I am a wine expert with over 25 years wine trade experience beginning in 1996 at Chateau Pichon-Longueville Comtesse de Lalande in Bordeaux, France. I am a Certified Sommelier with the Court of Master Sommeliers and a Wine and Spirit Education Trust (WSET) Certified Educator and Approved Programme Provider teaching online and classroom wine and spirits courses.

I provide drinks consultation for UK hospitality venues, offering drinks training to sommeliers and front-of-house staff as well as creating bespoke wine lists for hotels and restaurants in the South West of England.

Most recently I was Head Sommelier at 2* Michelin Gidleigh Park Hotel – Relais & Chateaux on Dartmoor, in Devon working alongside former executive head chef Michael Wignall. I had the privilege of managing one of the most extensive wine cellars in the country with over 800 wines and a 52 page wine list, selecting wine pairings for ten course taster menus.

My passion lies in teaching WSET wine and spirits qualifications and I specialise in educating people on how to develop their senses, especially their sense of sight, smell and taste to appreciate and assess the quality of wine. I equip them with a wide vocabulary to enable them to describe the drinks that they sample.

I judge for various international wine competitions and am a monthly drinks columnist for Devon Life magazine, writing about local and international wines, beers, ciders, spirits and soft drinks. As someone with a huge passion for the importance of smell and taste I am delighted to be an ambassador for Fifth Sense, helping to raise awareness about the importance of smell and taste and the impact a life without them can have on people.