Our team

Our team is made up of friendly people with the knowledge and enthusiasm to champion great wine.

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  Cliff Roberson - Managing Director

  Without Cliff's drive, enthusiasm and work ethic, Roberson Wine would not be where it is today (or, indeed, anywhere at all). Cliff has worked in the wine trade for more years than he cares to remember, founding Roberson Wine in 1991 and his other main business, Buckingham Vintners, in 1974. He remains one of the true characters of the industry.

  If you haven't heard it before, check out Cliff's rap about his life in wine (right click and choose to save it for future listening).

  Desert Island Drink: 1900 Lafite

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  Alex Hurley - Winemaker

  Alex is our in-house winemaker and is involved with everything London Cru. Catch him in the cellar making our wines, at our wine events and running tours and tastings. You may also spot Alex around London hunting interesting wine bars or a delicious plate.

  Desert Island Drink: An Australian classic that started my winemaking journey - Lethbridge Allegra Chardonnay 2010

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  Colin Patch - Operations Executive

  Colin's wine trade journey started in 1989 and having worked for several of the country’s best wine merchants during that time, he is hoping to bring a few of the skills learned over those years and a bit of vinous knowledge to the Operations Department here at Roberson. Outside of work Colin enjoys motorcycling, gardening, entertaining his young son and playing squash to an increasingly average level.

  Desert Island Drink: Brunello di Montalcino or a good G&T

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  Daniela Pimentel - On Trade Support

  Originally from Portugal, Daniela moved to London in 2009, starting off in a career in hospitality. While working the floor of some very busy restaurants, a passion for wine began. She then decided to study WSET up to level 3 and worked as an operations assistant at a group of restaurants, managing their wine lists. However, she still felt the need to get more directly involved with wine and the wine industry. It was then she took up the opportunity to work at Roberson.

  Desert Island Drink: Clare Valley Riesling if it's warm, or any good Douro red if not

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  David Adamick - On-Trade Sales

  David joined Roberson in 2012 and looks after on-trade sales in central and east London. Historian by inclination but salesman by trade, David decided to join the drinks business after a successful career in the paper industry. When he isn't admiring art or swigging from a good bottle of wine you will generally find him playing a guitar from his extensive collection.

  Desert Island Drink: Domaine Wachau Riesling Spatlese 'Achleiten' 1969

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  Françoise Mathis - Head of Trade

  Françoise has worked in the wine industry for the last 22 years across New Zealand, her native France and, for the last 15 years, in London. Apart from selling and drinking wine, Françoise loves to goof around in her kitchen experimenting with weird, at times wonderful concoctions and play kitchen disco DJ late into the night for her friends.

  Desert Island Drink: Craft Gin during the day, an array of tasty Pinots during the night

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  Jack Green - Off-Trade Sales

  Jack has recently given up claiming to be the youngest member of team Roberson. He came to us via a couple of other wine companies and now deals with off-trade sales. His first love is skiing and his second is white Burgundy, although apparently his Mastermind topic of choice would actually be the life and work of Woody Allen.

  Desert Island Drink: Corton Charlemagne by Coche-Dury

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  Jack Pike - Trade Sales Trainee

  Jack’s curiosity for wine was sparked whilst living in Paris on his Erasmus year from university. He soon realised that the wine trade was for him and so he went to South Africa to help make wine during the harvest. Outside of wine, Jack is an avid Chelsea fan, enjoys a gig and would challenge anyone to a game of backgammon.

  Desert Island Drink: Nebbiolo

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  Jacquie Jeffery - PA to Cliff Roberson

  Although Cliff is his own department, that department wouldn't work quite as well without Jacquie as his P.A. In her spare time, Jacquie loves nothing better than sharing her love of fine wine and cooking with friends and family. When she’s not looking after Cliff, you'll find her cooking up a storm in the kitchen, strolling through Richmond Park with her beloved Westie or putting her green fingers to good use in the garden.

  Desert Island Drink: New Zealand Pinot Gris

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  Keith Kirkpatrick - Buyer

  Keith joined Roberson in 2010 and after many years in on-trade sales he is now the agency buyer. Keith has been around wine from an early age when he used to help out in his family's restaurant business in Ireland. His general knowledge is particularly acute, making him a useful man to have on your side at Roberson’s legendary pub quiz nights.

  Desert Island Drink: His most recently signed up new agency…

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  Lee Talbot - Fine Wine Trade Sales

  Lee’s love of wine began while he lived for a year in southern France. After working for another wine merchant for two years he joined Roberson in 2016 as Fine Wine Sales Assistant. When he’s not thinking about fine wine, he’s usually engrossed in watching rugby, football or squash, or improving his already extensive knowledge of The Lord of the Rings.

  Desert Island Drink: Dark 'n' Stormy

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  Léonor Roberts - Head of Operations

  Originally from Normandy, Léonor grew up in Paris. In 2002 an unconditional offer made her move to London, with 6 bags only, and fulfil her studies. 2010 came with some major changes and a page turned with a lucky first step into the wine industry. Now with over 15 years’ experience in logistics and operations in two different industries, Léonor thrives to always deliver on time and cost-effectively. In her own time she likes to relax with her family and friends, walk, swim and just have a little break from everything else.

  Desert Island Drink: It will have to be bubbles… Dom Perignon will do

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  Lona Jones - Consumer Sales and Events Ambassador

  Lona spent most of her working life in the footwear industry, designing shoes and running her own brand. After reading a large tome about viticulture and all things wine related, she realised how much there is to learn and signed up for the AIS sommelier course. Following a spell working in Harrods wine department, she signed up for WSET courses and now, as well as conducting winery tours and consumer events at Roberson Wine, is battling with the diploma and studying for a wine business degree at Plumpton college.

  Desert Island Drink: A Negroni or any mezcal-based cocktail

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  Magnavai Janjo - Senior Account Manager

  Mags knew he wanted to work with wine as soon as he left school, starting at the wine department in his local branch of Waitrose, before progressing to wholesale account wine sales at Majestic. Mags’s main wine interest is Riesling – as he likes to put it: “who doesn’t like a grape which can be sweet, dry, sparkling or still?” He’s just waiting for someone to start making fortified Riesling.

  Desert Island Drink: Château Lafon

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  Marie-lou Galiana - Digital Retail Trainee

  Born and raised in Bordeaux, Marie-lou actually acquired all her wine knowledge since she moved to London in 2012. After passing a degree in International Business, she decided to train in a slightly different sector that she loved most: wine. She then started to work for Oddbins as a wine advisor, and soon moved up to become a manager in the busy Earls Court branch. After 6 successful years in the wine retail business, she finally branched out and joined the Roberson Wine adventure.

  Desert Island Drink: Any Vintage Champagne will do!

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  Martin Currie - Finance

  Man of a thousand jobs (many of which he's tried to give up over the years, with limited success) Martin is the man people at Roberson go to for, well, pretty much everything. On his day off, he can often be heard shouting at the television in support of his beloved Green Bay Packers (American Football, if you're wondering).

  Desert Island Drink: Amaretto and Coke

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  Martin Spooner - Finance Director

  After many years in senior finance and IT roles in different financial services businesses, Martin pitched up at Roberson Wine to do a short piece of consultancy work in March this year. He’s enjoyed working here so much that he’s still with us. He is hoping to prove that an old dog can learn new tricks by building an understanding of the nuances of the wine business.

  Desert Island Drink: An iced coffee

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  Max Edge - Operations Assistant

  After studying at university in Norwich, Max began a career in hospitality, starting as a bartender to become Assistant General Manager for a multi-site group. All that time pouring drinks and mixing cocktails awoke a real passion for all things liquid and a desire to work in the wine industry. Joining Roberson in March 2019, Max is now getting used to having a normal bedtime. Outside of the office, Max is a passionate home cook, always trying new recipes from all four corners of the world.

  Desert Island Drink: Anything containing Campari served over lots of ice

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  Oliver Bartle - Head of Fine Wine

  Oliver joined us in 2015 and heads up our Fine Wine Department. His passion for wine started when he was 19 years old and running an independent wine merchant. He quickly moved to the fine wine trade and now has a wealth of experience in buying and selling. When not in the office, you'll usually find keeping clean sheets on the football pitch, or elsewhere drinking a bottle of mature claret.

  Desert Island Drink: Any 1989 red Bordeaux.

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  Ruth Farnon - Trade Sales Trainee

  With a background in hospitality, a love of drinking, talking and learning about wine, it is no surprise Ruth ended up working for a wine merchant. It takes a lot of time and effort to become a professional drinker, but Ruth is definitely up for the task.

  Desert Island Drink: Valentini Montepulciano d’Abruzzo 1977

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  Simon Huntington - Commercial Director

  Simon fell in love with wine while on holiday in South Africa in 2000. After procrastinating in his tech-sector job for several months, events took care of things as dot.com boom turned to bust. A few weeks later, he started in the wine industry as a sales assistant in a branch of Oddbins, rising swiftly through the ranks to manage one of their flagship London stores. After 14 further years working at various small independent merchants in London, Simon revived his tech skills to join Roberson’s online department in 2017.

  Desert Island Drink: A well-chilled Bintang, or a Comte de Vogüé Musigny, depending on refrigeration availability.

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  Talya Roberson - Director

  Talya is Cliff’s daughter and gained her informal wine education during long nights of drinking and discussion around the family dinner table. After a thirty year career in journalism and then education, Talya joined the family business in 2015. She says that working at Roberson is like having her whole life in one job: telling great stories, learning loads and drinking amazing wine.

  Desert Island Drink: ice cold filtered water, island distilled vodka and wine made from grapes grown in the island vineyard (well what else is there to do on an island?)