Anthony Foster, Esteemed Master of Wine & Senior Wine Advisor to Algodon Wine Estates - The Algodon
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The Algodon

Anthony Foster, Esteemed Master of Wine & Senior Wine Advisor to Algodon Wine Estates

Anthony Foster, Master of Wine
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Anthony Foster has been described as one of the foremost Masters of Wine in the UK, and we are thrilled and honored to have his expertise and valued partnership.  Mr. Foster has spent considerable time working with various wine investment groups, and with over thirty-eight years in the wine trade, he is able to offer unparalleled insight, knowledge, and judgment.

In 1974, Mr. Foster became a Master of Wine, passing the most arduous four day tasting and theoretical qualification in the industry.  In 1987 he was Chairman of the Institute of Masters of Wine and was largely responsible for making the qualification international.  Mr. Foster is mentioned in an informative NY Times article, which describes in detail the arduous journey to become a Master of Wine (M.W.) and the respect it commands from those who know of its distinction:

"While there are a handful of American programs to train sommeliers and other serving personnel, as well as wholesalers, retailers and wine teachers, wine experts consider these programs minor-league when compared with the educational demands for an M.W. In England, its recipients, who are M.W.'s for life, command the attention that the French lavish on celebrity chefs...'We don't want to be elitist,' said Anthony Foster, the institute's chairman, referring to the examination. 'We want people who want to make money in the wine business.'" --New York Times

He founded his own company, Bonhote Foster Limited, in 1975, and was bought out in 1981 by Scottish and Newcastle Breweries.  He was subsequently made managing director of Christopher and Company, Royal Warrant holders.  In 1986, Antinori in Florence sought him out and hired him to become managing director of their UK arm, Belloni.  After Antinori sold their interest in Belloni in the early nineties, Mr. Foster continued to act as a consultant for various bodies on fruit selection and wine making techniques, as well as wine marketing in the UK and US.  Amongst other projects, he researched and advised a number of Slovenian wine producers on how to market their wines in Europe.  He created a Burgundy importing company in the US - Foster Flynt Selections - with DC Flynt MW. In 1998, Mr. Foster purchased Bonhote Foster Limited back from Scottish and Newcastle Breweries.

Mr. Foster is an acknowledged wine taster.  He judges around the world, most notably France, Italy, Australia and the UK.  In France he has participated in a number of "Tastevinage" panels and in Italy he has been a frequent judge at the Banco d'Assagio in Perugia.  In Australia he is one of a handful of international judges and he is frequently invited to judge in both Canberra and Hobart.  In the UK, he chairs a number of tasting panels for both the Wine Challenge and the Wine and Spirit Competition.