Jancis Robinson is widely regarded as one of the most influential wine writers in the world, consistently recognized in international polls across the United States and France. Though often referred to as a wine critic, she considers herself a writer, dedicated to educating and informing wine enthusiasts. In 2000, she founded JancisRobinson.com, an award-winning, subscription-based wine platform. The site was acquired by Recurrent Ventures in 2021 and later by Eisenhower Flagstaff in 2024, where she now serves as editor-in-chief and primary contributor. Since 1989, she has also been the wine correspondent for the Financial Times, contributing weekly to both the print edition and FT.com.

Beyond journalism, Robinson is the founder-editor of The Oxford Companion to Wine and the co-author of The World Atlas of Wine and Wine Grapes, all of which are considered essential references in the wine industry. In 1984, she became the first non-trade professional to earn the prestigious Master of Wine (MW) title, and in 2003, she was awarded an OBE by Queen Elizabeth II, serving as an advisor to the royal cellar until 2022.

Her contributions have been recognized globally, earning six James Beard Awards, induction into the James Beard Cookbook Hall of Fame, and multiple Lifetime Achievement Awards. A longtime advocate for sustainability in wine, she also launched her own handmade wine glass in 2018 and became a trustee of the Gérard Basset Foundation in 2021, supporting diversity in wine, spirits, and hospitality.