Jo Locke joined The Wine Society in 2004 where she took up the post of buyer for Australia, New Zealand, Loire, South Africa and Portugal. It was quickly evident that her style of working reflected the values of The Society with pinpoint accuracy. Personable and genuine in her approach, Jo has a knack of being able to relate to people from all walks of life, whether the wealthy owner of a Bordeaux château (she bought Bordeaux for several years after handing over Australia and New Zealand to me), to a humble family member of a vineyard. This combination of personality and professionalism meant she was perfectly placed to source the kind of wines members adore from people who care about their work.
Behind Jo’s professionalism and gracefulness there is an immensely fun aspect to her. I remember a trip in Australia’s McLaren Vale, after a long day of tasting, when we both simultaneously got the giggles after a very serious yet underwhelming cellar visit. She is the first to join in on social activities at work and has an incredible intuition in detecting when something is either going well or not so well in the office. In meetings her skill in identifying the issues at hand and coming up with solutions is something to be admired. Her previous experience in marketing roles showed in her talent as an exceptional proof-reader, something our marketing team has always appreciated.
Almost certainly every member will have drunk and enjoyed a wine bought by Jo, so it is heartwarming to see how many messages we have received from members (and suppliers) about her retirement. She has won multiple awards for her Portuguese range and worked tirelessly to promote the quality revolution in South Africa, culminating in it becoming the biggest growth category from the southern hemisphere, from a modest 21,000 to 46,000 cases last year.
On a personal note, I would like to thank Jo for bringing not just a wealth of experience but also a contagious passion for her work. Her knowledge and expertise within her wine regions has of course been invaluable to The Wine Society, to members and to suppliers, but I for one have learned so much from you. We will of course miss Jo, and miss her own unique way of doing things, and wish her all the best as she embarks on this new chapter.
>>Read about Jo’s past 20 years in wine and the bottles that stood out for her, plus tributes from our growers
