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Italian wine specialist Nick Bielak MW dies
Nick Bielak MW, who has worked alongside Nicolas Belfrage MW at Vinexus since 2006, has died following a short illness, the Institute of Masters of Wine has said.
A statement put out by the Institute of Masters of Wine noted: “While we don’t know the full details behind Nick’s passing, we understand he had been ill for a short while, which he kept private.”
Bielak moved to Italy in 1996 and became interested in wine while working in Puglia.
He became involved in the Italian wine sector during his time there, engaging with the complexities of the different DOC/Gs, the myriad of Italian wine producers, and the challenges of exporting Italian wine around the world.
After exploring Italy’s vineyards from Alto Adige to Sicily, he returned to London in the hopes of engaging international markets with Italian wines.
After a short experience at Bibendum as an Italian specialist, he started working with Nicolas Belfrage MW in 2006.
At Vinexus, Bielak continued to market Italian wine in many export markets around the world with some of the world’s most prominent distributors and Italy’s finest producers.
As a dual British and Italian National, Bielak spent his time between Italy and the UK.
Bielak became an MW in 2020, with a research paper exploring the challenges faced by the Prosecco DOC producers since 2010.
Following the news of his death, friends and colleagues in the wine trade took to Twitter to share the news.
Stuart Grundy, commercial manager Europe for Vińa Casa Silva, Chile and partner in Bodegas Bhilar, Rioja Alavesa, tweeted: “Found out today a friend, colleague and ex-supplier has died. Nick Bielak MW was everything good about the wine trade. Generous, knowledgeable, honest and modest. He was liked, loved and respected by all who knew him. I’ll open a bottle of Paolo Conterno Barolo tonight in his honour.”
Found out today a friend, colleague & ex-supplier has died. Nick Bielak MW was everything good about the wine trade. Generous, knowledgeable, honest & modest. He was liked, loved and respected by all who knew him. I’ll open a bottle of Paolo Conterno Barolo tonight in his honour
— stuart grundy (@buyerabroad) April 10, 2022
Siobhan Turner MW, who took to Twitter last night to share the news, wrote: “I had been saving this bottle – although not sure what for. Tonight was the night to drink it. In memoriam Nick Bielak MW. I wish we had had a chance to share the Bollinger together. You were special.”
I had been saving this bottle – although not sure what for. Tonight was the night to drink it. In memoriam Nick Bielak MW. I wish we had had a chance to share the Bollinger together. You were special. pic.twitter.com/JQugqiB63w
— Siobhan Turner MW (@SiobhanTurner23) April 10, 2022
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