Fine Wine Team

Simon Staples
Simon Staples spent his post-school years hacking through jungles, trekking through deserts and exploring the remotest parts of the world. When the wanderlust was satisfied he returned and took up his next great passion: wine. In 1996 he joined Berrys as Assistant Fine Wine Manager. He loves St Juliens and Pauillacs, and top Premier and Grand Crus from the Côte de Nuits. Simon was recently appointed Sales & Marketing Director, coinciding with his marriage to the gorgeous Sarah Holton from our accounts department.

Max Lalondrelle
Max was born in the south west of France where his parents made Armagnac. He first arrived in England in 1993 and joined Berrys' in 2000 before joining the Fine Wine Team in 2002. Max's first wine love is of course Bordeaux but the wines of Burgundy, Rhône and Alsace are a close joint second. Recent years have seen Max more involved in sourcing Fine Wines. He is now responsible for buying all Berrys' Bordeaux requirements - from GOC to Yquem - but continues to look after his private customers.

Tom Cave
Tom joined Berrys' shop at 3 St James's Street some 20 years ago and is now Cellar Plan Manager. One of Tom's aims is to ensure customers withdraw their wines when they are at their peak. He enjoys most wines but returns, inevitably, to Claret and Burgundy.

Joss Fowler
Joss Fowler started his career in the wine trade in 1997, following a couple of years' seasonal work in Burgundy. He joined Berrys in 1999, first working as a salesman in our London shop and then joining the Fine Wine team later that year. He left us in 2001, but rejoined Berrys after a brief tour of the opposition. While his taste in wine is catholic, Burgundy, Vintage Port and Bordeaux are the areas where his passion and expertise lie.

Jake Dean
Jake played cricket for Sussex between 1990 and 1994 until a back injury cut short a promising career. He has worked for Berrys since 2000 and joined the Cellar Plan Team in 2003. Jake loves wines from all around the world but always comes back to the classics: Bordeaux, Burgundy, Rhône, Alsace and sweet wines in general.

Philip Moulin
After his formative years at Majestic Wines, Philip joined Berry's in 1997 as Assistant Manager in the Basingstoke shop. He joined the old "broking department" in 2000 and for five years was responsible for sourcing and broking rare wines for BB&R's subsidiary company in Japan. Of his current role advising Cellar Planners, he says "I rather like the thought, that in ten or twenty years time, my customers will be enjoying wines that I laid down for them, and that they can drink them safe in the knowledge that they didn't pay the earth for them.

Matthew Tipping
Matt started his career with Majestic Wine in 2000 where he completed his WSET Diploma. He joined Berrys in 2006 where he worked in the Factory Outlet before moving to the Fine Wine team in early 2007. Matt likes to drink modern style Bordeaux from the Medoc, Burgundy and German wines.

Ben Upjohn
Ben started working for Berrys' at the age of 15, in the cellars of No.3, during his Christmas Holidays. After leaving school he went to Oddbins for a couple of years and then joined Berrys' in 2001, in the London Shop moving into the Fine Wine Team in 2005. He has a passion for Bordeaux and Burgundy, but also enjoys wines from New Zealand. In his spare time he enjoys country pursuits and photography.

Chris Pollington
Originally joining Berrys' in 1997 working in the Heathrow Airport shop, Chris has also worked in our Internet and Telesales departments before joining the fine wine team in 2007. Chris's great passion is for the wines of Italy, hosting dinners and wine schools on the subject, but he also admits to a soft spot for the great wines of Burgundy.

Adam Bilbey
Adam commenced his Berrys' career in 2001, working at our Heathrow Airport Shop, before progressing to the London Shop. In search of the sun, Adam moved to Australia working for Yarra Yering Vineyards. In this time he gained experience in all aspects of winemaking and vineyard management, mastering the art of hand pruning and crashing tractors! Adam enjoys wines from all around the world, preferring wines that express their origin and have a sense of place.

David Jones
David's passion for wine developed while working abroad as a teacher and he entered the wine trade in 2000. He started with Berrys in 2002 and joined the Fine Wine Team in 2007. He believes that wine is best drunk and appreciated with food and his favourite wines are those of the classic regions of Europe, particularly France, which have always been traditionally made to be enjoyed in this way.

William Gossip
William started his wine career working part-time at Mitchell & Son, a small family-owned wine merchants, whilst juggling a History degree in Trinity College Dublin in 2002. He soon found out that he was spending a great deal more time at work than studying. A relative newcomer, he joined Berrys' in 2007, initially working in the St. James's shop. He has a particular enthusiasm for food and enjoys choosing an interesting wine match. His vinous scope of interest is varied but always includes the classic regions of Europe - especially Bordeaux and Burgundy.

Lisa-Marie Loveless
Lisa was born in Basingstoke and is the youngest member of the team. She started full time in Customer Services in Nov 2003 and progressed on to the Fine Wine Dept nearly a year later. Lisa's main role within the Fine Wine Team is to process new applications, maintain our records and monitor direct debits.Lisa also completes other administrative roles within the Fine Wine Department