Robert is a wine buyer with a particular specialism in the wines of Bordeaux, Burgundy and the Rhône. His journey into wine began at the University of Cambridge where he studied an MA in Musicology and Social Theory. It was at this time that he started studying WSET courses and working at Cambridge Wine Merchants alongside his degree. Finding a number of transferrable skills between the world of Music and Sociology, and Wine, he started working at Bibendum. It was here, through travelling widely and working alongside many wine trade greats, that he quickly became a Fine Wine Buyer, and later taking a role across the group buying all French wine. Robert the joined fine wine specialist, Bordeaux Index, responsible for Bordeaux, the Rhone, USA, and Germany, and in June 2024 joined the buying team at Lay & Wheeler.

Current employer: Lay & Wheeler

Primary area(s) of work: Trade

Industry sector(s): Distribution, Off trade, On trade, Buying, Wine buying, Investments

Wine region expertise: Germany, Mosel, Rheingau, Rheinhessen, USA, France, Bordeaux, Burgundy, Rhone, Languedoc, Loire, Champagne, South-West France, California, Washington, Oregon

Market expertise: United Kingdom

Specialisms: Wine judging