Matthew Hayes

Matthew, our Burgundy specialist, has lived in Dijon for more than 20 years. He’s worked for several prominent wine merchants and brokers in both the UK and Burgundy, but credits his time working at Willi’s Wine Bar and Juveniles in Paris for opening his eyes to the wide world of wine rather than simply the classics and investment-grade wines – about which he has a decidedly sceptical view. A 2008 road accident in Meursault left him paraplegic and he’s since channelled his obvious talents into writing (see leglessinburgundy) and running Albion Vins Fins, importing Italian wine into France. He tells his life story far more eloquently here.