David
Having grown up in the idyllic countryside of East Anglia to Irish parents my early experiences of wine were always based around social occasions, wine was to be shared with family, good friends and usually meant there'd be plenty of craic! And I'd be lying if didn't admit there was usually a whisky or two involved as well, although at this point it was Irish or nothing.
My experiences led me into work as a cocktail bartender, working my way through university. As I realised where my real passion lay (unfortunately, as far as my parents were concerned, that wasn't my Geography degree!) I went from working in bars to running them, and the provenance and quality of the products I was using became more and more important, leading me to discover and develop my palate in all things distilled and delicious, something which still perseveres today, I love nothing better than meeting a new producer or discovering a new product that I can get enthusiastic about, be it Cognac, Rum, Whisky, Mezcal or Grappa!
The natural next step for me was to work in a business that would allow me the widest exposure to this wonderful world, and led me to work in a Boutique, wine focused hotel group, renowned for their well-stocked bars, but more importantly their well-stocked cellars, which is where I became passionate about the beguiling world of wine, with all its history, romance and complexity, starting me on a journey that I'm still on today.
I've spent the 4 years before moving to Hedonism Wines managing multiple sites for one of the UK's largest independent retailers, providing first class service and developing my knowledge and passion for all things grape and grain, fermented and distilled, but when the opportunity arose to work with such a world class, diverse, and amazing array of products, and with such a knowledgeable and friendly team as we have here, there was no way I could refuse.
In my downtime I enjoy exploring London's bars, restaurants and music venues or relaxing at home with a glass of something rich and rewarding, the Rhône being a particular favourite of mine, be sure to come say hi next time you're in the shop, I'm sure we'll have plenty to talk about.