ロワン ギレスピRowan Gillespie

Rowan Gillespie is an ardent wine educator, management consultant, and wine lover based in Tokyo. He teaches WSET Levels 1, 2, and 3 and is a judge for the annual Japan Wine Challenge competition. Born in New Zealand, Rowan has lived in Japan for the past twenty years. He holds a WSET Diploma in Wines.

「What led you to become a wine educator?」

My wine education journey began after I moved to Japan in the early 2000s. I was already an avid wine drinker, but Japanese wine shops were my first exposure to the classic wines of Europe. Being confronted by the initially intimidating labels of Old World wines, I began to read obsessively, learning to decipher wine labels and confidently order in my favourite restaurants.

The more I read, the more I became fascinated by the different aspects of wine. Mastering wine requires understanding a blend of influences, including history, climate, geology, geography, legal and commercial requirements, and the art of science of viticulture and viniculture.

Above all, I developed many new friendships through wine. Travelling to wine regions also gave our family vacations a greater sense of purpose.

This hunger for developing my wine knowledge and skills ultimately led me to study for the WSET Diploma and become an educator to share my passion with others.

「What is your approach to teaching about wine?」

I want my students to not only be well prepared to ace their WSET exams but to be equipped with the tasting skills and wine knowledge to:

• Gain a deeper appreciation of the different elements of wine and how they fit together.

• Discover new and exciting wine styles.

• Confidentially select delicious great-value wines, whether in an izakaya, wine shop, or a Michelin-starred restaurant.

• Get deeper enjoyment out of travel to wine regions by understanding the connection between the people, place, history, and winemaking tradition.