Top people moves in drinks: February

Six new Masters of Wine named

The Institute of Masters of Wine announced six new Masters of Wine, from six different countries last month, taking the total number of people to hold the title worldwide to 384.

The new Masters of Wine are Edouard Baijot MW (France), Nicholas Jackson MW (USA), Brendan Jansen MW (Australia), Jonas Röjerman MW (Sweden), Harriet Tindal MW (Ireland – above) and Jonas Tofterup MW (Spain).

The MW examination consists of three stages and culminates in the submission of a final research paper, an in-depth study on a wine-related topic from any area of the sciences, arts, humanities, or social sciences.

In addition to passing the examination, all MWs are required to sign the MW code of conduct before they are entitled to use the initials MW. The code of conduct requires MWs to act with honesty and integrity and to use every opportunity to share their understanding of wine with others.

There are now 384 MWs in the world, based in 30 countries. The new MWs will be formally welcomed to the IMW at a ceremony in London later this year.

To view the full descriptions of each new Master of Wine, please click here. 

Edwina Watson appointed senior buyer at Liberty Wines

Liberty Wines appointed Edwina Watson to the role of senior buyer. Watson joins technical manager and Italian buyer, Nicholas Moschi, and assistant buyer, Sophie Wilson, in the buying team which is led by David Gleave MW.

In addition to managing the existing producer relationships, Watson will be aiming to strengthen Liberty Wines’ portfolio.

David Gleave MW, managing director, commented: “Edwina Watson stood out as a strong candidate and I very much look forward to working with her. Our portfolio has expanded significantly in the last 12 months, and while 65% of the additions were from France, we also added wines from India, China, Israel and Uruguay. What unites all these new wines in our portfolio is not that they are different, but that the wines stand out in their own right. We think Edwina is the person best suited to continue our work in finding the compelling wines our customers are looking for.”

Edwina Watson commented: “I am delighted to be joining Liberty Wines. I’ve long admired Liberty Wines’ portfolio of producers, having been a customer for many years. Liberty Wines has always stood out for its exceptional range, service and impressive team of people. It is therefore a real thrill for me to now be part of this dynamic team as we continue to source top-class wines for an ever-growing list of customers.”

Watson joins Liberty from Armit Wines, where she held the position of buyer for five years. Prior to this she was also buyer for Lay and Wheeler.

James Simpson joins Timothy Taylor’s board

The Pol Roger Portfolio’s managing director, James Simpson MW, has been appointed as an independent director of Timothy Taylor’s brewery.

An independent, family-run brewery, Simpson described Timothy Taylor’s as producing the “Pol Roger of cask ales”.

He will formally take up his new role (which is in addition to his existing position at Pol Roger Portfolio) this March.

He was appointed alongside John Walsh, managing director of Abraham Moon & Sons and the pair are replacing Diana Dent and Jonathan Gamble who stepped down as independent directors last year.

Timothy Taylor’s chairman, Tim Clarke, said: “We are delighted to have been able to appoint to our board two exceptional individuals from businesses that have thrived by sharing the same ethos as Timothy Taylor’s; independence and a focus on developing a strong, premium brand in a highly competitive market. We look forward to benefitting from their experience.”

ProWein appoints new global head of wine and spirits

Bastian Mingers, who has worked for Messe Düsseldorf since February 2011, has now been appointed the new global head of wine and spirits. The news follows the decision by the fair organiser, Messe Düsseldorf, to promote the current ProWein director Marius Berlemann to the position of general manager of Messe Düsseldorf Shanghai Co. Ltd., with project and HR responsibility for the entire Messe Düsseldorf portfolio in China.

Mingers will officially take up the role on 1 April, ensuring that Berlemann will oversee this year’s ProWein, which runs from 17 to 19 March, and marks the 25^th edition of the fair.

Berlemann will then move to Shanghai in April, where he will take charge of all the group’s exhibitions in Asia, including ProWine China and ProWine Asia (Hong Kong).

Meanwhile, Mingers, who is 35 years-old, will continue to work towards improving the fair in Düsseldorf, particularly a project of redevelopment that will see a new hall layout for ProWein by 2021.

Speaking exclusively to the drinks business last month, Mingers stressed that the transition from Berlemann to himself would be smooth because he already had extensive experience of the ProWein fair, even though his most recent role at Messe Düsseldorf saw him manage an exhibition called Energy Storage, which is an international conference and trade fair for renewable energies.

“In my previous role from 2011 to 2015 as senior project manager for ProWein, I worked on five shows, before taking the lead for a new trade fair for energy storage, so I am familiar with the wine and spirits industry,” he said.

“I know the topic, and I have a background in gastronomy and the hotel business, so this industry is close to my heart/

“Marius has been a great project director for ProWein, so it is very well set up, and I will continue to work on a new hall layout, and I will continue to work on visitor growth, along with service quality and capacity, because these are things where we can do more to make ProWein still the number one fair for wine in the world.”

Bob Lindquist leaves Qupé

The news broke last month that Bob Lindquist and his wife would be setting up a new company called Lindquist Family Wines.

Qupé, the winery he founded in 1982, was bought towards the end of last year by a group called Vintage Wine Estates, who bought it from a group called Terroir Life that was previously owned by Charles Banks, the disgraced and now jailed former owner of Screaming Eagle.

At the time it was said that Lindquist would stay on at the winery in a “consulting role” but the arrangement has clearly run its course.

The Qupé wines will be produced at another winery in the Central Coast area owned by VWE.

This means that Lindquist will remain in the winery he has shared for the past 30 years with Jim Clendenen of Au Bon Climat.

In addition, his wife, Louisa Sawyer Lindquist’s, wine ‘Verdad’ will continue to be produced by the couple and the new range of wines will feature Rhône varieties and Chardonnay just as Qupé did.

Jacques Devauges leaves Clos de Tart

Jacques Devauges is leaving his position as winemaker at Clos de Tart after just one year under the new management, it was reported last month

Devauges will be replaced by Alessandro Noli, currently head winemaker at Château Grillet, on 1 March.

Clos de Tart was bought by François Pinault, one of France’s richest men, from the Mommessin family in late October 2017 for a rumoured €250+ million.

Devauges replacement, Noli, is being drafted in from Grillet which is one of Pinault’s other properties in his wine portfolio, the major one being Bordeaux first growth Château Latour.

As reported by La Revue du Vin de France, given Devauges’ track record at the monopole since he took over full time from Sylvain Pitiot in 2015, if he is not leaving voluntarily then it is unlikely to be because of his technical skills that he is on his way.

More likely, as so often in new businesses, Pinault is bringing in someone he knows in order to put his own stamp on the wines and the label.

Simon Jones appointed new general manager at Mt. Beautiful Wines

Mt. Beautiful Wines in New Zealand has appointed Simon Jones as its new general manager, who will oversee the operations of Teece Family Vineyards and Farms as well as Mt. Beautiful Wines (encompassing the Mt. Beautiful Winery, Mt. Beautiful Two Rivers Café and Wine Tasting Room and Manuka Bay holiday house). The general manager role is an all new position that reports directly to the CEO.

Jones has a background in executive management in the restaurant, farm, wine and hospitality sectors. Prior to Mt Beautiful, he was consulting in the Christchurch area, and before that served as chief executive officer of the Carrington Group from 2008 to 2016. There he saw oversaw the operations of companies including Peppers Carrington Resort, Karikari Estate Winery and Carrington Honey.

Robert Watkins, CEO of Mt. Beautiful, commented: “We are excited to have Simon on board to fill this all new position on the Mt. Beautiful team. “His managerial experience and ability to effectively lead our farm, restaurant, winery, vineyard and hospitality teams make him a perfect fit.”

Andy Shaw appointed CEO of beer at BrewDog

Scottish craft beer giant BrewDog has appointed the former managing director of Red Bull UK, Andy Shaw, to the newly-created role of CEO of beer.

Shaw joins the Ellon-headquartered brewer having served in senior roles at Red Bull for the past 14 years. He previously spent over eight years at GlaxoSmithKline.

Shaw is also the co-founder and non-executive director of natural protein snack brand Seven which was established in 2017.

In his new role, he will be responsible for the global sales and marketing of BrewDog’s beer. The brewer stated that the new position had been created “in order to provide additional senior strategic leadership as BrewDog enters a period of accelerated growth domestically and internationally”.

Commenting on the hiring, BrewDog co-founder James Watt said: “Andy’s impressive track record for championing a strategic, global vision is what makes him such an exciting addition to the BrewDog crew.

“His experience in working in a vibrant, bold, business famed for pushing the envelope is exactly what we need as we enter hyperdrive on our global vision. Our mission remains exactly the same it was on day one; to make other people as passionate about great craft beer as we are. Andy will be pivotal in ensuring we fulfil this over the coming years.

Andy Shaw added: “BrewDog’s feats over the last decade are a direct result of a culture of innovation and fearlessness. When many in the industry doubted and scoffed, James and Martin remained clear eyed and determined to change the world of beer for the better.

“I’ve been impressed by them for the last ten years and I simply could not pass up the opportunity to join such a dynamic team in the next phase of growth. I couldn’t be more delighted at the chance to take BrewDog to new audiences, new territories and ultimately to new heights”.

Peter Dixon leaves Treasury to join Accolade

Barely a month after Robert Foye’s abrupt departure, Australian wine giant Treasury Wine Estates has seen another important personnel change, with the managing director of Asia and Global Travel Retail Peter Dixon, the key figure in driving the company’s China growth, also departing the company to join its rival Australian wine group, Accolade Wines.

The news was first announced by Dixon himself through his personal WeChat account, writing: “Many people have already heard that I will be leaving TWE shortly. I just want to personally thank all the amazing partners I’ve worked with over the past 10 years in Asia and specifically all the support from the China partners in the last five years.”

“Although I am going to a significantly smaller wine company with a lot less $ (Accolade Wines) from Australia, I am excited by the opportunities to be in a humble new business with amazing quality wines which I hope everyone has the opportunity to try shortly. Also a huge thanks to my amazing team at TWE for all they have done and I wish everyone good fortune for the future,” he continued.

Dixon first joined TWE in 2008 and worked his way up to become managing director for Asia, Middle East, Africa & Global Travel Retail.

In a statement sent to dbHK last month, TWE confirmed the departure, and thanked Dixon for his contribution for TWE’s growth in Asia.

Tom King, who was the chief operating officer in Asia, has now been prompted to be managing director for North Asia, the company said, and will report directly to the newly appointed COO Tim Ford.

Martin Siska appointed director of bars at Rosewood London

Tennent’s appoints new senior management 

Tennent Caledonian Breweries announced additions to the senior management team at its Wellpark brewery.

Kenny Gray is appointed to the newly created role of managing director Scotland, encompassing all on-trade, national and convenience business as well as the link to Matthew Clark in Scotland. Gray is currently the managing director, national accounts at Matthew Clark.

In addition Duncan Frew is taking on the role of commercial and marketing director, overseeing the execution of brand activation, The Tennent’s Story visitor centre and the Tennents Training Academy. Duncan joins Tennent’s from bar and experiential agency Badaboom and will support Gray in challenging the existing route to market approach and sharpening marketing execution.

Richie Webster will continue in his role as finance director, and in addition will oversee an overhaul of business processes in relation to customers and back-office finance.

Commenting on the changes Andrea Pozzi said: “These are exciting times for C&C Group, and the Tennent’s business has an incredible opportunity to build on its reputation as the gold standard for customer service, brands and digital interface.

“These additions to the team will not only bolster the senior management within the business, meeting the challenges and opportunities we face; but will allow the talent we already have to continue to focus on key areas and the excellent existing service levels we provide our customers.”

Jerry Baker appointed vice president of sales and marketing at Hawk and Horse Vineyards

Hawk and Horse Vineyards’ co-owners and founders Mitch Hawkins and Tracey Hawkins announced the appointment of Jerry M. Baker as vice president of sales and marketing last month. This is a newly created position for their Red Hills appellation winery.

The couple said in a statement: “We’re delighted to welcome Jerry to our team and know that his extensive expertise will allow us to refocus our sales and marketing strategies on the national and international stage. Our expanding footprint will be very positive for our brand and the growing interest in this new and exciting AVA.

Baker added: “I am honoured to be a part of the Hawk and Horse Vineyards team. The dedication and commitment to growing and producing the finest wines from this extraordinary property is remarkable. It is with great pride and enthusiasm that I will be traveling the country to tell our story and taste the wines with buyers near and far.”

Baker has worked in senior executive roles in the wine industry for several decades, for likes of Ladera Vineyards, White Oak Vineyards, Grgich Hills Cellars, Trefethen and Chateau Montelena.

Before coming to Napa Valley, he held senior sales positions at American Wine & Spirits and Bohemian Distributing Company in Los Angeles. He started out at the Gallo Wine Company as the West Central District Manager for the newly created E & J Gallo Winery Hotel Restaurant Division. He also owned, managed and marketed the proprietary brand, Casaeda Wines.

Nik Antona appointed chairman of CAMRA

The Campaign for Real Ale announced its new chairman-elect as Nik Antona last month, who will take on the leadership of the organisation following its Members’ Weekend, AGM and Conference to in Dundee in April.

Antona takes over from Jackie Parker, who is stepping down after a year in the role, and after nine years as a member of CAMRA’s national executive.

Meeting in Hastings last month, CAMRA’s national executive elected Antona as chairman-elect. Based in Burton-on-Trent, he has been a National Executive member since 2009, and currently chairs the finance and general purposes committee. He was a CAMRA regional director for five years, representing the West Midlands.

Antona said: “I’m delighted and honoured by the confidence my national executive colleagues have shown in me by electing me to take over as chairman in April.

“Jackie has been a strong leader for the organisation and I’m keen to carry on where she will leave off – making sure CAMRA is effective in its national campaigns, especially in seeking much-needed reform of the pubs code, calling for a review of business rates on pubs and campaigning to get a reduction in beer tax on pints served in pubs.

Parker added: “It’s with great sadness that I choose to step down as chairman of the Campaign. It’s the right time, however, as I come to the end of my third term as a national executive member.

“I’ve spent nine years as a national executive member and served as a regional director for three years prior to that. I believe it’s healthy for an organisation to refresh its leadership regularly and now is the time to step aside and give someone else the opportunity to lead the campaign.”

New appointments at Lyme Bay Winery

Devon-based Lyme Bay Winery announced the appointment of Wolfgang Sieg-Hogg as operations manager and Paul Sullivan as head of sales and marketing last month.

Sieg-Hogg and Sullivan join the winery following a period of significant growth in 2018, which saw the company increase production by 20% as well as secure a national listing for Lugger rum.

Commenting on the appointments, James Lambert, managing director, said: “The creation of both roles and subsequent appointments represent the latest phase in the evolution of the business, ensuring we continue to offer innovative and high-quality drinks to meet ever changing consumer demand.”

“Recognising when new positions are required within a growing business structure is one thing, getting the right people in is quite another. I’m thrilled to have both Wolf and Paul on board, especially given both the excellent cultural fit and the wealth of highly relevant experience and enthusiasm they bring to the business. I can’t remember a more exciting time to be part of the Lyme Bay team”.

Sullivan, who joins Lyme Bay from Hop Back Brewery, added: “Lyme Bay have an excellent team and a fantastic range of products from English wine to Lugger Spiced rum, gin and mead. These products are perfectly tailored for the quality and flavour focused drinker of today and their potential is amazing”.

Sieg-Hogg who has experience in BRC-standard food and ingredient manufacture with companies such as Dorset Cereals, said: “Lyme Bay Winery is at a pivotal point in the scale of its operations and I am thrilled to be part of enabling that transition so that we can achieve our aim of becoming the UK’s leading manufacturer of distinctive drinks”.

Gabriela Zimmer appointed brand ambassador at Wines of Uruguay

Wines of Uruguay appointed Gabriela Zimmer as its first brand ambassador to help promote the country’s wines abroad last month.

The Uruguayan-born sommelière will travel to Europe this month to present a series of masterclasses for the trade and press as well as accompany wineries at international trade fairs to help create commercial links.

The first quarter of this year will be focused on the UK – a country Zimmer knows well due to her WSET studies.

Uruguayan wines are already exported to several major international markets but Zimmer has laid out her belief that more can be done to really focus the country’s wine communication.

She believes that Uruguay needs to concentrate on creating a high value niche for itself, “small producers with excellent quality wines”, rather than aim to fight to grow huge volume share which would pit the country against the formidably well-entrenched France, Spain, Chile and Australia.

She also wants to talk about Uruguay’s principal grape, Tannat, as the South American country is almost the only wine producing nation to have made it their specialty.

Zimmer said: “Our emblematic wine grape is Tannat, Uruguay has the largest number of Tannat vineyards in the world, we are the main producer of this grape and we have a long history in the treatment of this variety, which is why the vine growers achieve fruit of excellent quality and winemakers in the winery achieve exceptional wines.”

Andrew Holding appointed new operations director at Simpsons Malt

Family-owned maltster Simpsons Malt has appointed Andrew Holding to the role of operations director at its Tivetshall Maltings in Norfolk.

Responsible for leading the Tivetshall and Fersfield teams and overseeing manufacturing operations, Holding will also join the company’s operation board.

Andrew brings with him a wealth of experience in maltings and food produce management roles, having spent over 20 years with Stowmarket-based Muntons followed by roles with Peterborough food producer, Produce World Group. He also holds an MBA and a Malting Diploma.  

In this new role, Andrew will work with the Simpsons Malt Tivetshall Maltings team as the site undergoes an extensive investment programme to expand its production capacity.  

Commenting on the appointment, Steven Rowley operations director of Simpsons Malt, said: “We look forward to welcoming Andrew to the Simpsons Malt team. He brings with him a wealth of knowledge and experience in the food and malting industries and will implement a strategic approach to maintain a quality output at our Tivetshall maltings.” 

Holding added: “This is an exciting chapter for me personally and I am pleased to be joining the family at Simpsons Malt, especially at a time when there are such exciting developments on the horizon.”

Scott Gavin appointed bar manager at Bloomsbury Club bar 

The Bloomsbury Club Bar has appointed Scott Gavin as its Bar Manager. A UK World Class finalist, Gavin brings with him over 10 years of international experience in the industry, having worked across high-end hotels as well as cocktail bars.

Originally from London, Gavin started out in 2006 at Twentytwo, a top bar in Malta. He moved back to the UK in 2012 to take up the possition of head bartender at Limewood Hotel in Hampshire, before spending two years as senior bartender at Scarfes Bar at the Rosewood London. Gavin then moved to Nola, relaunching the bar’s image before working alongside chef Tom Kerridge on a number of different products.

Commenting on his appointment, Gavin said: “I’m thrilled to be joining the team. The Bloomsbury Club Bar has been really innovative in the way they work with brands and other bars across the world. This position will be a new challenge for me and I’m excited to help continue raising the profile of the bar in London and worldwide.”

Vinitaly International appoints seven new wine ambassadors

The experts gained ambassador certification after completing the first Vinitaly International Academy (VIA) Ambassador course ever held in Los Angeles, California, last month.

VIA’s tasting-intensive curriculum brings 27 wine professionals from the United States, the UK, Italy, China, and Bulgaria on a journey across Italy’s oenological history, tasting 106 different wines and learning all about the country’s viticulture, appellations and native grape varieties.

There are now 177 accredited members of the Vinitaly International Academy, of which 164 are ambassadors.

The new ambassadors are: Rebecca Lawrence, wine educator and assistant manager at The Vineking in Redhill, UK; Massimo Serradimigni, importer and distributor at Winebow in Skokie, US; Catherine Stratton, wine educator at C.S. Selections LLC in Playa del Rey, US; Petra Belliti, owner of DiVita Tours in San Diego, US; Emily Wynbrandt, importer and distributor at Mucci Imports in Brooklyn, US; Orazio Campoli, sales manager at Lyra Wines in Los Angeles, US; and Sheila Donohue, importer and distributor at Vero Vino in New York, US.

In Los Angeles, candidates tasted 65 labels during the guided tastings that followed the theory lectures, as well as a further 41 labels during the tasting labs.

Rebecca Lawrence, one of the newest recruits, commented: “Obviously it still got that foundation with the multiple-choice, so you can show off the breadth of your knowledge, but the short answer questions really show the depth, and give you the chance to really do a deep dive on the subject,” she said.

“And, obviously, I think the tasting is fundamental because there are so many grapes and if you are going to be an ambassador you need to know what they taste like and be able to describe them.”