50 Most Influential People in Wine
By: Sarah Chappell
Published: June 1, 2011

British wine magazine Decanter has released its bi-annual Power List of the 50 most influential people in the wine world. The number one slot goes Pierre Pringuet, the CEO of  the world's fourth largest wine company, Pernod Ricard. The diversity of his brands, which includes both the high and low ends of the market, pushed Pringuet to the top of the list. Eric de Rothschild of Domaine Barons de Rothschild comes in second. Rothschild's portfolio includes Château Lafite, whose immense popularity in Asia helped him to jump up from position 20 on the last Power List. This leaves wine critic Robert Parker down a spot to number three. There has been plenty of speculation that Parker's influence is slowly waining, especially as he passes along the responsibility for reviewing certain wine regions to his protégés.
The most surprising addition is perhaps the Amateur Wine Blogger, sliding in at position 16. Decanter cites an exponential growth in the influence of bloggers over the past two years, and includes a few on their list of people to watch for possible inclusion on the next Power List in 2013.
The rise of the blogger, the fall of the traditional wine critic, and the increasing importance of Asia are all clear wine trends that are reflected in the Decanter Power List. What, if anything, do you think they missed?

Comments:
Jameson Fink
June 1, 2011

Does this mean I can put on my resume that I'm the #16 on the Decanter Power List?
Sarah Chappell

I am. Going next to my high school journalism award.