Cult Wines appoints new head of fine wine

UK fine wine specialist Cult Wines has appointed former Fat Duck and Pollen Street Social sommelier Lukasz Kolodziejczyk as its new head of fine wine.

Lukasz Kolodziejczyk (left) celebrates his appointment as the new head of fine wine at Cult Wines with the company’s managing director, Tom Gearing (Photo: Cult Wines)

Kolodziejczyk becomes the Surrey-based company’s head of fine wine after more than a decade working in the hospitality industry, including seven years at Heston Blumenthal’s Fat Duck restaurant in Bray and two years as head sommelier of Jason Atherton’s Michelin-starred Pollen Street Social.

The head of fine wine position is a newly created role at Cult Wines as the company seeks to expand by taking advantage of growing demand for fine wine investment in Asia, a company statement said.

Kolodziejczyk’s role will involve overseeing a number of key activities, including liaising with producers, arranging tastings, events and dinners as well as hosting masterclass events. He will also contribute to further developing Cult Wines’ on-trade sales, sourcing unique parcels of wines to develop and expand its retail sales offering.

Kolodziejczyk will also provide expert fine wine advice to Cult Wine’s global client base. He has recently produced two vintage reports on Domaine de la Romanée-Conti in Burgundy and Château Ducru-Beaucaillou in Bordeaux.

Originally from Kasinka Mala in southern Poland, Kolodziejczyk began his career at Litwor Hotel in Zakopane where he discovered his passion for wine. He honed his skills as a sommelier at the Fat Duck, where he also decided to enrol in the Court of Master Sommeliers.

As head sommelier at Pollen Street Social Kolodziejczyk oversaw a wine list of 800 bins and a team of seven sommeliers. During this time he also earned his Court of Master Sommeliers Advanced certificate.

Kolodziejczyk joins Cult Wines as the company seeks to take advantage of increasing demand for fine wine investment in Asia with the opening of an office in Hong Kong, as reported in the drinks business in January.

Cult Wines has seen its annual profits increase by 105% in 2015. The company recorded sales of £17 million last year and has set itself the aim of achieving annual sales of around £50m by 2020.

Tom Gearing, managing director of Cult Wines, said the company’s clients would benefit hugely from Kolodziejczyk’s fine wine expertise.

“We’re delighted to welcome Lukasz, who is regarded as one of the UK’s best sommeliers, to the team here at Cult Wines,” he said.

“To be able to add someone of his experience and expertise was an opportunity not to be missed. The value-add for our private clients is huge and we’re certain he will make a tremendous impact.”

Kolodziejczyk commented: ‘’I am very grateful for this opportunity and excited to join Cult Wines as their head of fine wines. I am impressed with their business model and knowledge of the market. I am really looking forward to adding value to this dynamic company.’’