‘Power couple’ Robinson and Lander in London Top 1000

Jancis Robinson MW, wine writer and Eric Narioo, founder of wine merchant Les Caves de Pyrene, have been ranked among the ‘top 1000 most influential people in London’ by London’s Evening Standard newspaper.

For its magazine supplement published on October 9, the newspaper listed 1000 people in 22 sectors such as new media, sports, music, politics, fashion and property.

Narioo, Robinson and Nick Lander – Robinson’s restaurant consultant husband and fellow Financial Times writer – appear in the food section, among celebrity chefs Gordon Ramsay, Nigella Lawson and Jamie Oliver.

‘What a surprise,’ Robinson said, ‘I’m very flattered indeed, and delighted that Nick’s there too. Does this make us a power couple? How terrifying.’

Her entry says she was the first person outside the wine trade to pass the Master of Wine exams.

Former rugby player Narioo, whom the Evening Standard calls a ‘dishy Frenchman…who has had a pronounced beneficial impact on restaurant wine lists’, said he was particularly pleased to be named alongside Robinson.

‘I can understand Jancis being there because she’s very high profile,’ said Narioo. ‘It’s nice to be there but in general, I don’t think much of these kinds of lists.’

The list was compiled by a panel of journalists, editors and assorted consultants.

Also mentioned in the food section are the Evening Standard’s restaurant critic, Fay Maschler (among the specialist contributors to the list) as well as restaurateur Sir Terence Conran and cocktail mixologist Dick Bradsell.

Written by Maggie Rosen