Are you looking for impartial advice and support to navigate the next steps for your career in wine?

2025 marked ten years of Women in Wine LDN. To mark this milestone, we launched our first mentorship programme. Our next one looks to be bigger and better, thanks to generous support from the Gérard Basset Foundation and Noughty Drinks. Applications are open until 30th November 2026.

apply here

Who can apply?

This programme is open to anyone from a background that is underrepresented in the wine industry. We welcome applicants working in hospitality, production, sales, marketing, education, customer service and beyond. It’s suited to those who are looking to get practical and specific career guidance over the medium term (6 months). The scheme is not open to anyone based outside the UK.

We have a range of fantastic mentors from mid level to super senior - therefore this programme is open to those just starting out, up to those working at the upper-mid level. You’ll be matched according to your current position, and can specify further requests in the application form.

What can I expect from my mentor?

Mentors have been asked to meet with their mentee remotely or in person, a minimum of 3 times over a 6 month period, starting January 2027. Matches will be made according to your application. Once matched, it is for mentees to initiate contact, establish the goals they would like support with and for mentees and mentors to discuss together what is manageable and achievable.

What is required from me as a mentee?

We are delighted to have selected wine industry mentors who are at the top of their game. In order to get the most out of the programme (and their precious time!) mentees are expected to have a proactive mindset, happy to reach out and handle the logistics of your mentor meet-ups. Mentees are also expected to have an updated CV and have given prior thought to what they would like support with. Mentees will get out what they put in!

Providing as much detail as possible in your application form is a great start! We make all the matches by hand so really value human input in your application. AI-generated applications will be disregarded. Let us hear from the real you!

I don’t work in the wine industry. Can I still apply?

We want to prioritise those currently earning a living in the wine industry, which absolutely includes those who have just started out. If you are seriously thinking about transitioning into wine but have not made the leap yet, please email us at hello@womeninwine.co.uk with some information about your current circumstances and any further detail you can provide to show you are seriously looking to move into the wine industry.

I’d like to become a mentor. Can I register interest?

Absolutely! The more mentors we have, the more mentees we can support. If you are interested in becoming a mentor, please email hello@womeninwine.co.uk and we can send further details.

Apply here

2027 Mentors

I like to help people. I am curious about their motivations and beliefs and how they can develop and progress to fulfil their ambition. This led me to train as a coach. It's really helpful - especially with teenage kids :) I'm passionate about culture and inclusion. I love travel and dogs! My experience is in medium to large organisations. I started my career in finance in FMCG before moving into Consultancy and then Wine. Most recently at WSET as CEO.

Michelle Brampton

CEO, WSET

Originally from the San Francisco Bay Area, Regine joined the wine trade in 2010 after working in management consulting. She is currently the Managing Director of UK-based importer, Indigo Wine. She previously worked at the Wine & Spirit Education Trust focussing on their Asia markets, and at wine importer Liberty Wines in several management roles. She has experience in: commercial strategy, operations, change management, sales, training/education, and buying. In addition to her work, she did a vintage at Jordan Wine Estate in Stellenbosch and founded Women in Wine London in 2015, a trade networking group. In 2018, she became a Master of Wine. She has been recognised as an IWSC/WSET’s Future 50 Award Winner and a nominee for WSET’s Outstanding Alumni Award. Regine is also a Freeman of the Vintners’ Company, and a Trustee of the Wine & Spirit Education Trust.

Regine Lee MW

Managing Director, Indigo Wine

I’ve had the pleasure of working in the wine trade for over ten years, starting as a sommelier (The 10 Cases, Trinity Restaurant, Kerridge's Bar & Grill), before moving into trade sales (Roberson Wine) and e-commerce management (Roberson Wine, The Sourcing Table). Along the way, I learned from some of the best in the business, not just regarding my wine knowledge, but also in how to communicate that knowledge to a wider audience. Now, as the Communications Lead at Liberty Wines, I work with almost every department in the business to share our amazing producers' stories in a way that does them justice while remaining commercially relevant. My skill set includes social media and press management, business communication strategy, copywriting, website management and SEO, wine journalism and email marketing. If any of these areas are of interest to you, I would be thrilled to help you develop through this mentoring scheme.

ellen doggett

Communications Lead, Liberty Wines

Born and raised in India, Shivani is Awards Manager at Decanter, where she manages the Decanter World Wine Awards, the world's largest wine competition, and oversees its 300-strong global judging panel. After an MSc in Wine Management at the Burgundy School of Business, Shivani moved to London in 2016, where she earned her WSET Diploma. She is now a Master of Wine Stage One candidate. She is dipping her toes into wine writing alongside her full-time role and sits on the Drinks United Advisory Council, which works towards an inclusive UK drinks industry. Burgundy holds a special place in her heart; Champagne is her go-to bottle.

Shivani Tomar

Awards Manager, Decanter

Anoushica launched Sweet Spice in 2019 to celebrate Black and Global Majority wine talent. Often being the only POC in many wine spaces motivated her to address the lack of POC representation in the wine world. Anoushica realised her passion for wine while working at The River Café. She then spent 11 years at Liberty Wines, starting as their 2014 apprentice where she worked in many areas of the company, worked a vintage and completed the WSET diploma. She then went on to work in the Sales team and completed her Spanish Wine Scholar before managing a team within London Sales. She recently decided to follow her passion of championing POC wine professionals by joining MJ Wine Cellars, the only Black-owned wine importer in the UK who lists the largest portfolio of excellent Black-owned wines. She is their Trade Sales Manager.

Anoushica MAtthews

Founder, Sweet Spice

Hannah began her career in the wine trade in 2011 at Atlas Fine Wines. She was responsible for marketing and events, with a particular focus on working with private clients to build collections for both enjoyment and long-term investment. During her time at Atlas, she completed the WSET Diploma.
In 2019, Hannah joined Bancroft Wines as Head of Marketing. There, she oversees a comprehensive marketing and events programme across a portfolio of nearly 200 producers represented.

She is also a founding member of Women in Wine London, a network created to support, connect, and empower women across all areas of the wine industry — an initiative she considers one of her proudest professional achievements.

hannah van susteren

Head of Events, 67 Pall Mall

I studied Italian at university and fell in love with the good things in life during my year abroad in Verona. After a three year stint working in the City, I saw the light and started my career in wine. I have done various Brand Management and Buying roles at Liberty Wines since 2014, and completed the WSET diploma in 2017. As Portfolio Director I manage a great team of Buyers and Brand Managers, and together we look after our many producers from around the world. I collaborate with different teams across the business, including Sales, Marketing, Events and Supply Planning. I’m also a mum to two girls.

Lucy Perbellini

Director of Portfolio, Liberty Wines

Clare began her wine career in 2006, working at Bibendum Wines as an On-Trade support manager. During her time with Bibendum, they kindly sponsored her WSET qualifications up to Diploma level and before long, Clare had well and truly caught the wine bug.
While on holiday in California, a visit to Calera Winery inspired Clare to enrol at Plumpton College (immediately after getting back!) to study a BSc in Viticulture and Oenology. This is where she met her future lifelong friend and business partner, Luke Wolfe. She has since worked many harvests at UK wineries as well as returning to Calera in 2011 for vintage. Today, Clare juggles Whitewolfe with an award-winning career in wine education at Liberty Wines, where she does her best to ensure her students catch the wine bug, too!

clare whitehead

Head of Education, Liberty Wines

Originally from San Francisco, Ousi’s career began in startups, though after two Californian harvests and courses in viticulture and enology, she followed her passion into wine. She worked for six years at the US-based retailer Flatiron Wines as Head of Marketing and Champagne Buyer before joining Lay & Wheeler in the UK in 2022 where she held positions as Head of Client Analytics followed by Head of Merchandising and Customer Experience (mat leave commencing May 2025). Ousi also holds a MSc from the London School of Economics and a B.A. from Wellesley College. She received her WSET Diploma in 2019 and is currently a Stage 2 MW student.

Ousi Li

Head of Merchandising & Customer Experience, Lay & Wheeler

International marketing & sales professional and wine expert with 15 years of experience in working for global brands in the drinks industry.

Great knowledge of the UK wine business through current job as Head of Wines at Moët Hennessy and previous Head of Trade Marketing role at premium wine distributor Berkmann Wine Cellars.

Excellent wine credentials thanks to WSET Diploma qualification, Master of Wine studies (Stage 2) and freelance positions in wine education.

Empathetic leader with can-do attitude and entrepreneurial flair, who loves coaching young talent.

Claudia Bastiaensen

Head of Wines, Moët Hennessy UK

Having grown up in Amsterdam, I read Theology at Oxford University. A sip of 1982 Petrus in 2004 was an epiphany that changed my career and I joined the wine trade in 2006 with Majestic Wine, before moving to Berry Bros. & Rudd in 2008, where I completed my WSET Diploma with distinction. It was at BBR that I found a passion for Burgundy, which I have pursued ever since. After spending 9 years in the Fine Wine teams of Berry Bros. & Rudd and Corney & Barrow I became co-head of Flint's private client team in 2018. My interest is to pursue sales through education and build long term relationships.

Sara Guiducci

Head of Client Acquisition, Flint Wines

Luma Monteiro

Davy's Wine Merchants

Julia started her wine career at Majestic Wine in 2009. She spent five years building up her wine experience and qualifications, gaining her Diploma with the Codorniu Scholarship. From there she started out as independent educator and business owner, starting and growing South London Wine School five years, before moving on to join WSET as an educator. Since then she has embarked on the Master of Wine program, and has passed the Stage 2 exams and is currently working on her research for Stage 3. She is now Head of Educator Training at WSET, overseeing the planning and delivery of educator training courses around the world.

Julia Lambeth

Head of Educator Training, WSET

Following her keen interest in wine, Sarah joined the Institute of Masters of Wine (IMW) in 2020, where she oversaw the delivery of the prestigious Master of Wine study programme and examination. In October 2025, she was appointed Executive Director of the IMW and is responsible for driving the strategic vision of the Institute and its members. Prior to this, Sarah has a range of experience in the design and delivery of education programmes and working within membership organisations, most recently as Head of Learning Design and Accreditation at the Chartered College of Teaching.

Sarah Harrison

Executive Director, Institute of Masters of Wine

Ian studied languages at London University after attending Dulwich College. He began his career in the wine trade at Waverley Vintners before joining Seagram in 1987, where he held roles in sales, marketing and global brand management, finishing as Marketing and Commercial Director of Seagram UK. From 2002 to 2022 he was Chief Executive of the Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET), overseeing its growth into a global leader in drinks education and receiving an MBE for Services to the Wine and Spirits Industry. Since 2022, Ian has taken on a range of charitable and consultancy roles, including serving as Chairman, Trustee and Patron of several organisations.

Ian Harris

Upper Warden, The Vintners Company

With over 20 years of experience selling wine across the UK, I know firsthand that our industry is navigating unprecedented times. Now more than ever, we need to support one another through these shared challenges. I am here to offer guidance, mentorship, and a listening ear on everything from boosting sales and navigating a wine career to balancing motherhood and aging gracefully in this wonderful industry. I look forward to sharing my wine tribulations, insights, and lessons learned along the way.

Françoise Mathis

Trade Sales, Flint Wines

Lulie is a globally recognised leader in wine and spirits business strategy.
As founder and CEO of Wine Intelligence for 20 years, she helped reshape how the drinks industry understands and connects with consumers, using data-led insights to drive growth and innovation. After a successful private equity–backed exit, Wine Intelligence joined the IWSR Group, where Lulie served as a Non-Executive Director.
She is a Trustee of WSET and board member of Drinks United, supporting DEI in the UK drinks industry. In 2021, she established a vineyard in the UK and has been teaching strategy and marketing on wine business master’s programmes globally for more than 20 years. Lulie now invests in wine, drinks, and hospitality businesses, advising founders and leadership teams on scaling and preparing for exit. She co-hosts the podcast A Question of Drinks, exploring trends and stories that have shaped the drinks industry and is now Chair of The Heart Cut Whisky.

Lulie Halstead

Intellima

Graduating from Plumpton College in 2006 I built my winemaking reputation as Head Winemaker at Hattingley Valley. I left in 2022 and now work for numerous clients as a Consultant Winemaker.

Known for my sparkling wines (inspired, aged 19, by a taste of Krug 1979) I have twice won UK Winemaker of the Year, in 2014 and 2016, among many international awards. I have been involved with WineGB for many years and was appointed to the Board in 2023.

In a previous life I was Editor of Hugh Johnson’s Pocket Wine Book and contributed to several editions of the World Atlas of Wine, including updating the England & Wales chapter for the upcoming 9th edition. Becoming a Liveryman of the Vintners’ Company in 2022, I now sit on their ED&I Committee. In 2016, working with the Vintners, I introduced the first Winemaking Apprenticeship, training and mentoring the first two graduates through to senior winemaking positions. I am mentoring current 2024/5 recipient at Breaky Bottom Vineyard.

Emma Rice

Consultant Winemaker, Emma Rice Ltd

Beth has over 20 years' experience in the wine trade, with roles at WSET (events), M&S (product development) and Majestic (buying). She is now a Product Development Manager at Tesco. Beth became a Master of Wine in 2020 and is a panel chair at IWC, and a judge at IWSC.