Robert Joseph has resigned as chairman of the International Wine Challenge.
Announcing that ‘the time has come’, the well-respected wine writer and co-founder of Wine International magazine is leaving after nearly 22 years.
His resignation comes a month after Wine International and the International Wine Challenge was bought by publisher William Reed.
‘The transformation of Wine International and the change in chairing structure of the IWC have provided me with the impetus and opportunity to take advantage of two decades’ worth of redundancy [pay],’ he said.
His departure signals the end of one of the wine world’s most enduring duos. Along with Charles Metcalfe, Joseph founded What Wine? – later Wine, then Wine International in 1983. The IWC followed a year later.
Metcalfe said he would ‘regret’ no longer working with Joseph and that it would ‘always be a pity not to have him on board’.
Joseph says he will develop numerous other projects including wine competitions in China and Russia and other publishing ventures.
He also announced his intention to produce his own ‘affordable and attractively branded Bordeaux’.
Written by Oliver Styles
