Meet our Council
CHAIR — LOKI WINE
Phil Innes
Over a decade ago, Phil Innes took over a unit in Birmingham city centre, convinced that there was an audience ready for interesting wines, individually selected for each customer. After stints in Oddbins and Wine Rack, Phil was determined to put taste and quality at the centre of his selection, rather than outdated notions about labels, regions or sales targets.
He installed top-end tasting machines and introduced regular guided experiences to demystify wine, with prices as varied as his selections. Fast forward ten years, a major expansion plus two additional sites, some of the best-attended online tastings ever, and more awards than a trophy room could house. You could say a lot has changed. But at its core, quality, interest and a love of wine backed up by constant learning, is what underlies every drop of wine enjoyed under Loki’s name.
SECRETARY & HONORARY TREASURER — MENTZENDORFF
Antony Davis
I started my wine journey hotels & restaurants around the Midlands in the early 1980’s, wine is something I really focused on over the years and really started to enjoy for both work and pleasure.
When I left catering, I moved into the Wine Trade in 1999 with Everton’s of Ombersley as Key Account Manager, before moving to Mentzendorff in 2001 where I still am today looking after the Southwest.
I joined the MWSA as a member in 2001, then joined the Council as Vice Chair in 2008, Chair in 2009 & 2010. I remained on the Council and took over the Honorary Secretary role in 2014 and Treasurer in 2020.
My goal now is to pass on my experience and ensure our membership continues on to the new generation.
PRESIDENT — TANNERS WINES
David Sharland
Pictured holding the trophy when the MWSA won a blind tasting competition, David captained the winning MWSA team in the blind wine competition in London 2015 & 2017.
His journey in the wine trade starter in December 1976 working for Barwell & Jones the wine department of Tollemache & Cobbold managing their flagship retail branch on Trumpington Street in Cambridge. Moving through the company area managing tenanted public houses, then onto Wolverhampton and Dudley Breweries in 1984 until moving to Greenalls in 1989. In the early 1990s, David passed WSET Diploma, combining opening million pound pubs and coping with two young children under 10 years old. He was promoted to group wine Buyer for the Greenalls group in 1997 buying wine for over 500 public houses and De Vere hotels including The Grand Brighton and The Belfry Sutton Coldfield until the Greenalls group sold in 1999.
Following this David went on to become wine buyer and sales manager for Telford Wines in 2000 and finally joined Tanners in January 2013 as Area sales Manager until his retirement in 2023. During this time, he also joined the MWSA Council in 2004 and was our Chairman until April 2023 when he became our President.
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Joy Clayton-Smith
SHJONES WINES
My journey into the world of drinks started with Taunton Cider Co working in the take home division, where I was the only female sales rep externally hired. After 5 years I spread my wings and moved to W A Gilbey / IDV selling wines to hotels, pubs, shops and earned my WSET Level 1 to Diploma. I stayed here until I had my daughter in 1988 (they’d never had a Rep have children before so didn’t know what to do but I stayed on) I left later 1989 and finally moved to a 3 day week with what was to become Freetraders. I eventually moved back to full time and worked with the set-up team who founded what is now Mathew Clark. We bought Grants of St James & Grierson Blumenthal & Sacone and Speed so I was back working with lots of people I met on my journey through the trade.
I enjoyed many visits overseas, particularly to Burgundy/Jadot and working with Andrea Ruggeri their Buyer. I left to join specialist wine co Alliance wine in 1996, where I stayed for 12 years before working for myself for 12 months-ish. I then joined Hallgarten Druit for almost ten years, then from 2019 onwards I have been working for S H Jones in Banbury.
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Laura Clay
BYWINE
Joined the wine trade & MWSA simultaneously in 1988. Her wine career began with Hallgartens, followed by several years with Churchill Vintners. She has been a freelance educator and presenter for the last 20 odd years. Her specialist areas include Bordeaux and Champagne but her expertise covers wine regions from all around the world and with a strong interest in, and love of, South African Wines.
She is proud to be an International Accredited Bordeaux Tutor since 2006, the longest serving tutor worldwide, and was UK Champagne Ambassador in 2010. She is also an accredited Rioja and Cava educator. Laura teaches WSET and is one of the wine tutors at Leiths School of Cookery and Wine.
Laura is a past Chairman of the Association of Wine Educators as well as of the MWSA and is a member of the Circle of Wine Writers. She is a Senior Judge at the International Wine Challenge and has been a lead judge every year of the 100 Everyday Best Bordeaux (now Bordeaux Hot 50) since it began over 15 years ago. She is also a judge with the South African Michelangelo Awards.
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Sam Olive
WINE FREEDOM
Sam is a wine entrepreneur specialising in natural wine. Directing Wine Freedom an award winning wine business working with many Michelin-starred restaurants across the UK. Sam is also a wine educator (qualified WSET APP Wine Educator) with twenty years experience in the wine industry with qualifications to Diploma level. Previously trained as an interior architect with a love of 20th century art & design.
Sam also gets nerdy when it comes to vines and soil health (it goes with the natural wine territory) - an important subject we all need be more clued up on!
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Fuchsia Adamthwaite
ADEGA WINE CELLAR
Email — LinkedIn — WebsiteFounder & CEO, Fuchsia is passionate about the world of wine striving to make it more accessible & welcoming to consumers, whilst also championing diverse, modern & sustainable change in the industry.
With 10 years’ experience training in London with various Master Sommeliers & Masters of Wine (visiting vineyards & winemakers all over the world) Fuchsia gained valuable industry experience & knowledge, so decided to start her own wine import/wholesale business back home in the Midlands and was awarded Leadership Champion in Harper’s Wine’s Top 30 Under 30 List.
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Bryn Stephens
ALLIANCE WINE
Bryn first fell in love with wine on a trip to south Africa in 2003. However it took a few years of failing at a career in Opera before he considered a career in wine, eventually taking the plunge in 2007 working for Oddbins, Majestic, Averys, DBM Wines, ABS and eventually ending up at Alliance Wine where he currently works.
In between all this he has managed to squeeze in 3 harvests in Bordeaux and South Africa, and run a sea shanty group called The Roaring Trowmen performing at festivals and events up and down the country, including twice at Glastonbury. He is a big fan of rugby, both playing and watching, certainly more of the latter nowadays.
In his spare time, he is happy! He loves spending time with his family, cooking, and enjoying a glass of something whilst travelling the vineyards of Southern France and Northern Spain.
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Callum Gardener
NICKOLLS & PERKS
Callum is a 4th generation family member and director of Nickolls & Perks Ltd. one of the oldest wine and spirit merchants in the world, dating back to 1797.
Having helped out in the company's 16th century cellars as a young lad, Callum's passion for wine was truly ignited at university while tasting a 2000 Domaine Dujac, Clos de la Roche, and a 1997 Ducru Beaucaillou.
In 2012, Callum joined Nickolls & Perks full-time and soon after achieved his WSET Diploma qualification.
Callum enjoys everything wine but has a keen interest in the wines of Bordeaux, Burgundy, and Champagne and commits to an annual pilgrimage to all three regions, whether that's for business or pleasure!
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Dan Ruell
METZENDORFF
I started my journey into the Wine and Spirits Industry at Majestic Wine 6 years ago where my love and passion for wine began. From there I moved onto Remy Cointreau where I spent 4 years as a Key Account Manager looking after the Midlands On Trade. I am now currently a Regional Account Manager at Mentzendorff looking after the West and East Midlands.
I have taken a real keen interest into wine over the years and what is happening in the industry. I very much look forward to contributing to the MWSA and helping grow the membership further.
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Sam Sandbach
LEDBURY WINES
Sam’s career started in Bordeaux, grape-picking, wine-making, then joining Bordeaux University to study Oenology and Viticulture under Professor Emile Peynaud.
A move to Jerez followed, with 12 months work in a sherry Bodega before travelling home via Oporto, the Douro valley, and northern Spain. In London, Sam continued training as a wine-buyer with Percy Fox & Co. - later absorbed into the Diageo group - completing the WSET Diploma, followed by an MW study course (no success!).
Ten years on, Sam founded Winepress with a popular wine-bar in Baker Street, at the same time supplying private customers through an importing & wholesaling business.
Relocating to Gloucestershire, Sam developed the Winepress agency business, importing from Champagne, Bordeaux, Rioja, South Africa and Chile. He became a director of Broadwell Vintners, near Stow on the Wold (later taken-over by Edward Sheldon). He was consultant to Windrush Wines of Cirencester, also to a new South African group near Paarl, and to Cremaschi Furlotti of Chile.
With a mission is to seek out and bring to market new producers of distinctive quality and origin, a valuable portfolio developed with growers in France, Spain and Italy. In 2009 Sam acquired Ledbury Wine Cellar, supplying a loyal band of private customers and selected restaurants.
Discovering vineyards in lesser known areas has always been a fascination - so often a source of fine quality wines at excellent value. Key criteria for an interesting wine list.
Our chosen Trade charity
If you work, or have worked, or if you aspire to a career in the drinks hospitality industry, then The Drinks Trust can help you. Their services to industry colleagues include financial assistance, wellbeing support and industry training.
Please contribute to our charity fundraising if you can.
