Wine educator Brett Jones dies

Wine educator and writer Brett Jones has died of cancer aged 73.

Jones died in London on 30 April his partner and fellow wine writer Wink Lorch has said. He had lived with metastatic prostate cancer from September 2016.

A keen photographer and member of both the Association of Wine Educators and Circle of Wine Writers, Jones trained in hotel and catering at the Lausanne Hotel School in Switzerland and worked for several years in hotel management back in the UK.

He opened Webber’s Wine Bar in Billericay in 1976 and ran it until 2002 when it was sold. He was also an early adopter of the internet to sell wine directly to consumers which he did until 2000 on the website winecases.com, while his ‘Wine Maestro Wine Club’ providing mixed cases to customers continued until 2016.

Described as a “gentleman in the old style” Brett was a friend to many in the trade known for his geniality and generosity as a host.

As well as Wink, Brett is survived by a sister, four children and five grandchildren.

His funeral will take place at St Marylebone Crematorium on 25 May. All friends are welcome and in lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate donations to St Joseph’s Hospice in Hackney where Brett was looked after in his final weeks.

Contact Wink Lorch wink@winklorch.com for full details