Chris Smith

Telephone 020 7735 5968 E-mail check.raiser@virgin.net

Biography

I first 'discovered' wine when I came to London after university in the mid 1990s, particularly by going to Central London Wine Society when it was run by the late but legendary Stan Baker. Since then I've been going to lots of different clubs, and have presented to most of them at some point. I had a brief flirtation with the wine trade around the year 2000 but have now retreated back to the world of financial regulation for a stable income.

I run the wine club at the Office for National Statistics, and also clubs at the Association of British Insurers and the Financial Services Authority (which are sadly private).

In terms of wine, my strongest areas are probably Bordeaux , the Southern Rhone, Italy and Australia , but I am happy to present on almost anything. My style is very informal and I like to mix in quizzes, stories and audience participation.