Diana Rollan is Group Head of Beverage for D&D London group, focusing predominantly on the purchasing of core beverage categories for the UK restaurants in the group, while managing and leading product innovation and quality-focused approach to the lists at the group’s 35 restaurants and hotels.
David Jean is a Buyer for Denner in Switzerland, focusing on their Swiss and New World portfolio.
Dirceu Vianna Junior MW is founder of Vianna Wine Resources, a company that consults for wine businesses across Europe, Africa and South America.
Heather Dougherty is the current UK Champagne Ambassador, an experienced wine judge and certified educator. She is a past Chairman of the Association of Wine Educators.
Bruno Murciano is on H2Vin’s management team, aiding sales and client relations whilst further developing H2Vin’s Spanish Agencies.
Emilio Del Fante has a wealth of experience in the hospitality industry and now works with wine producers in the Lugano region.
Aristide Spies MS runs La Cave des Sommeliers, a chain of wine shops in Belgium and Luxembourg.
Darrel Joseph is a wine writer, currently working on a wine book with a Central & Eastern Europe focus.
Claire Nam is a wine writer in Korea and UK as well as being an Italian Wine Ambassador certified by Vinitaly International Academy. She has set up a micro-négociant GARAM in Bordeaux, producing a micro-cuvée Graves Blanc ‘Les Trois Mains’.
Nigel Wilkinson MS is a Brand Ambassador & Senior Wine Educator for Boutinot.
Charles Curtis MW writes regularly for a number of magazines and his book, The Original Grand Crus of Burgundy, appeared in 2014.
Yiannis Karakasis MW is founder of karakasis.mw blog and a contributor to books, international magazines and sites. He consults for several businesses, including online wine retailers, export companies and hotels.
Chris Kissack is the author of TheWinedoctor.com, a subscription website which he has been publishing since 2000, and is a regular reporter from the annual Bordeaux en primeur tastings.
Arabella Woodrow MW consults for Broadland Wineries as their Wine Director.
Dominique Vrigneau works at Watermill Wines, combining his buying capabilities with selling to key accounts. He is a Chevalier du Tastevin.
Matt Wilkin MS jointly owns London-based wine company H2Vin specialising in the Loire, Burgundy, Rhône, Spain & South Africa. He also consults several London restaurants, educates and adjudicates for the Court of Master Sommeliers’ worldwide and assists as a regular Judge at wine competitions.
Philip Tuck MW is Wine Director at Hatch Mansfield.
Douglas Wood is owner of Scottish independent merchant, WoodWinters. They have has two retail branches but the majority of business is through wholesaling to restaurants and hotels covering all of the UK, its own agency arm importing and distributing wines and its own award winning range of single cask whiskies.
Jean-Michel Valette MW is chairman of Vinfolio, a US-based internet marketplace for fine wine.
David Vareille is Head Sommelier at The Arts Club London, leading one of the biggest teams in the country.
Christopher Tanghe MS is Chief Instructor with GuildSomm, which involves spearheading masterclasses across the country, conducting webinars and contributing editorial content to guildsomm.com.
Simon Taylor is founder of Stone, Vine & Sun, a mail order wine merchant specialising in Languedoc-Roussillon, the Rhône, South Africa and South America.
Tim Sykes is a member of the Wine Society buyers team, and is responsible for buying Bordeaux, Beaujolais and Sherry.
Having spent over 10 years working in the multiple grocer sector, Lindsay Talas now works for Watermill Wines, combining buying and selling to key accounts.
Larry Stone MS is the CEO and Founder of Lingua Franca, an estate winery in Willamette Valley.
Previously a winemaker for Marks and Spencer, Gerd Stepp set up a winery at the site of Stepp Family Vineyards, where he now makes wine. He also consults through WeinWerk on various wine-related matter.
Ruth Spivey has set up the speed tasting night FLIGHT CLUB, opened her own street food wine bar, STREET VIN and created an ongoing series of consumer tastings – WINE CAR BOOT.
Igor Sotric is Head Sommelier and Wine Buyer at China Tang at the Dorchester. He also acts as consultant to several restaurants, and since 2009 he has been making his own Chardonnay in Goriska Brda, Slovenia, with his friend Marijan Simcic.
Neil Sommerfelt MW is proprietor of NS Wine Consultancy, a business he set up in 2014. He works with a number of different companies including H2Vin Ltd and Philglas & Swiggot, with particular responsibility for their Burgundy En Primeur campaigns.
Joanna Simon is a London-based wine writer, author and presenter. She is co-founder of The Wine Gang and editor of Waitrose Drinks magazine.
