Lynne Sherriff  MW
Master of Wine (Vice Chair, Institute of Masters of Wine)

Lynne Sheriff has been an internationally renowned Wine Consultant for more than twenty-five years, with practical experience in all aspects of the wine trade from production, blending, procurement through international marketing and commercial agreement development. During this period  she developed an established reputation across the global wine business as an accomplished networker, judge and consultant.

Independent Wine Consultant

She is based in London and consults on a global basis. Consulting to a number of blue chip companies in areas of production, blending, market requirements.

Arranging introductions and commercial terms between producers and import agents across Europe, Scandinavia, South Africa, Asia and Chile.  Consulting in areas of production and marketing to high profile companies and organisations with a view to commercial operations emerging and flourishing.

She is also Visiting lecturer to a number of European Wine Academies.

She relocated from South Africa to London to establish a wine import and distribution business for Capespan and in 1991 established Vinfruco, and by 2000 had succeeded in exporting annually 1 million cases of South African wine into the UK, Europe & Scandinavia. One of her successes was the concept of “Arniston Bay” as a lifestyle concept wine and she succeeded in establishing it as the 12^th most successful brand in the UK wine market.

She was also the Director  of the Hong Kong International Wine & Spirits Academy, based in Hong Kong, training trade and consumers in accordance with the British Wine Spirit Education Trust approved wine course.

Professional Education

Lynn obtained a German State Diploma from the Weinsberg Institute in Oenology and Viticulture, after completing a diploma from Elsenburg College, Stellenbosch in Cellar Technology. This was followed by a practical course at Nederburg Wine Estate during the 1979 harvest period.

She also qualified in Hotel Management, training at the Arthur Seat Hotel, Cape Town. Lynn then passed the Cape Wine Masters examination and eventually, in 1993 she became a Master of Wine.

Judging Experience

South African Airways Annual On-board Wine Competition 1995 – 2006
International Wine & Spirit Competition 1994 – 2004
Japan Wine Challenge 2003 – 2007
Veritas  2002 – 2006
International Wine Challenge 1998 – 2004
Best of Riesling 2003 – 2006
Western Australia Annual Wine Show

Visiting Lecturer

MW Course – Japan
Austrian Wine Academy
Swiss Wine Academy
Brixen  Italy
Geisenheim Institute Germany
Dutch Wine Academy
Master of Wine Seminars – Melbourne, Vienna, Bordeaux

Past & Present Client List (Sample)

Scottish & Newcastle, Wines of SA, International Wine Services, Cape Coastal Vintners, Awin Barratt Siegel, Wines from Spain, Gueltig Korken – Germany, Vinfruco, Omnia Wines, Yamanashi Prefecture - Japan, Terramater – Chile, Raisin Social, Alcoa Germany, Graf Von Pfeil Italy, Domaine Manincor – Italy, Diageo International, Spar Austria and Branded Wines - Scandinavia

 

Dr Rowald Hepp

Dr Hepp who is the chief winemaker and chief executive of the famous Schloss Vollrads Wine Estate, located on the Rhine, started his academic and practical oenological and viticultural training and education at Geisenheim University, as well as at the Justus-Liebig-University Gießen.   His doctoral thesis in 1990 was titled: „The Long term Development of the World Wine Market”. During his university studies he was already training at different wineries in Germany, for instance at St. Bonifatius-Cellars, Rüdesheim, then a stint as a winemaker at laney Estates, and his final job during his studies was as a part-time lecturer at Gießen University. Following upon this doctoral thesis he became the chief oenologist and managing director of the largest wineries in Germany: the Hessische Staatsweingüter, Kloster Eberbach (following Dr. Hans Ambrosi), and the Staatlicher Hofkeller, Würzburg.  Since 1999 he has been the chief executive and the chief oenologist at Schloss Vollrads.

He has been asked to sit as a wine judge in various international wine competitions, such as:Mundus Vini, German Red Wine Competition (for almost 20 years), the PRO-Riesling, German Spätlese Competition, also in Austria, Switzerland, South-Africa (Veritas 2008), Japan, UK and the USA.

He is not only a member of the Scientific Board of Geisenheim University, also a member of several Advisory Boards on viticultural and oenological matters, as well as a member of the VDP.  Through these extensive visits to various countries he has built up knowledge, not only of  international viticulture and oenology, but also of the international wine markets, wine marketing and wine business management.

Prof. Bruce W. Zoecklein

Dr. Zoecklein is Professor, Head of the Wine/Oenology Department, and an internationally renowned Oenology specialist at the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, working in a research, extension and teaching capacity.

He previously worked in the California wine industry, and taught Oenology at California State University-Fresno, as well as at the University of Missouri, Columbia, MO., prior to taking up his current professorship in 1985.

His education includes degrees in Microbiology/Biochemistry, Horticulture and he holds a Ph.D. in Food Science. He conducts research, extension, classroom and graduate student education.

He is a member of the Editorial Board of the “Journal of Food Composition and Analysis”, the “Journal of the American Society for Oenology and Viticulture” the  “Australian Journal of Grape and Wine Research”, and “Practical Winery and Vineyard”.

Dr Zoecklein is also the regional coordinator for AVERN (American Viticulture and Oenology Research Network).

His research efforts involve the effects of vineyard management and processing on grape aroma and flavour precursors, secondary plant metabolites and phenol compounds.

In addition he has held numerous international lectures and written various leading text books and wine trade papers- - and has travelled and researched in China, he is well-acquainted with the Chinese wine industry, viticulture and oenological practices.

He is a director of the American Society for Oenology and Viticulture–Eastern Section where he has served as a regional meeting, publicity and nominations chairman.

Prof Zoecklein will bring international standing, experience and a scientific rigour to the courses on which he advises and consults on.

 

David Bird MW
David Bird trained is a Master of Wine and an analytical chemist who originally entered the food manufacturing business as an analyst. Even though he had fostered a growing passion for wine through the years, he moved into the wine trade in 1973 almost by chance. 1981 was his vintage year, becoming a Master of Wine and a Chartered Chemist.

David Bird has been involved with wine activities and education in France, Italy, Sweden, Spain, Portugal, Hungary, Denmark, Finland, Norway, the Netherlands, Ukraine, Moldova, Russia, Algeria, Australia, Ireland and England and he furthermore specializes in quality assurance techniques and hazard analysis.

The Wine and Spirits Education Trust and Master of Wine Examination’s preferred wine-science primer Understanding Wine Technology: The Science of Wine Explained, is written by David Bird. It deciphers all the new scientific advances that have cropped up in the last several years, and gives wine-science illiterates the freedom to breath easier. Mr Bird touches on just about everything in the field, from recent innovations in biodynamic viticulture to new laws and regulations, and in his typically clear and plainspoken style that renders even the densest subject matter freshman-friendly.

A small segment of his vast experience:

• As the head of Quality Assurance (Grants of St James's) he headed up a department of 12 people, whose overall task was assuring and controlling the quality of bulk wine, purchased from all the major wine producing areas of the world, shipping it in bulk to the UK and packing it in bottles and bag-in-box, for distribution to wholesale and retail outlets throughout the UK.  Closely involved in the building of new bottling lines for filling wine bottles, and in the choice and installation of £2M project for the filling of bag-in-box using the form-fill-seal technique.
• He formed his own quality assurance business offering advice and technical consultancy to the wine trade and other industries. Work in the wine trade involved visits to France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Hungary, Ukraine and Algeria, carrying out quality audits, wine tastings, wine selection and quality improvement programmes.  A considerable amount of time has been spent in Algeria, trying to source and improve the quality of the wines.
• In the UK and abroad quality audits are carried out on wineries, bottling installations, packaging manufacturers and ingredients suppliers.
• Audits have been carried out on behalf of Allied Domecq, The Wine Society, Waverley Wines & Spirits, International Wine Services, Uneco (Finland), Vineval (France) etc.
• Technical advice is offered to the Wine & Spirit Association, the Wine Standards Board and to many wine shipping and bottling companies.

Other work, which extends beyond the wine trade, includes the installation and maintenance of ISO 9000 and ISO 22000.

Lecturing on winemaking and other technical aspects of wine are delivered annually as part of the programme of training for the Diploma of the Wine & Spirit Education Trust and the Institute of Masters of Wine.

University of Surrey (Members of the School of Management)

• Prof. David Gilbert
  
  BA (Hons), MA, DipM., PhD., is Professor of Marketing and functional head of marketing at the School of Management, Surrey University.  He has 20 years academic experience and over 8 years' operational marketing experience for the private sector, having worked as a Product Manager and as a Marketing Manager for Rank leisure. Currently he is responsible for all marketing teaching, consultancy research, and academic matters for MSc and MBA courses.
  
  He specialises in the teaching of marketing related to: Relationship Marketing, Consumer Behaviour, Market Research, Research Methods and the functions of Marketing Management. Alongside his academic duties, he has worked with several organisations and consultancies on project work. This is in the field of strategic planning, development, market research and training. Current work has been for British Airways as part of an ongoing large scale marketing training scheme; coaching executives at BP, marketing capability analysis at Wilkinson Sword and CRM schemes for Cable and Wireless. Professor Gilbert also has a wide range of publications including a leading tourism textbook (highest UK sales of any tourism text), and a second edition of a retail marketing textbook (adopted at many different Universities for retail courses). Projects include government funded research to study social impact in a Welsh community; major projects for both Cardiff City Council and Newport Borough Council to develop new tourism products and create a market strategy for the city and its attractions, and strategic planning for the Scottish Tourist Board. He also compiled plans to revitalise tourism in Hungary and has carried out extensive work in Bulgaria. He was the research director of the Thomas Cook Research Centre at the University of Surrey and has in-depth knowledge of the service industry. 
  
  He has organised and run courses in marketing in the UK, America, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Greece, Hong Kong, Macau, Mauritius, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Spain, Portugal, Italy and Southern Ireland and given papers at conferences both in the UK and overseas.  David also runs specialist seminars at Cass Business School in relationship Marketing.
  
  
• Michael Howley
  
  Is currently a Lecturer at the School of Management, University of Surrey. He teaches Market Research, Marketing Management and Business Policy.
  Having been awarded various degrees and before accepting his current position at the University of Surrey, he acquired substantial experience in marketing and hospitality-related positions, some of which are:
  
  Development Manager for Courage (Central) Ltd
  Product Manager, Percy Fox & Co Ltd
  Product Development Manager for Saccone & Speed Ltd
  Agency Executive for Saccone & Speed Ltd
  International Journal of Wine Marketing
  
  Teaching:
  For some years responsible for all undergraduate Marketing teaching on the School’s degree courses. The subjects taught have been: Introduction to Marketing, Marketing Management, Market Research,Various service teaching courses on Marketing Management to Science and Engineering Departments.
  
  Consultancies:
  Major consultancy projects have been carried out for:
  
  Grants of St James’s
  The then wine and spirit division of Allied Breweries on employee attitudes to quality.
  
  The Prospect Group
  An association of British companies offering specialist new product  development consultancy on marketing consultancy services.
  
  Sunflora Ltd
  A Guernsey-based flower and plant wholesaling company on developing sales direct to the consumer.
  
  Arranged the 1st European Wine Tourism Conference, held at the University of Surrey in September.  This was the first conference on Wine Tourism to be held outside Australia.  (Organised jointly with Professor Dick Butler.)
  
• 
  Jetske van Westering
  
  Is a Lecturer in Hospitality Management, School of Management, University of Surrey (US), and her duties include: Module Convenor for Introduction to Hospitality Management, Hospitality Operations Management, Food Commodities and Gastronomy (UG) ,Professional Training Tutor, External Examiner for Bournemouth University, School of Services Management
  
  Experience:
  She studied at the University of Groningen in the Netherlands and after receiving various certificates and diplomas in the hospitality, food and wine studies managed and owned various restaurants in the Netherlands.
  
  She has also acted as the External Examiner for Plumpton College, on Viticulture courses.
  
  Consultancy:
  Participation in several consultancy projects in the US Management School, such as:
  IFAP, Best Practice in Hospitality and Leisure SME’s (DTI)
  Management Decision making (HCIMA)
  The Multiplier Effect of Tourism in Scotland
  
  And as an independent consultant: Management courses for the Sheraton Hotel, Beijing, English language provision for foreign employees (Surrey), Services to various restaurants in the Netherlands with regards to food and wine pairings.
  
  Research interests
  Food and Wine in the Tourism product
  Gastronomy in Hospitality Operations
  

Dr Phil Bretherton

As with all successful Marketing professionals Dr Bretherton has more than just academic experience, having been involved in the business world at a very high level (see below), in the UK and New Zealand. He holds a Doctorate in Marketing Strategy and is currently the Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Arts, Humanities & Education, and before that was Head of the School of Marketing and Tourism, at Central Queensland University.

He is a member of: UK Chartered Institute of Marketing (Fellow),Academy of Marketing Science (Fellow), Australia and New Zealand Academy of Management

As a Marketing specialist he has taught the following courses to undergraduates and post-graduates: Marketing, Services Marketing, Promotions Management, Entrepreneurial Marketing, International Marketing and Strategic Management. Dr Bretherton has also been involved in off-shore workshops in support of MBA programs in Singapore and Hong Kong as well as delivering video-conference workshops to under-graduate students on these campuses.

Due to the high level of his research he has received the following international awards:

• Academy of Marketing Conference, Dublin, July, 2005, award for best paper in the Teaching and Learning Track
• Faculty nominee for the Vice Chancellor’s Emerging Researcher Award, 2005
• Winner of the Faculty Emerging Researcher of the Year Award, 2004
  
  The following are his main Research and Consultancy Interests:Value/supply chain management, Sustainable competitive advantage and strategy, Agri-business and the wine industry, Strategic alliances and collaboration
  
  Business Experience:
  Dr Bretherton has held the following business positions: BASF (UK) PLC - Marketing Director, recording products division, Rhone Poulenc (UK) Ltd - General Manager,UNITEC, New Zealand - Head of the School of Applied Management, Data Memories Ltd - CEO.
  
  In addition to national impact his research has been recognized internationally in a variety of ways, having published with a number of overseas academics.
  
  Dr Bretherton is currently carrying out research for the Hunter Valley Vineyard Association regarding the changing environment for Hunter Valley wine and wine tourism and its impact on regional development. This work has received sufficient recognition that he was invited to appear on Channel 9’s Business Sunday Program to discuss it.

Peter Gebler CWM
This Cape Wine Master is based near Koblenz, Germany where he is a lecturer for the German Wine School. He has been operating as a specialist New World wine distribution business since 1991.

Peter Gebler was originally trained and practised as a marketing and sales specialist in the pharmaceutical business before the proverbial wine bug bit him and he completed both the KWV and Cape Wine Academy diplomas, then moved on to become one of only 50 Cape Wine Masters. He was also, for many years, involved in the wine marketing and export activities of one of the Cape’s foremost wine houses: Neethlingshof/Stellenzicht. Here he applied his vast international commercial & marketing experience to the world of wine, including setting up a subsidiary in the USA.

He is currently (non-actively) pursuing the last part of his MW exams.

Peter Gebler is now active as a wine educator, consultant, translator/interpreter, sometime journalist and specialist importer in the Koblenz area. He has been a regular lecturer at the German Wine School for a number of years, also tutoring and lecturing visiting students from the prestigious American Johnson & Wales University. He also lectures at the Swiss Sommelier School in Zurich/Switzerland, and at the Austrian Wine Academy, as well as at various venues on behalf of WOSA, the South African wine exporters association, and the Cape Wine Academy.

He regularly contributes to international wine magazines (in English & German), consults to various wineries in researching the suitability of their products for the European market, provides specialist translation services to international clients, is a regular wine judge, e.g. at the Wine Fair in Orange on the southern Rhône and on various magazine panels, is currently advising a South African wine investment fund on their purchases for clients, and is also the Regional Director (Germany) of the European Wine Academy.

In his spare time, Peter enjoys travelling to new wine regions, reading, photography, classical music and ten-pin bowling.

 

Derek D Koch

Has wide experience in the wine industry, with a family wine farm background. His first proffessional experience was as a wine exporter, and subsequently as an importer.He owned and managed a boutique retail wine outlet in Europe and teaches and writes on wine subjects, holds tutored wine tastings and is a judge for the “Concours Mondiale du Vin Bruxelles” as well as the prestigious ‘International Wine & Spirits Competition’ of the UK - and holds the following wine and educational qualifications:

 

• France
  Sommelier-Conseil of the Université du Vin, Suze-la-Rousse
  
• United States
  Introduction to Winemaking of the University of California, Davis
  Certificate in Distance Education of the University of Wisconsin-Madison
  
• United Kingdom
  Diploma in Wine & Spirits, of the Wine and Spirits Trust, London,(currently completing the WSET’s Honours Diploma, to be followed by Master of Wines.
  
• Austria-Germany
  Awarded the prestigious ‘Weinakademiker’ title by the Austrian Weinakademie.
  
• Belgium
  World Wine Master of the Contemporary Flemish Wine Institute
  Sommelier-Conseil of the Flemish Wine Academy
  
• South Africa
  Certificate in Wines of the Cape Wine Academy
  Bachelor of Law (B.Iur) UP

He is a former lawyer, and his other wine experience consists of an interest in a family wine farm, operating 2 Wine Restaurants, giving wine-related talks on radio, and setting up and operating a Wine Club.

Daniel V. Ramos Esteban
This young Spanish-Australian oenologist grew up in Australian and then acquired a degree in viticulture & winemaking at the University College of Madrid in 1998. He therefore has a New World and Old World perspective.

He obtained his initial winemaking experience at the Wine Cooperative of Aibar in Spain before taking up duties as the oenologist at Puente San Marcos, S.A.
Mr Ramos then became the head of viticulture & oenology at San Martín, S.L before accepting his current appointment as the Technical Director of Trujillo, S.L. where he has overall management duties involving all operational aspects of a winery.

He has done the following courses in addition to his winemaking degree:

• “Intermediate Certificate in Wines & Spirits” Wine and Spirit Education Trust- 2005
• “Management of pH" 2005 Foundation for Wine Culture- Madrid
• "Specialization in Tasting Tempranillo Wine" 2003 U.E.C. (Spanish Union of Tasters).
• "Enología & Cata" 2000 IMAF (Institute of Education) CAM.
• "New Techniques of Vineyard Plantation" 1999 ASAJA Madrid (Association of Young Agriculturists).
• "Technical Ground Conservation" 1999
• "Grape growing" 1998 Agricultural College of Villaviciosa de Odón.
• "Management of Agricultural Operations" -1998 Educational Institute San Martín de Valdeiglesias.
  

He regularly attends wine tasting seminars and has been a judge at the Concours Mondial de Bruxelles.

Clive Torr
Is a professional winemaker who makes wine at his domain in Beaune, Burgundy, and also produces hand-crafted garagiste wines in the Cape. In addition he has been involved in wine education for many years, culminating in his appointment as the Principal of the Cape Wine Academy, until recently, when he returned to full time winemaking and wine education activities.

Clive Torr studied Pomology at Stellenbosch University and journeyed to the United States to gain some international experience.  Here, he fell in love with the wine lands of California, Oregon and Washington State. He became involved in winemaking in all three states and did Wine Marketing for Groezingers Wine Merchants in California. A chance meeting with Robert Mondavi in the Napa Valley inspired him to return to South Africa to study viticulture and winemaking at the famous Elsenburg Oenological College, of the University of Stellenbosch.

He commenced his professional winemaking career at Villiera, where he also started his Cape Wine Academy studies which led to him being made a Cape Wine Master in 1994. In order to expand his commercial experience he then took up the post of PR Manager of Nederburg Wines, one of the most famous wine houses in SA, eventually becoming Market Development manager for the Distell group, before being asked to become the Principal of the Cape Wine Academy in 2003.

He then founded his own garagiste wine business, Topaz Wine and for some years now he has also been making wine at his boutique wine farm, Domaine De Clivet, in Beaune, France. He has particular passion for Pinot Noir. He therefore has experience in both the Old and New World wine regions.

He has also done the University of Adelaide Wine Marketing course at the UCT Business School as well as short courses on branding and public relations.

He has done wine judging at quite a high level:

Veritas Awards Judge

Diners Club Wine List of the year Judge

John Platter Wine Guide Taster

Wine Magazine Tasting panellist

Grape Works Tasting panellist

Clive Torr therefore brings a mix of academic & international winemaking experience, educational, marketing, wine tasting and commercial expertise to the courses he advises on.

Stefaan Van den Abeele

Is a well-known wine educator and judge, experienced restaurateur and part-owner of a wine gourmet store.
Initially, he followed legal and business training, and also did management courses, both in Belgium and in London, where he studied at the London School of Foreign Trade.

He first did a SOPEXA wine course and then completed the three-year Sommelier-Conseil of the Université du Vin, Suze-la-Rousse, in France. He has considerable restaurant and wine experience, dating back to 1989. 
As part of his restaurant training he worked in the following restaurants in France: Georges Blanc”, Vonnas, “La Côte St-Jacques”, Joigny, “Le St-Pierre”, La Bouille. For more than 17 years he directed his family-owned restaurant, one of the most successful ones in Belgium, and also manages a large wine & gourmet shop.

He is actively involved in international wine and hospitality judging duties, as well as the management of a wine club. 
His wide experience in wine, and the hospitality industry, as well as a fluency in four European languages, enables him to make a valuable contribution to our different teaching programs.

Herman Troch
Teaches oenology and viticulture at the Flemish Wine Academy, and is a professional winemaker, owning and operating a boutique winery and vineyard which has been producing both red and white wines since 1997.

He has completed the following wine, viticulture and oenology courses:

• Oenological technology at Elishout-Coovi
• Sommelier-Conseil of the Université du Vin, Suze-la-Rousse
• Ecological viticulture and oenology at Altenkirchen, Germany
• Wine Analysis HBLA at Klosterneuburg, Austria
• In addition, he is a professionally qualified teacher

With this unique blend of practical viticultural and wine making experience as well as teaching experience, he is well positioned to assist students.

Pedro Ballesteros Torres MW

Pedro's passion for wine was first woken whilst studying agronomical engineering in Spain, when he volunteered for a course on viticulture in the Sherry area. After having graduated as an Engineer in Food & Beverages, he followed his passion and obtained a Masters in Viticulture and Oenology at the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, and thereafter continued his wine studies on Rioja, Burgundy and Bordeaux (receiving a special commendation for his thesis on vine Virosis and on membrane filtration). After working for some time in the wine and brandy making industry in Jerez, he then decided to change his professional activities and is at present involved in the European Commission.

Pedro has endeavoured to become experienced in most fields related to wine. He has been broadening his scientific and technical background with extensive practice in wine tasting: for instance, as a judge at the International Wine Challenge in London, for the last six years. He is also a member of the Spanish Wine Tasters Union, has acted as president at the Challenge International du Vin at Bourg, Bordeaux, and performs regularly in a variety of tastings in Belgium, France and Italy.       
He has also written a number of wine articles in Spanish, French, English and Italian for general press and newsletters.

His latest challenge is to become fully acquainted with the wine trade mechanisms; and consequently obtained the Diploma of the Wine and Spirit Education Trust in 2006 and became a Master of Wine in 2010.