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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  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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  Ellen Doggett - Trade Sales

  Ellen fell in love with wine as a student studying abroad in Venice. After graduating and being bored stiff by her grad job, she started working in her local wine bar and never looked back. Ellen joined us after five years working as a Sommelier in some of our favourite London wine bars and restaurants. If she’s not selling great wine, she’s drinking it with good friends and probably eating too much.

  Desert Island Drink: Selosse Champagne

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  Jack Green - Digital Retail Manager

  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 consumer 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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  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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  Marie-lou Galiana - Digital Retail Executive

  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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  Max Edge - Operations Executive

  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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  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?)