So, how did you first get into wine?
At university I took part in the student-run wine society and worked part-time in one of Edinburgh’s best wine shops. I learned a lot, reading every back label and spending every quiet moment researching, and quickly became hooked. It was then a choice between a career in my degree (Politics) or going into wine… I chose what I think is the most enjoyable of the two.
What do you hope to achieve in your new role?
Lots – there is a long to-do list! Streamlining what we offer and enhancing members’ experience is top priority. If we can get more members buying, appreciating, and opening fine wine, then I’ll consider it a success.
How can we attract more young people into enjoying fine wine?
Wine is still a scary subject for most young people. Figuring out where to start is overwhelming. We need to make it more approachable, explaining why it’s worth spending a little more, and how to get the best experience from each bottle.
What’s the one thing you’d like to change when it comes to perceptions around fine wine?
The idea that fine wine should be reserved for special occasions – sometimes that occasion is opening the bottle itself, without pomp or ceremony. After all, wine is meant to be drunk!
What’s a wine pairing that works but shouldn’t?
Champagne and fried chicken. There is a bar in London that used to have a late-night menu serving Louisiana-style fried chicken with caviar mayonnaise, paired with a glass (although often a bottle) of Champagne. The freshness and acidity of Champagne cuts perfectly through the fat of fried chicken. A winning combination, especially after midnight.
What’s the most interesting question you have ever been asked about wine?
I was recently asked whether I thought fine wine could ever be sold in anything other than a glass bottle… I didn’t say no, but I feel we’re a way off seeing First Growths in a can. Still, maybe in my lifetime…
Favourite wine region to visit?
That’s an easy one – Barolo! From the viewpoint in La Morra you can see the entire region laid out in front of you – pretty rare in the wine world and you get a real sense of just how small the region is. The people are some of the kindest and most generous I’ve ever come across, never shy to open old bottles and rustle up a plate of pasta.
Desert-island bottle?
One single bottle is difficult! If pushed it would have to be 1996 Château Margaux – it’s the perfect balance between delicate Margaux freshness and the power of a great 1996 Médoc, and it’s still got a lifetime ahead of it. Of course, I’m hoping I’d wash up on this island with a proper decanter and corkscrew…
…and finally, what does your perfect Sunday look like?
Firing up the barbecue (no matter the weather), sticking on a vinyl, and decanting a bottle of red. I’m a big fan of smoking over coals, so the barbecue may even have been lit the night before. Sundays are all about relaxing, which I do through cooking, eating with friends, and sharing a great bottle of wine. Though as a brand-new parent, the concept of ‘relaxing’ has taken quite a turn!