'A Lifetime in the Wine Industry': James' Prestige Magazine Interview

James recently sat down for an interview with Prestige Magazine to discuss his career as a wine critic and entrepreneur: how he got his start in the business with Wine Spectator, how he shifted gears to start his own business and what inspired him to move to Hong Kong.

Although James has grown JamesSuckling.com into one of the most popular websites in the Wine World, holds decorations from both the French and Italian governments and is the only wine expert offering classes on Masterclass.com, he stresses in the interview that his professional journey hasn’t always been an easy one, especially since his move to Hong Kong.

James and his wife, Marie, have run their wine bar/restaurant, James Suckling Wine Central, since October 2018, but James was originally prompted to move to Hong Kong after attending the 2011 Wine & Dine Festival in the city, by which time Hong Kong had already removed all government duties on wine, turning the city into the region’s premier wine-trading hub. “And that,” James said, “was the main reason I moved.”

James said of James Suckling Wine Central, it “has been a lot of work but now is really successful,” with November and December some of their biggest months ever. James has his hands full in these days, running both James Suckling Wine Central and JamesSuckling.com, which gets about 600,000 unique visitors a month.

“What’s been exciting about this place is that being stuck here almost two years, I’ve really had the chance to see people and talk to them, see what they drink and what they’re interested in with wine,” James said.

You can read the full interview below.

 

https://www.prestigeonline.com/hk/people-events/people/james-suckling-wine-critic-website-bar-restaurant/