James Suckling

James Suckling is a famous critic of wine and cigars. A critic is someone who tastes things to share their expert thoughts. He is known all over the world for his deep experience. People look to him to learn about fine drinks. He works to help others understand what makes a drink special.

James has a very specific way of tasting wine. He does not just focus on the smell. He puts more focus on what he tastes in his mouth. He looks for the fruit, the acid, and the alcohol. He also looks for the aftertaste, which is the flavor that stays. He believes wine should be an emotion, not a science. To him, a great wine is like music because it can move you.

His journey into the world of wine began many years ago. He was born in Los Angeles, California, in 1958. He studied journalism at Utah State University and the University of Wisconsin. In 1981, he joined a magazine called Wine Spectator. At that time, the magazine only had eight hundred readers. He later moved to San Francisco with the magazine in 1982.

James has traveled to many different countries for his work. He lived in Paris for many years to review European wines. He also lived in London for eleven years. In 1990, he wrote a book called Vintage Port. He has tasted about 4,000 wines every single year. In June 2021, France gave him a special honor. He received the Ordre National du Merite for his work with French wines.

He also uses his skills to help people come together. He started a charity project called One Wine One World. This project helps Jewish, Muslim, and Christian faiths connect. The wine for this project used grapes from many lands. It used grapes from Mexico, Hungary, Slovenia, Italy, and France. He even made a film about the history of cigars in Cuba.