Helena Nicklin: Award-Winning Drinks Writer, Broadcaster and Wine Educator
Helena Nicklin is a name that resonates strongly in the world of wine, spirits and lifestyle media. An award-winning drinks writer, broadcaster, consultant and educator, she has carved out a reputation for making the complex world of drinks approachable, engaging and entertaining. Over more than twenty-five years in the drinks industry, Helena has combined her expertise with her background in drama and media, producing content that bridges technical knowledge with consumer curiosity. Best known as co-founder of the HelenaSips Wine Academy, co-presenter and producer of The Three Drinkers on Amazon Prime, and creator of the lifestyle platform Flock & Hive, she has become one of the most influential voices in the global drinks scene.
Early Life and Age
Helena Nicklin was born in December 1977, making her 47 years old in 2025. From a young age, she demonstrated a love for languages, culture and performance, interests that would later merge seamlessly into her professional career. While she did not initially plan to become a leading voice in the drinks industry, her path unfolded through a combination of academic study, creative exploration and professional opportunity.
Education and Training
Helena’s academic journey began at the University of Sussex, where she studied French and Italian. She graduated with a BA Honours degree in 2001, and during her studies, she spent a year abroad at the Università degli Studi Roma Tre in Italy. Immersed in cinema, literature and theatre, she strengthened her command of languages while exploring cultural heritage, experiences that would later inform her writing and presentation style.
Passionate about the performing arts, she also pursued professional training at the East 15 Acting School, completing a postgraduate course in acting for the media between 2001 and 2002. Her drama training gave her confidence on stage and in front of cameras, skills that proved invaluable when she later transitioned into broadcasting.
Helena also holds the highly respected Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) Diploma, one of the most prestigious qualifications in the wine world. More recently, she enrolled at The Perfumery Art School to complete a diploma in the Art of Perfumery, expanding her sensory expertise and further enriching her understanding of flavour and aroma.
Professional Career
Early Roles in the Drinks Industry
Helena’s career began in the drinks trade itself. She worked with wine merchants such as Corney & Barrow as a Wine Buying Assistant, and held positions at Decanter Magazine as a Web and Advertising Sales Executive. She also gained experience with Vingt Fine Wine Fanatics, honing her skills in wine sales and management.
These early roles gave her a foundation in the practical and commercial aspects of the wine industry, while fuelling her passion for wine communication.
Winebird and Vinalogy
In 2010, Helena launched Winebird, a creative brand designed to make wine education more accessible and fun. Through quirky analogies she called “Vinalogies,” she helped consumers remember grape varieties and wine styles by comparing them to personalities, characters or archetypes. This playful approach led to her first book, Winebird’s Vinalogy: Wine Basics with a Twist (2014), which went on to win a Gourmand Award.
Winebird also offered private wine tasting events and educational workshops, helping cement Helena’s reputation as a charismatic and relatable wine educator.
Broadcast Media and The Three Drinkers
In 2018, Helena co-founded The Three Drinkers, a food and drink travelogue series on Amazon Prime, alongside fellow presenter Aidy Smith. The show explored the worlds of whisky, wine, spirits and regional cuisine across Scotland, Ireland, France and beyond.
The series was praised for its blend of education and entertainment, bringing destinations, producers and products to life for a global audience. As both co-producer and presenter, Helena played a central role in shaping the show’s success.
HelenaSips Wine Academy
In December 2024, Helena launched the HelenaSips Wine Academy, an online hub for wine education. Designed for consumers rather than professionals, the academy offers bite-sized video courses, a free online magazine, a newsletter and exclusive membership perks. These include discounts on wine gadgets, products and even hotel stays, blending lifestyle with learning.
The platform reflects Helena’s core mission: to demystify wine and spirits, making them enjoyable, engaging and part of everyday conversation.
Flock & Hive
Expanding into the lifestyle sector, Helena created Flock & Hive in 2023. This project explores the “Art of Living” across five foundations: Science & Nature, Artistry & Culture, Travel & Adventure, Food & Drink, and Energy & Spirituality. As both a podcast and e-magazine, Flock & Hive allows Helena to connect wine and spirits to broader cultural and human themes.
Writing and Media Contributions
Helena is a prolific writer, contributing to national newspapers, lifestyle magazines and specialist drinks publications. She writes regularly for The Daily Mail, The Sun, BA High Life Magazine, OcadoLife, Style of Wight and Luxury Lifestyle Magazine. She has also appeared in titles such as Delicious Magazine, Luxurious Magazine, Decanter, Club Oenologique, City A.M., Stylist, and The Guardian.
Her engaging style focuses on consumers, helping readers understand trends, products and stories without overwhelming jargon.
Events and Appearances
Helena frequently appears on television, radio and live stages. She has been a wine expert on Channel 4’s Sunday Brunch, a regular voice on Talk Radio, and a guest on podcasts and national radio programmes. She has presented at consumer events such as the Ideal Home Show, Meatopia, London Wine Week and the Tesco Wine Fair.
She also acts as a consultant, advising on wine lists, menu matching and drinks trends for both brands and hospitality venues.
Awards and Accolades
Helena Nicklin’s influence has been widely recognised in the drinks industry:
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Top 100 Most Influential People in Drinks – 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025.
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Top 10 Women to Watch in the Wine Industry – 2019.
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Winner, Best Contribution to Wine & Spirits Tourism (2022) – The Three Drinkers in Ireland.
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Winner, Best Cultural Contribution to the Spirits Industry (2022) – The Three Drinkers in Ireland.
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Highly Commended, Best Contribution to Wine & Spirits Tourism (2021) – The Three Drinkers Do Scotch Whisky.
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Gourmand Award – for her book Winebird’s Vinalogy.
These accolades reflect not only her media achievements but also her impact on global drinks culture.
Personal Life
Helena Nicklin is married to Hamish Nicklin, and together they share a family life while supporting each other’s professional careers. Her maiden name is Ross, which occasionally appears in professional profiles. Despite her public visibility, Helena keeps her private life relatively discreet, preferring to focus on her work and public projects.
Helena Nicklin and Wikipedia
As of now, Helena Nicklin does not have a dedicated Wikipedia page, though she is featured extensively in media outlets, professional networks and industry publications. Her career profile, achievements and body of work would certainly merit one in future.
Legacy and Influence
Helena Nicklin has become more than just a wine writer; she is a cultural translator of taste and lifestyle. By blending her training in drama, her knowledge of languages and her professional qualifications in wine and spirits, she has crafted a career that educates and entertains in equal measure.
Through The Three Drinkers, HelenaSips Wine Academy, Flock & Hive, her books, articles and appearances, she continues to inspire audiences to explore drinks with curiosity and confidence.
Conclusion
At 47 years old, Helena Nicklin stands as one of the most dynamic and influential personalities in the drinks industry. Her ability to connect technical expertise with storytelling, humour and consumer engagement has brought her recognition around the world. From Winebird’s Vinalogy to her Amazon Prime series and her pioneering HelenaSips Wine Academy, she demonstrates how wine and spirits can be not just products but cultural experiences.
As a writer, broadcaster, judge and consultant, Helena Nicklin’s journey reflects both passion and innovation — a career dedicated to helping people explore, taste and celebrate the world of drinks.
