A farewell to Matthew Jukes, Britain’s top wine expert

Matthew Jukes attends the launch of new wellbeing, gastronomy and modern living podcast "The Inner Table: The Art of Living Well" — (Image credit: Jed Cullen/Dave Benett/Getty Images)

Matthew Jukes, MoneyWeek’s wine columnist for 20 years, has died at the age of 58. Readers of the magazine and indeed its staff will sorely miss his amusing and ebullient reviews and unique voice, not to mention his expertise in seeking out delicious and affordable wines.

He was always exceptionally busy elsewhere, too – he was, as The Telegraph says, “one of Britain’s busiest and most respected wine experts”, writing columns for the Daily Mail and becoming a star of TV and radio.

Matthew Jukes's legacy

Matthew also developed a popular series of annual wine reports, covering the likes of Bordeaux en primeur, Burgundy and Piemonte, as well as his “100 Best Australian Wines”, which won him an Honorary Australian of the Year award in 2012. At its launch in 2004, this was a simple list, but over the years it grew into a major tasting event in the UK that also toured China and Australia.

In 2019, he “caused a stir in the world of oenophiles” by launching his own zero-alcohol range of drinks known as Cordialities. The aim was to give those with a “wine-savvy palate” an alternative to the “cheap, sugary, fake creations” that were the only alternative for those avoiding alcohol. He experimented in his kitchen with recipes old and new, and his creations won orders from Michelin-starred restaurants all over the world. He was “very proud of the success of his business”, says David Gleave of Liberty Wines.

Above all, Matthew Jukes was a gentleman and “one of the very best human beings I have met in my life”, says Libby Brodie for City AM. He was a “gregarious and generous” host – “clever, funny and honourable”.

But there was a different energy once he was at work, says Jancis Robinson on her website. Then there would be a “laser-like focus” and no chatting. He also had a “strict moral code”, says Brodie, and would always pay his way, donating what it would have cost to charity if he found the bill had been picked up. He was simply “superb at his job” and “leaves the world in a better state than he found it”.

Stuart graduated from the University of Leeds with an honours degree in biochemistry and molecular biology, and from Bath Spa University College with a postgraduate diploma in creative writing.
He started his career in journalism working on newspapers and magazines for the medical profession before joining MoneyWeek shortly after its first issue appeared in November 2000. He has worked for the magazine ever since, and is now the deputy editor.
He has long had an interest in political economy and philosophy and writes occasional think pieces on this theme for the magazine, as well as a weekly round up of the best blogs in finance.
His work has appeared in The Lancet and The Idler and in numerous other small-press and online publications.