Emma Dawson MW entered the wine world after a first career in film and media. Learning about wine started as a hobby. But this changed after she took a chance move into the retail world and started working in Sainsbury's supermarket. Whilst completing her WSET diploma she joined their wine department. She was awarded two scholarships from WSET during these studies; the Champagne Academy scholarship and Worshipful Company of Distiller's scholarship. She also started to run a consumer wine tasting called the Naked Grape for charity, based around the concept of helping novices understand wine through tasting them blind. From then, Marks & Spencer asked her to join their team as a buyer and she was offered the WSET Derouet Jameson scholarship to study on the Master of Wine Study Programme. She worked at Marks & Spencer for nine years in several buying areas; across wine and spirits. In 2019 she joined Berkmann Wine Cellars as senior wine buyer, moving to the position of Head of Buying in 2022. At Berkmann her buying responsibilities include France, Italy, South Africa and Lebanon. Among her specialism is a focus on lesser known wine regions including; Greece, Lebanon, Israel, Georgia, Turkey and Asia. She is also co-founder of 52grapes.com a project started in 2018, aimed as a platform to encourage consumers to try 52 grape varieties in a year, each supported by an online guide.

Current employer: Berkmann Wine Cellars

Primary area(s) of work: Trade

Industry sector(s): Agency/Importer, Buying, Consultant, Distribution, Educator, Events, Journalism, Marketing, Off trade, On trade, QA/QC, Wine judge

Wine styles: Champagne, Orange wines, Still red, Still rosé, Still white, Still wines

Wine region expertise: Aconcagua Valley, Alsace, Argentina, Australia, Bordeaux, Burgundy, Canada, Casblanca Valley, Champagne, Chile, Colchagua Valley, France, Georgia, Greece, Israel, Italy, Jerez, Jura/Savoie, Lebanon, Limari Valley, Loire, Maipo Valley, Mendoza, San Juan, Sicily, South America, South Australia, Veneto/Friuli, Western Australia

Market expertise: Europe, United Kingdom

Specialisms: Blending, Packing and labelling, Quality assurance and control, Branding, Broadcasting, Direct to consumer, Distribution, Events, Financial and commercial structures, Food and wine pairing, HORECA, Identifying and meeting consumer demand, Importation, Marketing wine, Restaurant wines, Routes to market, Supplier/customer relationships, Supermarket and multiple retail, Wine labels, Wine judging