Bob Campbell
Bob Campbell was the second New Zealander and is one of just over 300 people in the world to hold the Master of Wine qualification. He founded The Wine Gallery, an Auckland based wine school, in 1990 and is widely regarded as the New Zealand's foremost wine educator. Over 22,000 people have attended wine courses and wine seminars run by Bob Campbell throughout New Zealand and in Australia, Singapore, Malaysia and London. He currently teaches the New Zealand Level Two Wine Certificate in China and Hong Kong in association with NZ Winegrowers.
In addition to wine education Bob Campbell makes a living from wine writing and as a public speaker. He is New Zealand editor for Gourmet Traveller Wine, and is wine editor for Your Home & Garden, Taste magazine, and the Air NZ In-Flight magazine "Kia Ora". Bob was author of The New Zealand Wine Annual (1989-2001), co-author of Cuisine Wine Country 2003 and writes for the UK-based magazine, Decanter as well as Tasting Kitchen in Hong Kong and Wine Press in China. He has contributed to The Oxford Companion of Wine, Sainsbury's Pocket Wine Guide, the Companion to Wine, The Wine Report by Tom Stevenson, Clarke & Spurrier's Fine Wine Guide, and The Slow Food Wine Guide (Italy).
Bob was awarded the title Columnist of the Year (Home & Food section) at the Magazine Publishers Association (MPA) Awards in 2006 and Columnist of the Year (Home & Food Section) again in 2008. He was the inaugural recipient of the Sir George Fistonich medal in recognition for services to wine and was inducted into the Hall of Fame.
Bob Campbell served as chairman of judges at the NZ Wine Society Royal Easter Wine Show for 21 years and is currently chairman of judges at the NZ International Wine Show and chairman of the New Zealand section of the London-based Decanter World Wine Awards. He has been a senior judge at the National Australia Wine Show, co-chairman of judges at the International Wine Challenge in London and has judged extensively in Australia as well as England, Singapore, Hong Kong, South Africa, Belgium, Canada, China, Slovenia, the US and France. Bob Campbell was founding secretary of Hawkes Bay Vintners, president of Winemakers of West Auckland and president of the Rangitoto Beefsteak and Burgundy Club. Bob Campbell began his career in the wine industry when he joined Montana Wines as an accountant in 1973, the same year he became an Associate Chartered Accountant, and worked as a marketing, export and company manager for several winemakers before starting his own business in 1986.