CHRIS WOOD

After Exeter University I was accepted onto a Graduate Retail Management program with a listed wine retailer.  With retail, managerial and directorial roles, I have spent nearly 20 years working within a specialised sector focussed solely upon the World's finest wines and spirits. I worked for a decade  helping to build a world-renowned fine wine broker from the ground up. With an operations background I quickly found myself at the forefront of managing our strategy for growth through the implementation of multiple systems and bespoke storage solutions. After being appointed as Managing Director and eventually COO my role was to implement and oversee the day-to-day operations, processes and strategies towards the overall mission and vision of the company, enabling the business to drive extensive and sustainable growth.  

My passion for business is equally matched by my love of the world of wine. My particular focus has always been on Champagne. Growers, Negociants and Co-Operatives alike all play a role in defining such a diverse region but for me there is always something uniquely magical about the way in which Prestige Cuvees hold their own in blind tastings. The ability for the likes of Dom Perignon to produce millions of bottles and yet maintain the quintessential style and quality is, frankly, extraordinary. But so often it is Louis Roederer’s magical Cristal that gate-crashes the party and proclaims itself as the Queen of Champagne, White or Rosé, it’s quite simply mind-blowing.