Philip Addis Managing Director
My introduction to wines was via Direct Wines and The Sunday Times Wine Club but in 1983 I set out to survive by buying wines I liked from people I liked, and hoping that people around Bath liked me and the wines enough to buy them!
25 years later and with sales of over 8m and a team of 30-odd great people, I feel extremely lucky to have been buying wines at a time that has seen so many changes and improvements.
Most importantly, as the company has evolved and grown, I have had a different job every few years: from driver, packer, warehouseman and salesman, to managing director! I have also met some fantastic people - both winemakers and customers, and travelled all over the world.
Oh, and in between found time to fall in love with and marry Sara, and have two wonderful daughters, Charlotte and Francesca who, along with the three dogs and two horses, keep me pretty busy outside work.
As MD and Chief Exec I feel that I can't have favourites, and I am genuinely proud of all our wine selections.
Julie Ticehurst PA
I lived and worked in London for many years as PA to Chairmen and MDs in the advertising and PR industry. I left London to travel round the world for 15 months, visiting a few vineyards along the way but I'm afraid they were rather out-classed by sights like the Great Wall of China, the Grand Canyon, the volcanoes of Hawaii and pretty much everything in Vietnam! Back in the UK I decided Bath was the place to be, and after all those long lunches (also described as "intensive study of restaurant menus and wine lists") and a considerable amount of indiscriminate wine tasting, it made perfect sense to work for a wine merchant. I now divide my time between trying to make Philip's life easier, tasting and enjoying the never-ending stream of new wines joining our portfolio, and appreciating the surrounding country from the back of a horse.
The leading contenders in my wine rack are
- Domaine de Nizas Rosé - light yet robust enough to cope with spicy food, which I love.
- Roero Arneis - unlike any other white wine on our list and hits the right spot every time.
- Crozes Hermitage Cuvée Alberic Bouvet - a delicious example of a classic French wine; goes particularly well with Sunday lunch!
Simon Wood Chairman
After a 30 year corporate career with both Grand Metropolitan (now Diageo) and Whitbread Plc in a number of senior roles, I helped to develop and open Vinopolis City of Wine on London's fast growing South Bank, and I remain Non-executive Chairman of the restaurants and bars company, Vinum.
I originally worked with Great Western Wine as a consultant and became Non-executive Chairman in 2003. It has been an exciting time to be involved as the company continues to grow and develop in the UK.
My three favourite wines are:
- Carrick Pinot Noir - fabulous full flavour from a stunning part of New Zealand which I have been lucky enough to visit.
- Gruner Veltliner Federspeil Kollmutz - vibrant fresh and clean white - perfect for the beautiful summer days that are just around the corner......
- Heartland Stickleback Red - amazing value and quality for an everyday wine, which I enjoy every day!
