The Wine Explorer

Graham Mitchell. The Wine Explorer. Graham is to wine what Michael Palin is to travel – a sort of Indiana Jones with a corkscrew.

Knock back The Wine Explorer’s advice on buying wine in The Independent. What about hiring The Wine Explorer as a Speaker to present a light-hearted but seriously informative Tutored Wine Tasting or After Dinner Speech?

For a unique corporate or social event, tailor-made to your requirements, let Graham Mitchell lead you on a light-hearted journey through the vineyards of the world, uncorking the mysteries of wine in an amusing and memorable fashion.

Graham can supply all the event equipment including glasses, wines, coolers, tasting notes, spittoons and mystery wine sheets. He is also happy to use the wines on the hotel or restaurant’s wine list to save on corkage. Prices range between £25.00 and £85.00 per head depending on wines and numbers. The minimum number of attendees is 12 and the tastings are presented for an hour or more. An after dinner speech will usually last for half an hour.

Graham’s after dinner speeches and tutored wine tastings provide an engaging blend of information and humour and are light-hearted and fun. Known as The Wine Explorer, Graham noses his way around vineyards off the beaten track, all over the world, in order to discover well-made wines with individuality, character and balance.

Like Cyrano de Bergerac, his nose normally arrives at the vineyard about 15 minutes before the rest of him! Graham is an accomplished, experienced and entertaining Wine Presenter and After Dinner Speaker who can turn your event into an experience with a difference, a wine experience.

A wine event designed and run by The Wine Explorer can be tailor-made to any size. It may be a small, intimate tasting for 15 people or a large event for over 200. These events are proven successes for client entertainment, team-building and social occasions alike, whether run in-house or at an outside venue. All events are informative and entertaining and can involve a range of topics and activities including grape comparisons, country competitions, mystery wines and Call My Bluff style quizzes. Graham can also perfectly match your selection of food for dinner with appropriate fine wines.

Graham Mitchell has been buying and selling wine for eighteen years as a professional Wine Merchant (6 of them as a Director of El Vino in Fleet Street) and has a wealth of experience as a Wine Presenter.

Graham is the fourth generation of his family to toil in wine, his Great Grandfather, Sir Alfred Bower, established Bower and Company, wine merchants in the City of London in 1879, so you could say that wine is in his blood! Graham’s passion for wine and wit have led to a regular wine slot on BBC radio since 2002 and made him a much sought-after speaker on the after dinner circuit.

Graham is a business graduate with a thorough grounding in wine. He has taken all the wine trade exams including the Master of Wine which he took in 1999 after three years of study. He started his career packing cases in the cellar at Berry Brothers and Rudd.

He spent 6 back-breaking weeks harvesting grapes at Chateau d’Angludet in Bordeaux. He has also worked in the Mosel Valley in Germany researching the chemical constituents of wine. He has traveled widely throughout the vineyards of the world, including buying visits to Burgundy, Bordeaux, The Rhone Valley, Germany, Portugal, Australia, New Zealand, Argentina, Chile, California and South Africa.

Whether you are organising a dinner, a corporate event, a team building exercise or a wine tasting, Graham can turn your event into something truly special. There are lots of people who speak about wine but there is no-one with the same blend of wit and authority on the subject as Graham Mitchell.

GRAHAM MITCHELL – THE WINE EXPLORER

TESTIMONIALS

Graham Mitchell is to wine what Michael Palin is to travel – a sort of Indiana Jones with a corkscrew! Graham has an easy going style where wit, serious comment on wine and charming anecdotes are easily mingled. However, for all the charm the audience is left in no doubt as to his passion and expertise when it comes to wine. With Graham you learn about wine in a matter-of-fact, direct and accessible way. He was excellent. Paul Wallace-Woodroffe, President, Ye Olde Leather Bottel Clubbe Annual Dinner 2010.

Graham Mitchell is one of the best speakers that our society has enjoyed for years. He is an engaging guide who shares his knowledge of the mysteries of wine with such a light touch that his audience little realise how much they are learning. Graham’s stories of his adventures in the vineyards are both amusing and entertaining. Roger Morton, Standard Chartered Bank Wine Society.

Graham Mitchell is an engaging, civilised speaker brimming with wit and good humour. He is both amusing and stimulating about a subject which everybody enjoys. The world of wine has a fund of good stories and Graham Mitchell seems to know some of the best! Gerald Hobson, Senior Partner, Faegre & Benson LLP.

“Thank you for a truly fantastic evening. What a delicious series of wines, perfectly matched to that wonderful menu and introduced with such aplomb!” Catherine & Peter Haig, The Afghan Connection Dinner.

“Graham’s wine tasting evening provided an informative and thoroughly entertaining event which was enjoyed by all 60 attendees.” Dale Turner, Invensys.

Graham you’re so enthusiastic about your subject matter, I’m sure you could persuade a teetotaler to jump off the wagon – Deborah Duckham, Unisys.

The selection of wines and Graham’s knowledge and love of them was obvious, but also his presentation and informal fun approach to enjoying wine made the evening a great success.Neil Beck, Partner, Wellers Accountants.

I just wanted to say a huge thank you again for a super wine tasting last night. We were delighted with how the evening went and our clients were also very pleased. I will make sure I recommend you widely. Jane Pearce, Executive Director, Nomura.

Graham is a natural. His speech was spectacular. He is an accomplished and entertaining speaker, both hilarious and informative. I knew the evening had been a huge success by the appreciative reaction of the audience. Malcolm Beacham, Lloyds Combined Societies Dinner.

Graham brings an immense amount of knowledge and humour to wine tasting. I have used his services several times for occasions where bonding and relaxation are key elements (team meetings, executive meetings and social events) I can thoroughly recommend his skills to enhance your own pleasure and appreciation of wine.  Jon Hughes, P A Consulting.

A wine tasting evening was held at Queen’s Club, West Kensington, London on Thursday July 5th between 6:00pm – 9:00pm. Contact us to arrange YOUR wine tasting evening.

The Wine Explorer. In a glass of his own!

Fill in the Enquiry Form below with all the details about the event you’re planning and we’ll get back to you asap.