More than a decade ago, Birte Jantzen swapped a long career in haute couture for wine. She hasn’t looked back, establishing herself as a respected European wine journalist, critic and educator.

Born in Hamburg, Germany, Birte moved to Paris at age 21 to make her mark in fashion. As a highly skilled haute couture tailor, she honed her craft at Dior and worked with various fashion houses and up-and-coming designers, as well as in theater and prêt-à-porter.

These years immersed Birte in a world where color, texture, and structure became a second language, nurturing her deep appreciation for artistry and craftsmanship.

In 2011, captivated by its complexity, Birte’s path took an unexpected turn to the world of wine. She approached it with gusto, studying sensory analysis at Suze-la-Rousse in France, earning the expert-level diploma DipWSET, and taking courses in viticulture and oenology at the prestigious University of Geisenheim as a guest student.

From 2016 to 2019, Birte served as a wine critic for Bettane & Desseauve. Today, she divides her time between Germany and France, working as an independent wine journalist for publications in France, Germany, and Switzerland, including Vigneron Magazine, Vinum, and Fine Das Weinmagazin.

Birte also teaches French wine at the University of Geisenheim, organizes masterclasses, and spends most of her days exploring vineyards and cellars. In 2022, she co-founded the “Vineyards & Biodiversity” conference series, now gearing up for its third edition.

When she’s not unraveling the mysteries of wine, you can find Birte practicing Kyudo, the traditional Japanese martial art of archery, or traveling, catching the latest films, or whipping up decadent cakes for her friends.