter of "The Wine Programme" (Channel 4), world's first television series on wine
1984: Master of Wine
1989-1995: Columnist,
Wine Spectator
1990-present: Wine correspondent, the
Financial Times
1994:
The Oxford Companion to Wine, 1st edition
1995: Catalan Agriculture Medal (Spain)
1995: Producer/writer/presenter, "Jancis Robinson's Wine Course" (BBC) and book of the same name
1995-2010: Wine consultant, British Airways
1997:
Confessions of a Wine Lover/Tasting Pleasure
2000: JancisRobinson.com launched
2001:
The World Atlas of Wine, 5th edition, with Hugh Johnson
2003: Made Officer of the Order of the British Empire
2004-present: Member of the Royal Household Wine Committee advising on the Queen's cellar
2012:
Wine Grapes, with Julia Harding and José Vouillamoz
2012: Comendador da Ordem do Mérito Empresarial (Order of Merit, Portugal)
2016: Officier du Mérite Agricole (France)
2016: VDP Golden Needle of Honor (Germany)
2016: Honorary Fellow of the University of Cumbria
Sources:
Robinson, Jancis. "Jancis Robinson – the long version", JancisRobinson.com. http://www.jancisrobinson.com/jancis-robinson-the-long-version.
Accessed 20 April 2017.
Robinson, Jancis. "The story of JancisRobinson.com", JancisRobinson.com. http://www.jancisrobinson.com/ about/the-site. Accessed
20 April 2017.
Scope and Contents
The largest portion of the Jancis Robinson Papers on Wine Writing is Ms. Robinson's collected tasting notes. These come in
the form of notebooks and journals from travel, tours, events, and informal occasions, and in the form of loose leaf notes.
The latter are accompanied by associated background information and marketing literature from commercial and trade tastings,
wine festivals, wine merchants, and wine clubs.
The collection also includes a large set of clipping books and clipping files containing copies of Jancis Robinson's articles,
articles about Ms. Robinson and her work, and publications edited by Ms. Robinson. Additionally, there are two clipping books
related to L'Escargot restaurant, formerly owned by Nick Lander, Jancis Robinson's husband.
Ms. Robinson's television work is documented through press clippings and videocassettes of selected programs. "Matters of
Taste", "The Wine Programme", "Vintner's Tales", "Jancis Robinson's Wine Course", and "Taste with Jancis Robinson" are all
represented in the collection. Photographs in the collection include formal publicity photographs, posed and informal photographs
from award events and tastings, and photographs taken during filming of television programs.
The collection also includes a small amount of personal and professional correspondence, a selection of books authored by
Jancis Robinson, and a number of award medals.
Arrangement
The Jancis Robinson Papers on Wine Writing are arranged in seven series: 1. Correspondence and Events; 2. Tasting Notes; 3.
Publications and Publicity; 4. Television Work; 5. Books; 6. Photographs; and 7. Medals.
Access
Collection is open for research.
Processing Information
Liz Phillips processed this collection with the help of student assistants Monica Doan, Julie Jeon, Robyn Lam, and Fiona Sun.
UK-based archivist Richard Taylor performed the initial assessment and wrote the folder descriptions.
Acquisition
Gift of Jancis Robinson, 2016-2017.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Jancis Robinson Papers on Wine Writing, D-612, Department of Special Collections, General Library,
University of California, Davis.
Publication Rights
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.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Wine tasting
Wine -- Selecting and serving
Wine and wine making
Wine and wine making -- Guidebooks
Wine writers -- England
Robinson, Jancis -- Archives