Hi!
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I’m Margot van Lieshout-Koopmans, the lady behind “Wine with Margaret.” I like to do things just a little differently than others. I like to bend the rules where I can, just simply following them, you miss out on so many great discoveries. I Just dare to step out of my comfort zone when it comes to certain things and go with the flow — simply embark on the journey. I love sharing those “different ideas,” my discoveries in the world of wine, and offering you my opinions and vision on certain topics. Nothing can be too crazy, really!
I’ve poured my heart and soul into wine, so to speak. I absolutely adore good food, especially the cooking I might add. For me, that naturally includes a nice glass of wine. It doesn’t always have to be complicated or have to involve the utmost expensive bottles. For me, it’s all about the enjoyment, having fun, and what truly matters is whether the wine tastes good, is approachable and yet with a certain complexity, and often affordable.
I have a special fondness for wines that are “just a little out of the ordinary,” from an “unknown” wine country or made from a grape variety you don’t often encounter. I enjoy the sense of discovery, whether I’m traveling or simply drinking a glass of wine. When you are my guest, you’ll always get something exciting, something unexpected, and taste yet to be discovered. I love surprising people and helping them explore their own flavour "journey.” There’s so much more out there than just Pinot Grigio or Merlot alone!
My Background
My passion for truly good food began during my time working at Marqt in Amsterdam. I had chosen to work for this particular food retailer (2012) for a reason — everything was about delicious and honest (produced) food. The products were organic, biodynamic, or sourced from farmers and producers transitioning towards these practices. It was about "where the product came from. Its background, honest farming and honest labour etc.” Working at Marqt was the place where I first “discovered wine”, which led me to take my first SDEN course (then still called SWEN). I’d always found the idea of enjoying a nice glass of wine with a meal and lingering at the table quite romantic—even if that meant drinking a glass of wine on a weekly occasionally. I worked at Marqt for six wonderful years before switching jobs to one of the importers Marqt partnered with at the time.
Eventually, I spent many years working with some of the largest wine importers in the Netherlands. This allowed me to combine my knowledge of food retail, sales, and (strategic) marketing with the most enjoyable product there is—wine! I’ve had the privilege of helping major clients such as SPAR, COOP (at the time), Vomar, Dekamarkt, and Deen (at the time) optimise and innovate their wine assortments in every way possible. I dare say with confidence that you’ve likely bought a wine in the supermarket that had my stamp of approval. I look back on this period with pride.
My Wanderlust and Endless Passion for Writing
I always dreamed of traveling the world and fulfilling that persistent “wanderlust” within me. I am an international wine judge and regularly travel abroad to professionally evaluate wines and assign official scores. I’ll explain more about these wine scores and how these scorings can help you find an amazing bottle of wine. This wanderlust isn’t only fulfilled through my work as a wine judge but also through press trips and holiday time spend in wine regions, going to intriguing countries that are often off the “typical” wine route—such as my recent trip to Armenia.
These experiences also feed my passion for writing, a drive that has been with me ever since I could hold a pen and understand what letters were. It started with simple entries like “Dear diary, today I cuddled my guinea pigs,” and evolved into my early teens musings about which boy I liked most and which teacher I quite disliked. Over the years, I’ve filled countless journals—yes, the old-school way, with just pen and paper. This was the prelude to what I now get to do.
In college (MBO level 4) where I earned my entrepreneurial degree, and later in university (Small Business and Retail Management), I discovered how much joy I found in writing theses and reports, whether they included statistics and data analytics. It didn’t matter — I loved it because I could pour my passion for writing into it.
The investigative nature of writing fuels my curiosity endlessly. I can lose myself for hours when my fingers are gliding over the keyboard, only to realise later, “Oh right, there’s a world out there too.” To date, I’ve written a book (not wine-related) and have two more in the pipeline, including one about wine — TO BE CONTINUED...
Wine with Margaret
Summer of 2022, I launched my blog and business, “Wine with Margaret.” Why the name? My passport says Margeretha, and abroad, people often call me Margaret. The name is simple and recognisable both at home and internationally.
Now, as a professional wine writer, I travel to some of the most fascinating wine regions, often with other international wine journalists Diploma Graduates and Masters of Wine. I write travel reports with a “Margaret’s twist,” which are anything but stiff or formal.
In late 2023, I was unexpectedly praised by a New York wine PR agency for my articles on
Georgia. They wrote, “Thank you very much for sharing these great articles with me! This is great quality content! I will share it with my team” – Colangelo & Partners, New York. Yikes!
What Have I Studied in Wine?
Probably too much! There’s so much to learn, and you can never truly stop learning in the wine world. Since starting my first SDEN wine course in 2013, I’ve completed numerous wine & food pairing courses, particularly focused on Italian and Spanish wines and cuisine. In February 2018, I graduated from the Dutch Wine Academy and became a certified Vinoloog.
My "Wine Study Adventure" didn't end there...
From there, I embarked on my WSET journey, the English equivalent of SDEN, with a more analytical approach to wine tasting. I achieved my WSET Level 3 Advanced “with Merit” in August 2018 and immediately continued with the WSET Level 4 Diploma Course in Wine & Spirits.
During my Diploma studies, I took additional courses, such as the “Georgian Wine Course,” and earned my French Wine Scholar certification “with Honours” in 2024 as a very useful supplement to my Diploma journey.
What’s Next?
A lot, hopefully! Thank god I’m still young (37), with endless dreams and plenty of time to make them a reality. If all goes well and I pass my final exam in January 2025, I look forward to starting my thesis to become a Weinakademiker, diving into research and writing—what could be more perfect? To be continued…
Collaboration?
There’s much I can offer in the world of wine—sales, marketing, writing, strategic planning, brainstorming, wine tasting and reviewing—the list goes on. When you want to know more about collaborating with me, go to the "contact" page, leave behind your question and contact details, to receive more information.