Stephen Skelton

Areas of Interest

Alumni, Business, Literature

Honorary Award

Honorary Doctor of Business Administration, 2011

Biography

Stephen Skelton is a wine expert of international repute who after spending nearly 40 years within the industry is still helping to put English wines, and particularly premium sparkling wines, firmly onto the global map.

Stephen started out in life with the knowledge that education and hard work would lead to good things. Choosing his direction carefully, he became immersed in what would be his lifelong passion - the growing of vines and making of wine - something that has dominated his life since 1975.

A born entrepreneur with a taste for adventure, he first attended Mid Essex Tech (a forerunner institution of Anglia Ruskin University) before moving to work in Europe for two years to work at Schloss Schonborn, one of Germany's largest and oldest estates. While in Germany he also attended Geisenheim, the world-renowned college of wine growing and wine making.

In 1977 he returned to the UK to establish the vineyards at Tenterden in Kent (now the home of the UK's largest wine producer Chapel Down Winery) and made wine there for 22 consecutive vintages. He was also winemaker at Lamberhurst Vineyards, the UK's biggest wine producer from 1988-1991.

Since 1986 he has written and lectured widely on English wine and has published four guides to UK vineyards, plus the handbook for students Viticulture covering the science, production and study of grapes. In 1999 he took three years off from the wine business to study for a BSc in Multimedia Technology and Design at Brunel University, where he was also awarded the Ede and Ravenscroft prize.

Stephen became a Master of Wine in 2003 which is recognised as the highest achievement in the global wine community. It equips those that have attained the qualification with a unique understanding of and set of skills for dealing with all aspects of the business of wine. The qualification is attained from the Institute of the Masters of Wine, which promotes professional excellence and the highest educational standards in the art, science and business of wine. The Institute's membership spans 23 countries, and the Institute's education programme is primarily aimed at wine trade professionals.

From 2003-2009 Stephen was a member of the Masters of Wine Education Committee at the Institute (this committee is responsible for the conduct of the annual education programme around the world), and was for six years the course wine coordinator, responsible for selecting wines for the worldwide and London courses. In 2009 he was elected to the Council of the Institute of Masters of Wine. The members of the Council are directors of the Institute and are responsible for its governance and strategic direction.

Stephen runs tastings and tutors Masters of Wine candidates. He also works as a consultant to the English and Welsh wine industry, and is currently setting up vineyards for the production of sparkling wine which is currently dominating the headlines. He is the only Master of Wine to be working as a consultant on the science, production and study of grapes in the UK.

Stephen's home-grown and internationally-acclaimed accolades will encourage Anglia Ruskin University students to go onto achieve great things. He is a perfect example of how individuals can excel in non-traditional fields and pass on their expertise to others for the benefit of all.

Citation

"Vice Chancellor, it is my pleasure to read the citation for Stephen Skelton for the award of Honorary Doctor of Business Administration.

Stephen Skelton is a wine expert of international repute who after spending nearly 40 years within the industry is still helping to put English wines, and particularly premium sparkling wines, firmly onto the global map.

Stephen started out in life with the knowledge that education and hard work would lead to good things. Choosing his direction carefully, he became immersed in what would be his lifelong passion - the growing of vines and making of wine - something that has dominated his life since 1975.

A born entrepreneur with a taste for adventure, he first attended Mid Essex Tech (a forerunner institution of Anglia Ruskin University) before moving to work in Europe for two years to work at Schloss Schonborn, one of Germany's largest and oldest estates. While in Germany he also attended Geisenheim, the world-renowned college of wine growing and wine making.

In 1977 he returned to the UK to establish the vineyards at Tenterden in Kent (now the home of the UK's largest wine producer Chapel Down Winery) and made wine there for 22 consecutive vintages. He was also winemaker at Lamberhurst Vineyards, the UK's biggest wine producer from 1988-1991.

Since 1986 he has written and lectured widely on English wine and has published four guides to UK vineyards, plus the handbook for students Viticulture covering the science, production and study of grapes. In 1999 he took three years off from the wine business to study for a BSc in Multimedia Technology and Design at Brunel University, where he was also awarded the Ede and Ravenscroft prize.

Stephen became a Master of Wine in 2003 which is recognised as the highest achievement in the global wine community. It equips those that have attained the qualification with a unique understanding of and set of skills for dealing with all aspects of the business of wine. The qualification is attained from the Institute of the Masters of Wine, which promotes professional excellence and the highest educational standards in the art, science and business of wine. The Institute's membership spans 23 countries, and the Institute's education programme is primarily aimed at wine trade professionals.

From 2003-2009 Stephen was a member of the Masters of Wine Education Committee at the Institute (this committee is responsible for the conduct of the annual education programme around the world), and was for six years the course wine coordinator, responsible for selecting wines for the worldwide and London courses. In 2009 he was elected to the Council of the Institute of Masters of Wine. The members of the Council are directors of the Institute and are responsible for its governance and strategic direction.

Stephen runs tastings and tutors Masters of Wine candidates. He also works as a consultant to the English and Welsh wine industry, and is currently setting up vineyards for the production of sparkling wine which is currently dominating the headlines. He judges various wine challenges and wrote the book The UK vineyards guide 2010.

He is the only Master of Wine to be working as a consultant on the science, production and study of grapes in the UK.

Stephen's home-grown and internationally-acclaimed accolades will encourage Anglia Ruskin University students to go onto achieve great things. He is a perfect example of how individuals can excel in non-traditional fields and pass on their expertise to others for the benefit of all.

Anglia Ruskin University is proud to honour him today for his dedication to wine growing, education and his work in putting English wine brands with their very quintessential 'Englishness' into the global wine market.

Vice Chancellor, it is my pleasure to present Stephen Skelton for the award of Doctor of Business Administration, honoris causa."