Travel is supposed to broaden the mind, and Fiona McDonald, former editor of Wine magazine for eight years, has had her wine mind broadened by having been a long-serving jury president of a number of international wine competitions: Decanter World Wine Awards, International Wine Challenge, International Wine & Spirit Competition and Concours Mondial de Bruxelles.

Initially trained as a news journalist, she got into wine by happy accident, helping to organise The Mercury Wine Week in between reportage and newsroom management as the night news editor on the Durban broadsheet.

Currently freelancing, Fiona edits Cheers and Whisky magazines as well as contributing to a range of publications and websites.