Edward Mercer - Business Manager
My interest in wine was sparked by my local merchant when I was at school in Lancashire, a fantastic cellar of a place called D. Byrne and Co of Clitheroe - now, I am pleased to say, customers of GWW.
During a business degree at Northumbria University, an industrial placement took me to Seagram Distillers to work in global marketing for Chivas Brothers. I returned there for a stint post university but left the corporate high life and moved to Bath and into the wine industry with Great Western Wine. Now more than four years later I am working with private clients, as well as on projects relating to the website and general retail marketing. My interests besides wine include running, skiing and good food.
Alan Nordberg - Shop Manager
I grew up in Twickenham and having studied Typographic Design at the London College of Printing back in the dark ages, I took a Christmas job at Oddbins in Richmond, with the intention of saving some money to travel the world.
However, that quest never happened and I found myself totally engrossed in the wine trade. I worked for Oddbins for six years, leaving London to manage two shops, Oxford Summertown then Cheltenham. Moving on from here, I found myself living in Bath.
I became the first manager of the new Majestic Wine in Brislington Bristol, the nineteenth store...I believe there over now over 300.
Great Western Wine who then sold mainly to the trade invited me to expand their retail side. The rest is history. I've been in the wine trade for over 30 years and counting, and still have the passion and enjoyment for it, especially giving the best advice and service the old fashioned way. I enjoy fishing, good food, and of course wine.
There's an old saying in the trade "if it rains get a macon"!
Tom King - Fine Wine Manager
My role at Great Western Wine is to monitor and research the fine wine market, and to advise customers and colleagues on what to buy and what to sell. Consequently, I'm actively involved in the buying team, as well as keeping everyone informed of new developments with e-mail updates that I'm told are fun to read. I also have the onerous responsibility of tasting thousands of wines, both here and in the cellars of overseas suppliers.
With two decades' experience in the wine trade in both the USA and UK, and an Oxford degree, I expected the WSET Diploma in Wines and Spirits to be a breeze. I was wrong - it's a serious challenge. IF I pass, I MAY think about tackling the Master of Wine qualification. Perhaps.
Kate Robinson - Private Client & Sales Administrator
Coming across from a well known fine-wine company I was excited to find so many boutique wines from smaller producers, with areas I had never heard of! Bordeaux, Burgundy and the Rhone are all well known classics but I was suprised to find so many wines that matched them in style and quailty - and sometimes for a better price! So my recommendations are classic wine styles from other parts of the world.
Burgundy - Kooyong Farrago Chardonnay Mornington Peninsula - Shown next to a cru Meursault at our annual tasting, I would challenge anyone to spot the difference.
Rhone - Ken Forrester Gypsy Stellenbosch - Grenache based Rhone blend gives this a CNDP style, with sweet oak and lovely Mulberry fruit.
Stewart Ranshaw - Warehouse & Distribution (Assistant Manager)
I joined the warehouse and distribution team about 11 years ago and have been the assistant manager for the past four years or so ensuring our fleet of vans is good to go every morning and that our ever increasing web/mail order parcels leave the depot in a safe and timely fashion.. Great Western Wine is an ideal place for me to improve my wine knowledge, and I am constantly impressed by the number of new wines coming into the market, particularly from the Southern Hemisphere.
My main hobbies are running – (marathons, half marathons, any distance to keep fit!) weight training and most importantly being in regular attendance at Silverstone as an avid follower of Formula 1 motor racing!! I live with my partner Laura, and a large collection of animals.
Nick Styles - Warehouse & Distribution
Before joining Great Western Wine I had experience in wine retailing with Oddbins and before that worked in the kitchens at Lucknam Park and The Olive Tree. In my spare time I like to escape to the country to relax.
Accounts
Our accounts Team is based at Enotria & Coe, 23 Cumberland Ave,London NW10 7RX.
If you have any queries regarding invoices, statements or payments, please email Accounts at CreditControl@enotriacoe.com or call on 02089614411.