After graduating in Food Science from Queen's University, Belfast, I joined Scottish & Newcastle Breweries as Wine Chemist to set up and run their new laboratory and quality control systems within their wine division, Waverley Vintners. In 1984 I was promoted to Assistant Wine Buyer. I left in 1986 to join Harvey's of Bristol as their Wine Buyer sourcing wines from all around the world. To gain greater international experience I then joined Reine Pedauque as Export Manager for the US, Canada and British Isles. In 1993 I received my MW and joined African and Eastern in the Gulf where I was in charge of developing their wine potfolio and sales in all the international hotels in Bahrain and throughout the Gulf. Moving back to Ireland in 1996, I joined Edward Dillons & Co as Business Development Director again to help develop sales of wine and prestige products.

Primary area(s) of work: Trade

Industry sector(s): Project management, Sales, Distribution, Business owner, Agency/Importer, On trade, Educator, Consultant

Wine styles: Sherry, Still white, Still red, Still rosé, Still wines

Wine region expertise: South America, France, Bordeaux

Market expertise: North America, United Kingdom, Canada, Africa

Specialisms: Preparation of finished wine for bottling, Quality assurance and control, Bulk shipment, Supplier/customer relationships, Identifying and meeting consumer demand, Routes to market, Importation, Distribution, HORECA, Direct to consumer, Independent retail, Food and wine pairing, Restaurant wines