I first got interested in wine through living in France, my father's Wine Society cIaret collection and Hugh Johnson's wine atlas, at the age of 13 or 14. Following a geography degree at Kings College London, I had no particular vocational urge, and finding myself in need of funds and living in London, I enrolled into the wine company Saccone & Speed's graduate training scheme, where I got a solid grounding in many aspects of the wine business from top to tail. Since then, a well-stocked but quixotic CV has been built up. Key periods of work include an eight year stint at London City Bond where I was made a director, but left in 1995 to start my MW studies. Other positions have included wine buying at a mail order company called Wine Corporation, and Logistics Manager at Lanson (UK) and developing sales for Spanish specialists Moreno Wines. I am currently working for Henkell & Co UK, the sparkling wine distributor.

Current employer: None

Primary area(s) of work: Trade, Retired

Industry sector(s): Agency/Importer, Buying, Consultant, Distribution, Import/Export, Off trade, On trade, Sales, Wine judge

Wine styles: Cava, Champagne, Prosecco, Sekt, Sparkling wine, Still red, Still rosé, Still white, Still wines

Wine region expertise: Argentina, Chile, Galicia, Germany, Jerez, Marlborough, Navarra, New Zealand, Penedes, Priorat, Rheingau, Ribera del Duero, Rioja, South Australia, South-West France, Spain, Valencia, Veneto/Friuli

Market expertise: Germany, Scandinavia, United Kingdom

Specialisms: Branding, Direct to consumer, Distribution, Food and wine pairing, HORECA, Identifying and meeting consumer demand, Importation, Independent retail, Restaurant wines, Routes to market, Supplier/customer relationships, Supermarket and multiple retail, Wine labels, Wine judging