Prominent UK wine buyer and Champagne specialist Dee Blackstock MW has died aged 76 following a short illness.
Blackstock, who became a Master of Wine in 1992, died on the 20 July this year after a brief period at the Florence Nightingale Hospice in Stoke Mandeville.
She joined the wine trade in 1984 with Gerard Harris Fine Wines Ltd, which was the retail arm of The Bell Inn at Aston Clinton in Buckinghamshire.
In 1991 she joined Waitrose – the chain of upmarket supermarkets owned by John Lewis PLC – where she was a wine buyer until 2013.
Among her areas of responsibility during this time was Champagne, along with all sparkling wine, making her an influential expert on the diversifying category of fine fizz.
During her time at Waitrose she also took charge of buying wine from New Zealand, Australia, Burgundy, the Rhône, South of France, Germany and South Africa.
In 1992, she passed the Master of Wine exams at the first attempt, securing a bursary scholarship for the marketing paper.
She then went on to study for the Institute of Grocery Distribution diploma and was awarded a scholarship for overall marks.
In recognition of her services to French wine in her buying role she was made a Chevalier de l’Ordre du Mérite Agricole.
Upon her retirement from Waitrose, Blackstock became a freelance consultant. In addition to her consultancy work she was a member of the UK’s Government Wine Committee; a judge at the IWSC and Decanter World Wine Awards and part of the regular tasting panel for a consumer Wine App.
Blackstock is survived by her children Kirsty, Fergus, Torquil and Alexa.
• The family are holding a celebration of her life on Wednesday 6 August 2025 in Amersham, UK. RSVPs are required by the 30 July. Please email Karen Carrillo: kcarrillo@mastersofwine.org for further information.
Dining and Cooking