After completing a history degree I began life in the wine trade with Majestic Wine, working in retail management. After two and a half years I headed North to Scotland to work for Alliance Wine. In the 30 years that I worked for Alliance, I covered everything from field sales in all channels, through to heading up both the marketing and buying functions. In that time, I demonstrated expertise in new product development, Intellectual Property management, PR, writing and the setting up and development of various wine making projects globally. I am now owner and winemaker of Thistledown Wines, a specialist in old vine Grenache from South Australia.

Current employer: Thistledown Wines

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

Industry sector(s): Project management, Winemaking, Marketing, PR, Sales, Distribution, Business owner, Agency/Importer, Off trade, On trade, Buying, Consultant, Wine judge, International trade, Import/Export, Market access, Wine business strategy, Wine buying

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

Wine region expertise: Australia, Marlborough, South Australia, Rioja, Spain

Market expertise: Australia, New Zealand, Oceania, Europe, Asia, North America, United Kingdom, China, Scandinavia, Canada, Netherlands

Specialisms: Sustainability, Processing of grapes, Fermentation, Maturation and blending, Stabilisation and clarification, Economics of wine production, Wine styling, Production costs, Whole cluster fermentation, Elevage / maturation, Blending, Preparation of finished wine for bottling, Packing and labelling, Quality assurance and control, Bulk shipment, Bottling, Legal compliance on authorised packaging and labelling, Sensory evaluation , Marketing wine, Financial and commercial structures, Supplier/customer relationships, Routes to market, Importation, Distribution, HORECA, Direct to consumer, Supermarket and multiple retail, Independent retail, Food and wine pairing, Restaurant wines, Wine labels, Wine laws and regulations, Branding, Digital communications, New business development, PR, Brand protection, Intellectual property, Starting wineries, Wine judging