Biographical Overview & Key Facts

Subject:

Robert Parker (wine critic)

Role / Field:

Influential American wine critic known for the 100-point rating system and The Wine Advocate.

Born:

1947-07-23

Century / Era:

1947s Historical Era

Database Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Wikipedia CC BY-SA 4.0

Origins & Early Life

Robert McDowell Parker Jr. (born July 23, 1947) is a retired American wine critic. His wine ratings on a 100-point scale and his newsletter The Wine Advocate are influential in American wine buying and are therefore a major factor in setting the prices for newly released Bordeaux wines. This made him the most widely known and influential wine critic in the world.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

Parker was born in Baltimore, Maryland. His father was a construction equipment salesman. He has an honors graduate of the University of Maryland, College Park, with a major in history and a minor in art history. He continued his education at University of Maryland School of Law at the urban campus of the University of Maryland, Baltimore, graduating in 1973 with a Juris Doctor degree. He discovered wine as a student visiting Alsace, where Patricia, now his wife, was studying.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

For over ten years, he was assistant general counsel for the Farm Credit Banks of Baltimore; he resigned in March 1984 to focus on writing about wine. In 1975, Parker began writing a wine guidebook. Taking his cue from consumer advocate Ralph Nader, Parker wanted to write about wine without the conflicts of interest that might taint the...

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Al Capone — Contemporary (Died in 1947) (1947): Notorious American gangster and businessman during the Prohibition era.
• Alan Guth — Contemporary (Born in 1947) (1947): Pioneering cosmologist known for developing the theory of cosmic inflation.
• Alan Sugar — Contemporary (Born in 1947) (1947): Pioneering British entrepreneur, founder of Amstrad, and TV personality.
• Alan Brooke, 1st Viscount Alanbrooke — Shared historical date (07-23 · Born) (1883): British Field Marshal and Chief of the Imperial General Staff during WWII.
• Alberto Santos-Dumont — Shared historical date (07-23 · Died) (1932): Brazilian pioneer of aviation, instrumental in developing both airships and fixed-wing aircraft.
• Albert Brooks — Historical peer (Born in 1947) (1947): Versatile American actor, comedian, director, and screenwriter.
• Aleister Crowley — Historical peer (Died in 1947) (1947): Founder of Thelema, a major occultist, poet, and ceremonial magician.
• A. S. Neill — Historical peer (Died in 1973) (1973): Scottish progressive educator, founder of Summerhill, championing self-governance.
• Abebe Bikila — Historical peer (Died in 1973) (1973): Ethiopian Olympic marathon champion, known for his barefoot victories in Rome and Tokyo.
• AB de Villiers — Historical peer (Born in 1984) (1984): Iconic South African cricketer, celebrated for his all-around batting genius.
• 1947 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1947
• July 23 (07-23) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on July 23

Frequently Asked Questions about Robert Parker (wine critic)