David has been an independent, full time wine writer, educator and wine competition judge working in Toronto since 1986. He is currently wine columnist for Toronto Life and http://www.torontolife.com/, an instructor for the Canadian Association of Professional Sommeliers at George Brown College, a reviewer for http://www.winerytohome.com/, and chief judge for the Canadian Wine Awards. He has visited most wine regions of the world and tastes about 5,000 wines per year.

Writing
After taking the Journalism program at Humber College in Toronto, David wrote on various topics for newspapers and magazines. At the same time he found his interest in wine, joining most local Toronto wine societies. In 1984 he began to turn his hobby into an aavocation by traveling to California and Europe to research wine in depth. In 1986 he was hired as wine columnist for the Globe and Mail, holding that position until 1999. In 1991 he launched Wine Access as a subscriber newsletter, and in 1997 expanded it to become a national, full colour magazine. The magazine was purchased by RedPoint Media Group of Calgary in January 2004. In 2002 he wrote the wine portion of the Toronto Life Wine, Beer and Spirits Guide, and in 2003 he began writing the monthly drinks column in Toronto Life and recently began a weekly blog on torontolife.com. He has also written on wine for Elm Street, Doctors Review, Lexpert and Gusto magazines.

Educator
In 1986 David was hired by Humber College in Toronto to teach an intensive 30-week Sommelier Program. He was later named to the Board of Governors of the Sommelier Guild. He also began his own program of consumer wine courses which continues to this day. He has conducted staff training at several restaurants and clubs including Movenpick, the Fairmont Royal York Hotel, The Mississaugua Golf and Country Club and The Lambton Golf Club. He frequently conducts private tastings and seminars for corporate clients. In 2006 he began teaching courses for the Canadian Association of Professional Sommeliers at George Brown and Niagara Colleges.

Judging
David was first accredited as a wine judge by Andrew Sharp’s Intervin Competition during the late eighties, and he judged Intervin annually for several years. He has also judged repeatedly for the Toronto Wine & Cheese Show Competition, The Ontario Wine Awards, and the Cuvee Wine Competition in Ontario. In 2001 he founded the Canadian Wine Awards program, now under the auspices of Wine Access.  He has also judged at the Banco d’Assagio in Italy, and the Selection Mondial in Montreal.

Awards
In 2000 he received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Ontario Wine, Beer and Spirits Importers Association, and a similar honour from the Ontario Hostelry Institute.

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