Catherine joined Lay & Wheeler in January 2020 as French wine buyer. She became a Master of Wine in 2017 with a research paper on Sancerre, where she had spent two vintages making wine. She has also made wine in Bordeaux, Friuli, Australia and New Zealand, and has done six vintages in Burgundy, including one full year working in the vineyards and cellar as assistant winemaker at Domaine Comte Armand. Previously she was a buyer at Goedhuis & Co. She graduated with a BA from the University of Leeds and an MA from the University of Bristol in English Literature. Her knowledge spans both the commercial and production sides of fine wine with a particular interest in Burgundy and Sancerre. She is part of the "Burgfest" tasting group and has in-depth knowledge of recent vintages in the region both through vinification of the 2012, 2013, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019 vintages there, and through widely tasting as a buyer focused on en primeur releases.

Primary area(s) of work: Wine production, Trade

Industry sector(s): Viticulture, Winemaking, Agency/Importer, Buying

Wine styles: Still white, Still red, Still wines

Wine region expertise: New Zealand, Bordeaux, Burgundy, Loire

Market expertise: United Kingdom

Specialisms: Life cycle of the vine, Cultivation of the vine, Processing of grapes, Fermentation, Elevage / maturation, Wine judging