James Cluer is the founder and owner of Fine Vintage Ltd. The company, established in 1995, operates three WSET wine schools and consults to a wide variety of international clients in the wine industry.

James is regarded as one of Canada’s leading experts on wine and is poised to become a Master of Wine (MW). The MW is considered the highest qualification in the wine world with only 20 MW's in North America and 245 worldwide.

As an industry consultant, James is responsible for the wine education of 3,500 staff at the BC Liquor Distribution Branch, manages the selection of wine for a major international airline, develops wine programs for Fairmont and Marriott Hotels and Resorts, and manages a new winery development project in the Okanagan Valley. James has also written Wine Spectator award-winning wine lists for 5 star hotels and resorts.

A passionate and enthusiastic educator on wine, James brings his international experience to enhance the quality of the programs on offer. For much of his career he worked in Bordeaux as Export Director for a prestigious house, doing vintages with high profile winemakers in Bordeaux, Australia and the Napa Valley. He has instructed hundreds of students through the Fine Vintage wine schools and with institutions such as UBC Continuing Studies and UBC Sauder School of Business. His background includes fourteen years experience in the wine industry.