Summer work in a wine shop before University lead me to work for Oddbins where my love of wines was kindled. After graduating I spent 10 years working for Oddbins in branches in London during a period when the company pioneered the sale of Australian, Chilean and Greek wines in Britain. As a branch manager I was heavily involved in staff training and development. In 2000 I joined Oddbins' marketing department writing principally for their website. I was then part of a project to gain bonded status for their warehouse. In 2004 I joined Uvine as Logistics Manager, dealing with world-wide shipping. From 2006-2008 I was Private Clients Manager for Top Selection, selling from a superb portfolio of small producers. Subsequently I juggled a role at the 2009 International Wine Challenge with work for the WSET, freelance writing and the role of "stay-at-home dad". I returned to a full-time role in the wine trade in 2010 as Coe Vintners' Fine Wine Manager. In 2016 I emigrated to New Zealand becoming Wine Director for Wine-Searcher.com.

Current employer: Wine-Searcher

Primary area(s) of work: Communication

Industry sector(s): Journalism, Wine judge

Wine styles: Champagne

Wine region expertise: Auckland, Australia, Austria, Central Otago, Germany, Greece, Hawke's Bay, Hungary Tokaj, Marlborough, Mosel, New South Wales, New Zealand, South Australia, Victoria, Bordeaux, Roussillon, Champagne, South-West France

Market expertise: Australia, New Zealand, Oceania, Europe, Asia, North America, United Kingdom, China, Germany, Scandinavia, Canada, South East Asia, India, South America, Netherlands, France, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Eastern Europe, Russia, Africa

Specialisms: Marketing wine, Financial and commercial structures, Supplier/customer relationships, Identifying and meeting consumer demand, Routes to market, Independent retail, Branding, History of wine, Wine judging