David Hitchens

David Hitchens is an award-winning independent wine merchant, author and inventor who has spent more than three decades helping ordinary people choose drinks with greater confidence. In 1999, his store won National Off Licence of the Year, and he holds a higher wine qualification with distinction.

Frustrated by the jargon and guesswork surrounding wine, David created the B.A.R. Grid — a simple visual system that classifies wine by Body and Ripeness. His book The Wine, The Which & The Wardrobe introduces this new way of understanding personal taste: not a wine course, but a practical mindshift.

David is also the author of The Gin Sat Nav and founder of VinRosetta and Find My Wine Size. His work brings together decades of shop-floor experience, customer behaviour and a conviction that choosing wine should be clear, memorable and enjoyable.