The Wine Guild of the United Kingdom will honour Hugh Johnson OBE with the FICB Diploma of Honour at London gala dinner.

The Wine Guild of the United Kingdom will host a landmark gala dinner on 27 November 2026 at the Hyatt Regency London – The Churchill, where Hugh Johnson OBE, the world’s best-selling wine writer and one of the most influential voices in modern wine culture, will be awarded the FICB Diploma of Honour.

The Diploma of Honour is one of the highest distinctions bestowed by the Fédération Internationale des Confréries Bachiques (FICB – International Federation of Wine Brotherhoods). It recognises former members of the Federation’s Executive Committee for outstanding service, or, in this year’s case, internationally renowned figures who have demonstrated exceptional commitment to the FICB’s values. Past recipients include Bordeaux’s Michel Rolland, California’s Gina Gallo, Piedmont’s Giacomo Oddero, and leading figures from the UK wine industry such as Peter Hall of Breaky Bottom, Bob Lindo of Camel Valley, and Mike Hildesley of the Wine Guild and the FICB.

The 2026 Diploma of Honour will be formally presented to Hugh Johnson jointly by The Viscount Thurso, Chancellor of the Wine Guild, and Marc Lesk, International President of the FICB, during the Guild’s ‘Intronisation’ Ceremony and Gala Dinner. This is the Wine Guild’s signature annual event, a formal induction ritual that officially welcomes new members into the Guild. The event blends traditional pageantry – such as the striking velvet robes and hats worn by the Guild’s Council and the ceremonial silver Vine used to officially ‘enthrone’ new members – with a lavish black-tie four-course feast meticulously paired with rare and exceptional wines, with specific emphasis on wines of the United Kingdom.

Hugh Johnson’s contribution to wine is without parallel. His seminal works – including The World Atlas of Wine, The Story of Wine, and the annual Pocket Wine Book –have shaped global wine education for more than half a century. As noted in the Wine Guild’s citation, “The World Atlas of Wine and the Pocket Wine Book have, between them, introduced more readers to the subject than any other publication before or since.”

Johnson is widely regarded as the most influential wine writer of his generation, and “without serious rival, as the best selling wine writer in the world.” His work has brought clarity, warmth and accessibility to wine appreciation, and his long standing resistance to reducing wine to numerical scores has helped preserve a culture of wine rooted in place, history and pleasure.

His advocacy for English wine is especially significant. Johnson, 87, described himself as a ‘Champagne addict’ in his 2019 Decanter article, but added, “Now my loyalty is wobbling: sheer curiosity drives me to taste every English bubbly I come across. Curiosity, and local pride, patriotism, chauvinism – call it what you like.” Johnson has championed English producers in print and in practice, including taking a personal financial stake in Sugrue South Downs. His sustained commitment aligns closely with the Wine Guild’s mission to support the UK’s domestic wine industry.

Tal Sunderland Cohen, Chairman of the Wine Guild of the United Kingdom, said: “Hugh Johnson has shaped the way the world understands wine. His writing has inspired generations of professionals and enthusiasts, and his early, unwavering support for English wine mirrors the Guild’s own commitment to championing our domestic industry. It is a privilege for the Guild to recognise his extraordinary contribution with the FICB Diploma of Honour.”

The Viscount Thurso, who will present the award, commented: “Hugh Johnson’s influence reaches far beyond the wine world. His work has elevated wine appreciation into a cultural conversation, and his advocacy for English wine has been both pioneering and profoundly important. This honour is richly deserved.”

A senior representative of the FICB added: “The Diploma of Honour is reserved for individuals who have demonstrated exceptional dedication to the values of the FICB. Hugh Johnson’s lifetime of scholarship, communication and advocacy embodies those values completely.”