Serena SUTCLIFFE, MW
MW, Head of Sotheby’s International Wine Department

A Master of Wine and Head of Sotheby’s International Wine Department, Serena is considered one of the world’s leading authorities on wine. A former Chairman of the Institute of Masters of Wine, Serena was made a Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres by the French Government in 1988. She was elected to the Académie Internationale du Vin in 1993 and, in 2002, she received the New York Institute of Technology’s Professional Excellence Award. In 2006, she received the Lifetime Achievement Award from The Society of Bacchus America, and was awarded the title of Chevalier dans l’Ordre National de la Légion d’Honneur for her seminal work in promoting and selling French wines. She was the first person in the British Wine Trade to receive this honour.

Serena is an internationally recognised wine writer and renowned taster, and writes regularly for many international publications. Besides heading Sotheby’s worldwide wine auctions, she is also a member of Sotheby’s European Board and is regular lecturer and broadcaster in Europe, the United States and Asia. Her book, The Wines of Burgundy, appeared in its 8th edition in 2005.

Sotheby’s holds wine sales in London every month, where they lead the market, and in New York throughout the year, specialising in great single-owner sales. In 2007, Sotheby’s London held the auction of the Adrian Bowden Cellar – Part II which realised £1.4 million ($2.8 million) while in New York, an Avening of Exceptional Wines and the Warren A. Stephens Collection each brought $3.8 million. Sotheby’s highest grossing sale of 2007, including wines from the cellars of Château Lynch Bages, made $5.1 million.