Quickly discovering that a knowledge of wine opened doors that were closed to lesser mortals, Ben had a front row seat as the wine trade grew from an elitist and rather amateurish profession into a multimillion dollar global business. This is the story of how it happened, and of the many remarkable characters he befriended along the way – people whose marketing genius was matched only by their desire to put a smile on everyone’s faces. In true vinous style, Ben’s book is sure to do the same.

• Plumbing the depths: Ben’s valiant attempts to sell wine to beer-loving miners, which involved actually joining them at the coal face.
• Englishman abroad: a jolly jaunt through French châteaux, Spanish bodegas and Portuguese quintas, where Ben forged many of the friendships that would last a lifetime.
• Serious business: Ben’s career takes off during the golden age of wine and spirits marketing, when he played a part bringing many of the world-famous brands we know and love today into being.
• To the manor born: Ben joins Lord Rothschild to help transform Waddesdon Manor, Buckinghamshire, into one of the premier showcases for fine wine in the Western world.
• Mád world: Ben teams up with Hugh Johnson to revive the fortunes of Hungary’s fabled Tokaji wines and embarks on a series of star-studded adventures that span the globe, from Shanghai to Hollywood.