About Us

First and foremost we are wine lovers! The Académie du Vin Library was founded by Steven Spurrier and friends, dedicated to publishing the finest wine writing of the past, the present and the future. The story behind the name came from Steven’s days in Paris in the 1970s, when he began running wine appreciation courses for his English-speaking friends. Read more here.

Our list is small – and will never be large – because we value quality over quantity. We choose our books with care – above all for their readability, but also because we genuinely believe they have something important to say about the world of fine wine that will enhance your drinking pleasure.

What we do

We publish several kinds of wine books, having acquired the world-renowned Classic Wine Library recently.

Our newly commissioned titles aim to bring you the best of modern wine writing. Anthologies, memoirs and literary explorations provide the colour, the background and the essential understanding on which any true enjoyment of fine wine depends. The 'Wines of' series are the most trusted guides to all of the key wine regions, written by world-class experts. Our books really are wine writing at its finest.

We also publish beautiful new editions of old books that we firmly believe demand a new audience. Rather than simply republishing the books, we add updates and additional material that we think will appeal to a modern readership without in any way destroying the charm or the essential wisdom of the originals. Fine wine writing, like wine itself, represents an accumulation of knowledge over the ages. Our aim is to pick the best and to let it breathe again.

We also offer a carefully curated collection of wine books from other authors; wonderful writers with great passion and knowledge of fascinating wine regions and winemakers.

Be sure to subscribe to our newsletter for more details of our forthcoming books.

Join the club!

We are more than just a publishing company. We aim to build a community of like-minded winos, who can exchange news and views, keep up with the latest developments in the wine industry, and participate in exciting wine tasting events across the world. Sign up to our newsletter here to hear more.

And we are always keen to work with like-minded companies in the world of wine, from educators to merchants to wine makers. If you are interested in selling our books, please see our Trade Partners page here. If you would like to work with us in any other capacity please contact us here.

Meet the Team

  • Hermione Ireland

    Managing Director & Publisher

  • Susan Keevil

    Editorial Director

  • Tim Foster

    Art Director

  • Rebecca Clare

    Editorial Director, CWL

  • Adam Lechmere

    Publishing Director

  • Gyongyi Somlai

    Head of Marketing

  • Magdalena Krzeslak

    Operations Manager

  • Julian Gillett

    Finance

  • Jess Peart

    Accountant

  • Allison Burton–Parker

    Education Director