Stephen Skelton MW is a wine writer, wine consultant and member of the  Institute of Master of Wine. Skelton started his career in wine in 1975. After 12 months at Schloss Schönborn in Germany’s Rheingau winegrowing region and two terms at Geisenheim Wine School, he returned to the UK in 1977 to establish Tenterden Vineyards in Kent (today’s Chapel Down), where he made wine for 23 vintages. He was winemaker at Lamberhurst Vineyards from 1988–1991. Skelton is a consultant to the English wine industry and is involved with planting vineyards for the production of both still and sparkling wine. He became a Master of Wine in 2003 aged 55 and eight years after he started the programme, but having spent three of those years doing a degree.