Contributors
The contributors to this blog are BB&R’s highly knowledgeable and respected staff…
Simon BerryChairman
Simon Berry joined Berrys in 1977; 10 years later he became Marketing Director and has been a board member since 1994. He was made Deputy Chairman in November 2002 and became chairman three years later in 2005. Before joining the company, Simon spent two years working in France for various wine producers including Moët & Chandon in Champagne, M. Chapoutier in the Rhone, Ch. Mouton-Rothschild in Bordeaux, and Prosper Maufoux in Burgundy.Simon was awarded the Wine & Spirit Education Trust Diploma in 1979 and the Diploma of the British Institute of Marketing in 1983. He is on the Council of the Wine & Spirits Trade Benevolent Society, a Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Vintners and a member of the Académie du Champagne.He is also the Clerk of the Royal Cellars and the holder of the Royal Warrant of Appointment as wine merchant to HRH the Prince of Wales.Simon has lectured on wine on many occasions, and to many institutions throughout the UK, including Oxford and Exeter Universities, Woldingham, Wycombe Abbey School and Eton College. His articles have been published in several magazines, notably Vogue, Debrett’s International Collector and The Economist Review of the Year.He has also contributed to many television and radio programmes including The Edwardian Country House.Simon is married to Lucy and has two stepchildren Clarissa and Charlie and two Labrador dogs. In his spare time, Simon loves watching Chelsea play football and is an avid theatre fan.
Alun Griffiths MWWine Director
Alun Griffiths has spent all his working life in the wine trade since leaving University at the age of 22. Now Wine Director of Berry Bros. & Rudd, he was formerly General Manager of Berrys Terminal 3 Heathrow Duty Free shop, which opened in June 1994. From 1987 to 1992 Alun was Wine Buyer for Fortnum and Mason in Piccadilly, and from 1992 to 1994 he was Wine Buyer for Harrods in Knightsbridge, London. In 1991 Alun became a Master of Wine, joining an exclusive group which now numbers 257 people world-wide. He has acted as a member of the Buying Committee for Emirates Airlines, voted by an independent panel of journalists as possessing the 4th best wine list of all the world’s airlines. Alun speaks and writes French fluently and has been honoured by several wine producing confreres.
Simon StaplesSales Director
Simon Staples spent his post-school years hacking through jungles, trekking through deserts and exploring the remotest parts of the world. When the wanderlust was satisfied he returned and took up his next great passion: wine. He was a sommelier at many top restaurants before beginning an illustrious sales career in 1989, running Harrods’ wine department.In 1996 he joined Berrys as Assistant Fine Wine Manager.Simon has been very fortunate as his job has allowed him to taste many legendary wines. He loves St Juliens and Pauillacs, and top Premier and Grand Crus from the Côte de Nuits. Possibly because of his travelling he likes to think of himself as ‘the Indiana Jones of the wine trade’.
Jasper Morris MWBuyer
Jasper Morris founded Morris & Verdin, highly respected specialist wine importers, in 1981. Despite running a growing business he found time to gain his Master of Wine Qualification in 1985. When BBR acquired the company in 2003 one of the notable assets was Jasper himself, now appointed Berrys’ Buying Director.His expert knowledge of Burgundy, California and New Zealand has already made an impact on our list and we are delighted to include many new, exciting producers within. Jasper also writes for many wine publications and lectures widely around the world.
Simon Field MWBuyer
Simon Field has worked in the wine trade for nine years and joined BBR in 1997. On graduating from Oxford in modern languages, he worked as a chartered accountant - however he became bored by banking and intrigued by wine and changed careers.A passionate opera lover, Simon is a committed Francophile and is responsible for buying wine from many of the major French wine regions as well as Portugal, Austria, Chile and Argentina. His particular speciality is for the wines of southern France and the Rhône. He gained his Master of Wine qualification in October 2002.
Katie McCarthyEditor
On graduating from University College London in languages and writing for numerous publications, Katie worked within the bridal industry and sipped more than enough celebratory champagne to light her vinous flame. Joining Berry Bros. & Rudd in 2006, Katie manages our on-line content, tasting notes, emails and wine news, is Berrys’ Fine Wine Blog Editor and also manages the newest additions to bbr.com: Berrys’ Audio and Video Podcasks.
Jessica LavinGeneral Manager of BBR Ireland
Born and raised in Dublin, Jessica joined Berrys in 2005, having gained her grounding in the wine business at Oddbins. Prior to entering the wine trade, she studied International Commerce and Italian at University College Dublin, gained her Master of Business Studies and worked in the E-Commerce sector. Jessica’s love of wine was ignited after studying in Verona for a year during her degree course. Jessica is now General Manager of BBR Ireland, based at Berrys’ Dublin business at 4, Harry Street.
Adam BilbeyFine Wine Sales Executive
Adam commenced his Berrys’ career in 2001, working at our Heathrow Airport Shop, before progressing to the London Shop. In search of the sun, Adam moved to Australia working for Yarra Yering Vineyards. In this time he gained experience in all aspects of winemaking and vineyard management, mastering the art of hand pruning and crashing tractors! Adam enjoys wines from all around the world, preferring wines that express there origin and have a sense of place.
Joss FowlerFine Wine Statesman
Joss Fowler started his career in the wine trade in 1997, following a couple of years’ seasonal work in Burgundy. He joined Berrys in 1999, first working as a salesman in our London shop and then joining the Fine Wine team later that year. He left us in 2001, but rejoined Berrys after a brief tour of the opposition. While his taste in wine is catholic, Burgundy, Vintage Port and Bordeaux are the areas where his passion and expertise lie.
Mark Pardoe MWBBR Wholesale
Food and wine run in Mark’s blood, with both his parents and brother having been successful restaurateurs and hoteliers. After gaining his own Hotel & Catering qualifications, Mark turned to the wine trade, passing his Master of Wine and winning the Madame Bollinger Award for Excellence in Tasting in 1989. Mark works in Berrys’ wholesale division looking after accounts including Virgin Airways and seeking new business.
David Berry GreenBuyer
David Berry Green joined our Heathrow Terminal 3 Shop in 1994, before gaining a wider experience at Cutty Sark and on www.bbr.com. In 2001 he joined our Buying team and found his raison d’etre. He revels in the excitement and responsibility of finding and nurturing new producers and bringing their wines to the market.His current challenge is to convince a wider audience about Italy’s indigenous varieties and their natural affinity to food.He buys wines from Alsace, Loire, Germany, Italy, Hungary and the New World and is the 8th generation of Berrys, and the tallest, to work in the company.
Charlie BennettE-Commerce Manager
Charlie joined Berrys in August 2000 having previously managed Fields, a highly respected Fine Wine Shop in Chelsea. Initially coming to the Internet Team as a Freelance Copywriter, Charlie now manages the team and can be credited with Berrys’ new and improved website. A keen tennis player and follower, Charlie also enjoys the odd day at the races and reading.
Rebecca LamontWine School
Rebecca Lamont has worked in the wine trade for seven years and joined BBR in 2000. On graduating from RSMD in music she worked as a Head of Music in Bermuda - however she became intrigued by wine and changed careers. Rebecca is the face of Berrys’ Wine School and is responsible for all ticketed events in The Cellars including Tastings, Dinners and Events. Rebecca is a Master of Wine student.
Vicky Williams
PR Manager
After leaving university with a degree in Journalism Vicky became a Newspaper Reporter. After five years, Vicky decided to leave behind a life of parish council meetings and school fetes and move into PR, and it was The Vineyard at Stockcross - a five star hotel with a two Michelin star restaurant in Berkshire, which sparked Vicky’s passion for wine. Joining us as PR Executive in October 2004, Vicky now manages Berrys’ PR strategy for the UK, Ireland and Hong Kong and has recently been promoted to PR Manager.
Doug McIvorSpirit Manager
Doug McIvor hails from Lanarkshire, Scotland. He began specialising in spirits in 1990 and wrote the ‘Scotch Whisky - Top Single Malts’ guide in 1998. He also contributes to ‘Whisky Magazine’. In recognition of his services to the Scotch Whisky industry Doug was made ‘Keeper of the Quaich’ in 2000.He joined BBR in 2001 as our spirits adviser and has already greatly extended our range of spirits as well as setting-up the specialist spirits roon in our London shop. He continually seeks out quality casks of spirits, which he says ‘is a tough job - but someone has to do it!’
Nicholas PegnaMD at BB&R in Hong Kong
Nicholas Pegna joined Berry Bros. & Rudd’s Fine Wine Broking Department in 1998. He became Director of Sales of Berry Bros. & Rudd’s business in Hong Kong at its inception in 1999 and Managing Director in 2004. He joined the wine trade in 1993 and since that date has worked in several areas of the business including wine retailing, wholesaling and fine wine broking. He has also travelled extensively in the wine-producing regions of the world including France, Germany, Italy and Australia and has written a monthly wine column for a French lifestyle magazine, “Living France”. As well as his responsibilities on the management front, Nicholas is also part of a small team which buys the new Bordeaux vintage every year for BBR globally. Nicholas was appointed Commandeur D’Honneur de L’Ordre du Bontemps, Medoc et Graves - Sauternes & Barsac, in June 2005 in Bordeaux, in recognition of services to Bordeaux and Chevalier de Tastevins in Burgundy in December 2006.
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