Raymond Blake is a graduate of Trinity College, Dublin and in a previous career worked as a schoolmaster in Clongowes Wood College, where James Joyce started his schooldays. Based in Ireland, Raymond enjoys an international reputation as a wine writer and communicator, and his work has been published across the globe. He writes the Burgundy entries for the annual Hugh Johnson’s Pocket Wine Book – the world’s best-selling wine book. In addition, he is a regular contributor to The World of Fine Wine, widely acclaimed as the leader in its field, and Sommelier India, as well as writing for a number of different websites including Wine-Searcher.

In 2023 he contributed three essays to the Académie du Vin Library’s publication, On Burgundy, From Maddening to Marvellous in 59 Wine Tales, which features the work of 30-plus leading wine writers from around the world. In May 2025 the second edition of his highly-acclaimed book, Côte d’Or, was published. At its core it features 100 producer profiles, along with chapters on history, viticulture, winemaking and vintage assessments.

Raymond Blake is also much in demand as a speaker at themed wine dinners, tutored tastings and other events. His style is far from po-faced; he calls it ‘Wine-tertainment’. He is regularly commissioned to organise events that range in scale from a private dinner for a dozen people up to major corporate events with scores of attendees. As well as Ireland, these engagements take place in the UK, Portugal and the USA. He also leads customised wine tours, usually in Burgundy, and principally for clients from the USA.

Raymond Blake and his wife, violinist Fionnuala Hunt, have owned a house in Burgundy since 2006. In the same year he was inducted as a Chevalier du Tastevin.

Raymond Blake’s books include:
In Black & White: A History of Rowing at Trinity College Dublin. Published Dublin, 1991.
Breakfast in Burgundy – A Hungry Irishman in the Belly of France. Skyhorse, New York, 2014.
Côte d’Or – The Wines and Winemakers of the Heart of Burgundy. Infinite Ideas, Oxford, 2017. (Short-listed for the Louis Roederer International Wine Writers’ Awards, 2018.)
Wine Talk: An Enthusiast’s Take on the People, the Places, the Grapes, and the Styles. Skyhorse, New York 2022.
Côte d’Or – The Wines and Winemakers of the Heart of Burgundy. (Second Edition)
Académie du Vin Library, London 2025.