Staff

Chris escaped the hotel business in 2001 to live in Australia, where he gained wine experience in the Hunter Valley before heading back to Europe for a Wine MBA. After managing the company and being sole buyer for ten years he bought the company from Andrew, its founder, in October 2020. His deep fondness for the wines of Portugal, Austria, and the USA explains the focus Bottle Apostle has in these countries.

Ros started working with wine because she wanted to be around cheerful people and decided that most people are in a pretty good mood when they are buying wine. She started off at Majestic for 6 years where she did her WSET Advanced and developed her passion for wine. Since joining Bottle Apostle her interest in Portuguese wines has grown and grown alongside her fondness of craft beer.  

While seeking work experience, George had the opportunity to spend a week working in Tain l'Hermitage. After a few years at uni studying physics, he decided that he would much rather be spending his time with wine so after some time bartending and working in restaurants he joined Bottle Apostle. Wine favourites are northern Rhone, cool climate Pinot Noir and pretty much anything Sicilian.

Cedric has joined us after 10 years in the wine trade and with a WSET Diploma. Having always had a love of cooking and good food, wine became a passion once he realised Coca Cola wasn’t a grown up beverage to accompany good food. His favourite wines are from Champagne and pretty much anything from Australia and Germany.
 

Iryna moved to London in 2019, leaving her successful model management company to follow her true passion in wine and her even truer passion…. CHAMPAGNE!! She passed her WSET level 2 and level 3 courses with distinction and there are no bounds to her vinous curiosity. Iryna enjoys organising events and introducing new wines to her friends and customers of the shop.

Bryan has been working within the wine and spirits world for over 10 years, climbing the ladder from retail manager to wine, spirit and cigar buyer for a fashionable luxury retailer. He spent half a decade working as a chef before that in some of London’s most loved restaurants such as The Ivy West Street, Maze and Petrus. He is a lover of all things wine and food, and a keen musician, being able to multiple instruments. He is always happy to discuss food and wine pairings, spirits and cigar matches, as well as theory and tasting techniques for those who wish to learn a little bit more. He holds the WSET Diploma and Sake Level 3 awards and can usually be found somewhere in London enjoying a dry martini or a Jamaican Mai Tai.

Janelle fell in love with wine after living next to an independent bottle shop for years in New York City. She went on to pursue her WSET Level 2 in Napa, CA, and her WSET Level 3 in Singapore. After a career as a professional poet and English teacher, she moved to London to pursue her love for wine. In wine, she loves Pinot Noir from the Willamette Valley, Georgian and Greek wines, orange wines, and pet-nats. When not in the shop, she loves shoegaze music and exploring London’s DIY music scene.

Angelo made the leap as an investment advisor in Montreal, Canada to a new adventure in London's wine scene. With a 5-year stint in finance, he's now navigating the intricate world of wines, bringing a global perspective to the table. He has a soft spot for wines with unique aromas, and the appeal grows if there's a subtle hint of coffee on the nose. His change is about savoring life's moments, appreciating the artistry in every bottle, and creating memorable experiences. Here's to embracing new beginnings, cherishing the aromatic symphony of wines, and toasting to a journey filled with discovery and celebration.

Mignon fell in love with wines and sakes when she worked as a marketer in Hong Kong, having had a chance to create content for an established wine company at a digital marketing agency. It was definitely eye-opening, and she felt determined to venture out into the world of wines more. She has recently passed WSET Level 3 exam and found out her favourites are German Riesling, Eiswein and Pinot Noirs from Burgundy, California & Germany. Apart from wine, she also loves books, baking, music, corgis and Leonardo DiCaprio!

Diyer moved from Madrid to London in 2013 starting as a bartender and mixologist at Ronnie's Jazz Club. While working alongside the beverage manager, he developed a strong interest in wines eventually studying with The Italian Sommelier Association. After gaining experience at Hambleton Hotel, he began working as a sommelier at various restaurants including Pied a'Terre, The Ritz restaurant, Murano's and Lisboeta as beverage manager. He thoroughly enjoys creating cocktails, with an appreciation for the Rhône Valley, and possesses extensive knowledge of Portuguese and Spanish wines. 

Matthew has had a career in wine retail and wine investment which included writing articles on the subject while living in Australia. Some of his favourite wine regions include Piedmont (particularly Barbaresco) and the Barossa Valley/McLaren Vale for Shiraz and Cabernet. His seminal wine was a Gigondas - Domaine Raspail-Ay, which he tasted at university, and obviously stocked in our shops.

Forever following his passions, Steve joined Bottle Apostle in 2023 with a view to learn as much about wine as humanly possible whilst balancing an established career in the music industry. You can find Steve in Crouch End, and occasionally Primrose Hill, extolling the virtues of salty mediterranean whites, light-bodied chillable reds and, of course, the latest alternative & post-punk releases. Come in for a chat with him about your favourite music & wine pairings.

Kieron always loved wine but came late to learning and selling it after a career in advertising while drinking it. About 8 years ago he made amends by working through WSET courses progressing to level 3 and then joined Bottle Apostle. He relishes the challenge of helping customers find just the right bottle - whether it be a food pairing, special occasion, a present, or just an end of the week wind down. His personal favourites tend to come from California and Italy, but he's always on the hunt for great finds wherever they are. 

Jackson joined Bottle Apostle in 2024, bringing a deep passion for wine and a wealth of experience. He enjoys sharing stories from his hands-on work in Tuscany’s vineyards and discussing the latest wine trends. Whether recommending a bottle or offering advice, He is dedicated to making the shopping experience both enjoyable and informative. In his free time, he enjoys reading to learn more about global wine varieties and production techniques, with a special passion for Italian wines. Jackson also loves cooking and exploring how different wines can enhance a meal. He looks forward to helping customers discover their next favorite wine!

Christian grew up in the Thermenregion, a beautiful wine region just south of Vienna, picking grapes as a teenager to top up his pocket money. Many decades later, having gained experience selecting and importing wine from Austria for the restaurant trade in the UK, Christian joined Bottle Apostle while pursuing the wine diploma at the WSET. Based mainly in Crouch End and Primrose Hill, he will tell you about his passion for Riesling, fruity reds and dessert wines – and not necessarily all from Austria! His long term dream is to own a vineyard in Greece.

Nene is an actress and former professional contemporary dancer with a passion for wine and hospitality. Drawing on her artistic background, Nene brings a sense of creativity and attention to detail to every gathering she hosts. Her interest in wine grew from a genuine curiosity and a desire to create richer, more engaging experiences for her guests especially through a Supper Club she runs jointly with her husband. Whether she's hosting a dinner party or sharing a bottle with friends, Nene’s focus is always on fostering connection and enjoying the pleasures of good food, drink, and conversation.

Originally from Belfast, Ray moved to London in 1979. He holds a BA Architecture, lived a previous life as a band roadie and is married with two daughters. Being no stranger to the road, Ray now commands the Bottle Apostle van distributing our wonderful wines to restaurants and your front door. He drives London's streets like he owns them - what a boss! He also claims he has no wine knowledge, but we've noticed the man has a soft spot for Barolo, so he can't be too far off.

Bob visits us from Sheffield (yes Sheffield) once a week to balance the books. He's personally responsible for keeping the local kebab shop in business!