Clive Coates M.W. (Master of Wine) is one of the world's leading wine authorities. In 1985, after twenty-five years as a professional wine merchant, he set up his own independent fine-wine magazine, The Vine. It is now circulated throughout the world and in 1992 received a Special Commendation for its considerable contribution to the knowledge and understanding of wine from the Wine Guild of Great Britain. He also writes for nearly all the world's other serious wine magazines and is known as an accomplished lecturer throughout Europe and the United States. He is the author of Claret (1982) and Wines of France (1990).