Our Team

I was lucky to spend some time in Paris as a 17-year-old student and following a visit to Sancerre, I decided I would like to work in the wine trade. Thorman Hunt came into being in September 1978. My middle name is Thorman, after my grandfather William Thorman, who played in the first Lions rugby tour of South Africa in 1891 – hence Thorman Hunt!

Some years ago I was both delighted and honoured when the French Ambassador to London kissed me on both cheeks as I was awarded a ‘Chevalier dans l’ordre du Merite Agricole’. I regard this as pat on the back for the luck I have had in a job I love, working with fantastic growers and their superb wines.

We are proud to represent such wonderful growers, many of whom we have worked with over three generations. We are also so lucky to have a super talented team, a few of whom have been with Thorman Hunt for almost 30 years. I feel extremely fortunate to have such fantastic friends in the trade and I can only say thank you to all our growers, colleagues and indeed customers. Salut !

A year spent in the Loire Valley in 1974/5 ignited my desire to work in the wine trade. I may well have been one of Thorman Hunt’s first customers in 1978 and have continued to buy wine from the company ever since.

The main part of my early career was in prestige retail, notably Fortnum & Mason and Harrods, before I spent 19 years at Berry Bros. & Rudd, mostly as Wine Director. More recently I took on the challenge of working for a Chinese importer based in Beijing, performing the equivalent of missionary work in introducing the glories of wine to the Chinese consumer.

Accepting the invitation to work as non-Executive Chairman of Thorman Hunt makes me feel that my career has come full circle, and working with artisan, dedicated, quality-minded producers remains immensely fulfilling.

I’ve spent more years than I’d like to admit to myself in the wine trade, but those years have given me immeasurable pleasure and experiences which few other professions can match. I’ve worked in a wide range of sectors, from supermarket, fine wine retail to importer, producer and as head of WineGB.

Joining Thorman Hunt in June this year feels like coming home. There’s an extraordinary closeness to many of our growers and customers which truly sets this business apart. For my part, I love tasting new wines, whether that be from established or emerging wine regions. I have a lot of wine in the TH portfolio still to discover and, from what I have tasted so far, that’s going to be an exciting journey. However, if pushed to pick a favourite from my time so far, I would probably have to be in the Rhone Valley, in Condrieu and with Yves Cuilleron’s Condrieu Lieu Dit Vernon.

After a brief career in banking, I saw the error of my ways and joined the wine trade in 1987 and I have been with Thorman Hunt since 1990.

The years have rolled by, but there are always new cellars to visit, as well as our old, established vigneron friends.

Rather like policemen, my customers seem to get younger every year – but they keep me on my toes!

After a brief stint in the city, I joined Majestic where my education in wine began. I then had a brief work experience with Uncorked, helping them out with the exciting Christmas trade before joining Thorman Hunt.

Since then I have worked both at Bruno Sorg and Mittnacht in Alsace during the harvest. I was also an assistant winemaker at Vieux Telegraphe for the 2012 vintage.

I am really pleased to have now gained my WSET Diploma.

My love for wine began during the third year of my French & Philosophy degree, which was spent in the Loire Valley.

Following my degree, I spent three years on the wine buying team at Fortnum & Mason and then two years specialising in Grande Marque Champagne at Moët Hennessy (LVMH).

I am so happy to be part of the Thorman Hunt team with such an exceptional range of independent, artisanal growers as well as many prestigious properties.

After spending years on the road as a professional musician based in Nashville, I pivoted to the wine and spirits industry full-time and have spent over a decade managing operations at distilleries, distributors, importers, and drinks startups. I relocated to London in 2022, where I’ve been innovating operational processes and technologies for growing wine businesses.

While single malt whiskies were what attracted me to the drinks industry, my love for wine has grown exponentially over the years. Living in the Pacific Northwest after my touring days were over gave me an appreciation for Pinot Noir and Riesling, but recent trips to France ensure I always keep bottles of Cabernet Franc and Crémant close at hand.

I was born in Normandy and raised in Paris. After attending jockey School in France and doing my military service in the Gendarmerie National, I moved to the UK in 2000 and into the wine trade in 2009 at Oddbins. In 2013 I moved to Whole Foods Market and became the Wine Buyer for High Street Kensington one of the most exciting place to be when it comes to retailing wine and beers at that time (I had the pleasure to work with the Thorman Hunt team there). After nearly 10 years in retail I made the move to the other side and worked as Head of Operations for a Burgundy, Rhône and Germany specialist importer.

When I am not working you can see me in my allotment and garden where I cultivate more than 10 types of tomatoes amongst many other vegetables, herbs and fruits.

I joined Thorman Hunt in December 2004 and look after independent retailers all over the country.

Having started in the trade with Oddbins, I then worked in retail for La Reserve in Walton Street before moving into wholesale with Moreno, Wine Cellars and Morris & Verdin.

I joined the Wine Trade in 1980 with Oddbins, which was great fun and then in 1988 joined Bentall’s of Kingston as Wine Buyer where Thorman Hunt was one of my favourite suppliers!

I then became Wine Buyer at Selfridges and in 2007 “swapped sides” to McKinley Vintners where I spent six very enjoyable years before joining the team at Thorman Hunt.

As for my favourite wine; this really depends on the accompanying food, the season and the company but if I was on a desert island and only allowed one bottle it would have to be a good red Burgundy, something which Thorman Hunt does exceedingly well!

My interest in wine evolved along with my European History studies at university and time spent working in restaurants.

It was as a sommelier that I was fortunate enough to transplant myself from California to London and eventually from the restaurant side of hospitality to the wine supplier side of the business. My background has been with Armit Wines and more recently Roberson Wine.

I like working with producers (vignerons) that are able to turn their ideas, history and creativity into a bottle of wine- when I revisited the Thorman Hunt Agency List I was sold at the Table of Contents!

Wine I can’t wait to try: Domaine de la Renardière Savagnin ‘Sous Voile’ or anything Chenin Blanc.

I was delighted to join Thorman Hunt in Spring 2017 having known Jeremy and the team for very many years.

We have a fabulous list of growers’ wines and I am thoroughly enjoying sharing them with many independent merchants and retailers in my patch that covers some of the most beautiful parts of the country.

Following family holidays spent in the Medoc, weekends working in a wine shop when a student in Leeds, and then writing about the wines of Saumur & Anjou as part of my course when living in France, by the time I graduated I knew that I wanted to pursue a career in wine.

Having spent the first 5 years working in the wine trade in London, I then decamped to Lincolnshire to work for Richards Walford, and then subsequently for FM&V. I am now so excited to be joining Thorman Hunt, a wine company that I have always had a huge amount of admiration and respect for, whose portfolio I have always envied from afar.

My desert Island wine – it has to be Le Soula Blanc from the Roussillon, a wine that never ceases to wow me.

A proud Londoner born and bred, I joined Thorman Hunt with the WSET Diploma and 8 years of experience across retail, distribution and trade sales.

When I’m not on the job you’ll find me sailing in the Solent, cooking up a storm or hunting down the UK’s best Yorkshire pud – almost always with a glass of wine in hand!

Previously in the luxury tourism industry, I was lucky enough to attend a wine tour of Porto and the Douro Valley. I was captivated by the industry and signed up to the next available WSET 2 course. Since then, I have gone on to achieve the WSET 3 qualification and a BA 1st class honours degree in International Wine Business. After a brief stint at Wine Cellar Door (an English wine tourism guide), I spent 20 months helping to build the brand of Artelium, a new English wine producer.

I am thrilled to have joined Thorman Hunt with their rich history, exceptional portfolio of wines and outstanding growers.

I grew up in Normandy with a wine merchant dad and I joined Thorman Hunt in 2000.

My favourite drinks are Champagne Veuve Fourny Blanc de Blancs and Montifaud Cognac.

I arrived in London in the Spring of 2012 to get some experience in the UK wine trade and joined the Thorman Hunt team in May that year.

As a Hungarian, I am passionate about Hungarian wine but also love Riesling.

Many years spent holidaying in the French alps could only lead to two things: a love of skiing and French wine.

After a short time in the ski industry, a discovery of English wine revealed an exciting new path for me. Add in some WSET studies and I was hooked on the world of wine. I am currently studying for my WSET diploma.

I am extremely excited to be joining a team with such a wealth of knowledge and experience here at Thorman Hunt.

I am delighted to be part of the Thorman Hunt team, and to have the opportunity to work with such a stunning portfolio.

Previously I worked for several years in logistics and customer service in the London wine trade.

In my free time I like reading, running and going on the occasional horse-riding trip.

After studying English and Mandarin for three years, I became fascinated in how you could create beverages from fruit. I just wanted to know more! So I went to university in France for a further 4 years, obtaining 2 diplomas as a Wine advisor and a degree in International Wine Business.

I moved to London 6 years ago and I have worked mostly in retail. I had been looking for a more challenging role and decided I would like to work for an importer. I am very happy to be joining the Thorman Hunt team and being able to learn even more about the incredible portfolio they have.

My favourite wines are whites from the Loire Valley and Alsace and also wines from Burgundy, South Africa or Northern Italy.

I was delighted to join the Thorman Hunt team in 2016 after many years as a full-time mother and part-time accountant for my local church.

Previously I looked after budgets in a big university so it is nice to be part of a small friendly company.

Before starting at Thorman Hunt, my go-to choice was always fuller-bodied red wine. Since working here, I also now love whites, particularly from Sancerre and Alsace.

I was adopted by the Thorman Hunt family in 2016 from Battersea Dogs and Cats Home. I am a blend of Cavalier King Charles, Poodle and Bichon Frese: “Cava-Poo-Chon”.

I like to look after the team in the office as well as visit accounts when I can be of help.

I have a fantastic nose!