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 His
career led him from France to Germany, where he worked
as a sommelier (he was elected three times as Germany's
Best Sommelier), a wine seller and a wine consultant,
before the virus of wine writing took hold of him.
He is the co-founder and co-writer, with Armin Diel,
of the Gault Millau Guide to German wines. Since 2006,
he is also the editor-in-chief of Wine Business International,
published by the
German group Meininger. He also writes for another magazine
of Meininger's, Weinwelt.Joel is 54.
Payne has been a FIJEV member since the very beginning
. He is also a member of the
Circle of Wine Writers and of Weinfeder. He also takes
part in the Grand Jury Européen.
Joel succeeds Louis Havaux, who has been at the helm
of FIJEV for ten years, and who himself succeeded the
founder of FIJEV, Frenchman Jan Bertin-Roulleau.
FIJEV is an international association based in Paris.
It has more than 650 members in 46 countries. Its permanent
Bureau is composed of the President and 6 other members:
Isabel Mijares (Vice President, Spain), Jacqueline Jensen
(Vice-Presidente, Denmark), Hervé Lalau (Secretary
General, France), Yves Paquier (Treasurer, Switzerland)
and Thierry Hanon Degroote (Webmaster, Belgium).
The mission statement of FIJEV is threefold:-Facilitate
the circulation of information
on wine in the world-Defend the interests of the wine
journalists and writers-Facilitate contacts and mutual
assistance amonst wine journalists and writers.
Joel Payne had earlier this year decided to hold the
first-ever survey of Who-is-Who of wine in India earlier
this year on behalf of the Wine Business International.
' I know we may not have the perfect results in the
first year. But, India is emerging an important wine
market and I would like to see it get the importance
it deserves,' he had said while conducting the survey.'
The following years shall see the surveys fine tuned,'
were his comments when he was told that some people
might crtiticise the methodology of the magazine or
that the response might not be as widespread as in other
countries well established in wine marketing.
On contacted by delWine, he was very modest towards
the congratulatory message. ' And now more work,' he
responded.
DelWine wishes him a meaningful tenure.
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