A tribute to wine legend Matthew Jukes by his friend Libby Brodie
The wine writer and entrepreneur Matthew Jukes died suddenly this week aged just 58 years old. Our wine writer and his close friend Libby Brodie remembers a legend of the wine industry and beyond
Matthew Jukes was one of the very best people I met in my career in wine. Scratch that, he was one of the very best humans I have met in my life. He was a friend, mentor, colleague and my brilliant co-host at last year’s Toast the City Awards for this newspaper.
He was clever, funny, honourable, generous – impossibly in love with his wonderful wife Amelia, and a warmly devoted father to his daughters and two young sons. Sadly, and all too unfairly, he passed away unexpectedly yesterday at just 58 years old. Much will be written about his 40 years of success in the industry, but this is my personal tribute to him.
Always a gentleman
We met years ago when I was asked to host a panel interviewing wine experts. I was new in wine, younger and more female than most people in any wine room at that time, and the other all-male panellists largely ignored me before the event began. Matthew was totally different. He bounded in and greeted me enthusiastically with compliments about my career so far. During the panel interview he was the only one who turned the questions back to me saying, “Well you’re also a wine expert Libby, what do you think?” He was immediately respectful, inclusive and supportive, which was a refreshing change at the time.
This openness of spirit, this lack of snobbery or gatekeeping, was indicative of his character. He suffered no fools, and at trade events he would target what needed to be done with a silent, determined focus, brushing off small talk and distractions until the work was done. Then, having given the job the respect he felt was due, he would turn affable, suggesting drinks, which he would inevitably offer to pay for.
He was a gregarious, generous host. At a recent celebration for his wedding anniversary my partner complimented the tawny port only to have the bottle pressed upon him when we left. We had no idea of the expense until later when we tried to buy another.
He had an unusually strict moral code when it came to receiving freebies. He would always pay his way, insisting it was part of supporting the industry, and if he found the bill had been taken care of, he would donate what it would have been to charity.
Matthew Jukes: A wine writer like no other
He was superb at his job, always the wittiest and most amusing event host and his 100 Best Australian Wines tasting and report was a highlight of the wine calendar.
Most recently he took the non-alcoholic world by storm with his Jukes Cordialities, sweeping up multiple awards and listings in Michelin starred restaurants. I urge you to try them for yourself from the refreshingly excellent Believe (Tesco, £9) to my personal favourite Jukes 8 Sparkling Rosé in a can (Cans from Waitrose, £4; bottles from jukescordialities.com, £8) or the award-winning Sparkling Collection (12 cans from jukescordialities.com, £52).
The drinks world has lost one of its brightest communicators and most passionate enthusiasts. I have lost my friend and advocate. My thoughts are with his beloved family, who meant more to Matthew than anything else.
I know he would be humbly dismissive as I write this, but Matthew Jukes left the world in a better state than he found it. He is, and always will be, missed.