Former Oddbins buying director Emma Nichols has been appointed director of premium wine for Constellation Europe.
Nichols was at UK supermarket Safeway as senior wine buyer, and before that at importers Vinoceros.
Simon Thorpe, MW and vice president at Constellation Europe said, 'This is a new role and underlines Constellation's commitment to growing its premium wine business.'
Nichols will be in charge of Constellation's new Premium Wine Estates portfolio, which brings in 'all major new world wine producing countries' and calls on the services of such veterans as Joel Peterson of Ravenswood, sparkling winemaker Ed Carr and Stuart Bourne of Barossa Valley Estate, the creator of the renowned E&E Black Pepper Shiraz.
The portfolio – which changed its name from Cellar Door at the beginning of this month – includes Houghton, Leasingham and Barossa Valley Estate in Australia, California's Ravenswood and Robert Mondavi Winery, Canada's Inniskillin, Chile's Veramonte, the newly-acquired South African estate Flagstone, and other premium producers.
Nichols said, 'Premium Wine Estates have fantastic potential and I am delighted to be part of their commitment and exciting plans to grow the premium wine category.'
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