Angela Mount is a wine expert and presenter and has been named as one of the top 50 most influential people in the Wine Industry. Angela is widely credited with revolutionising wine on the high street, making quality wine accessible to the masses. Angela’s taste buds were famously insured for £10 million by former Somerfield bosses, resulting in widespread appearances including Channel 4 News, The Independent and Radio 5 live. She is also a key judge at all the major UK wine competitions and more recently has been consulting on the launch of www.yourfavouritewines.com, an ambitious wine retail website by Peter Jones of BBC’s Dragons’ Den.

Julie is a respected national consumer wine journalist and broadcaster involved in both television and radio work spanning the worlds of drink, food and travel. A lifelong ambition to write about wine was realized in1992 when two local newspapers asked her to write regular columns. Julie has been the drinks correspondent for both the Daily and Sunday Express and presented or guested in programmes for BBC1, BBC2, Channel 5… including many others. In addition, she judges annually at the New York Classic, Decanter World Wine Awards and Concours Mondial de Bruxelles.

Ray is ex-Trading Director at SPAR/Landmark with over 30 years off -trade business experience. Has travelled extensively to producers worldwide and has wealth of experience marketing beers, wines and spirits in the UK. He is currently writing and consulting within industry.

Hilary had been manager of the local food and drink sector support group A Taste of Sussex for over 6 years, following a career spanning over 20 years in the food and drink industry. Hilary has been a regular judge at the Annual South East Regional Beer Competition for several years. She works with several breweries in Sussex to help market and promote the quality local producers to the trade and to consumers.

Dom has worked in communications for 12 years, earning his food & drink stripes at the Soil Association before joining communications agency Bray Leino as Head of Food & Drink in 2003. His professional scrapbrook includes the award-winning Cheddarvision.tv and Cheese in Space, Eat in Colour, LoveOM and Tai Chi Farmers, Organic Everyday for OMSCo etc. Dom sits on the judging panel of several national food and drink awards and has acted as spokesman for a variety campaigns.

Glenn was beer buyer at Safeway from 1997 to 2004, bringing many new and diff erent beers from around the world and within the UK to discerning customers. After Safeway, Glenn became sales and marketing director at Meantime brewing in 2005 and 2006, and is currently Brand Ambassador and non-executive director. Glenn has a wealth of experience as a consultant to UK and American breweries and retailers. He is also part owner of importers and bar owner, Pangea Drinks, based in London’s Borough Market. In addition, Glenn has been a judge at the Great American Beer Festival and World Beer Cup since 2002.

Geoff has over 30 years experience in the analysis, production and quality assessment in the alcoholic drinks trade. Founder of Corkwise in 1988, Geoff covers technical consultancy, auditing, expert witness plus project management.

Nick joined The Taunton Cider Co in the late 60s at Norton Fitzwarren as a lab assistant and trainee cider maker. After specialist courses at Long Ashton Research Stationand in the French cider industry he became a fully-fledged Master Cider Maker at Taunton. After some 10 years in this role, he moved into product development and marketing and then into more general strategic and planning roles. After leaving Taunton Cider in 1995 Nick set up as an independent consultant or adviser to the industry. He has acted in this capacity for NACM since 1995 and represents the UK in AICV (L’Association des Industries des Cidres et Vins de Fruits de l’UE – the European Cider and Fruit Wine Association) and has acted as President (2004-2005).Nick is also a judge of cider and has judged national and international competitions for the Royal Bath & West Society and for trade media and retailers.

Bernard claims he has never had a hangover in his life. He splits his time (unevenly) between writing occasional articles for the press and a definitive book on the classic cocktail. His likes include Armagnac, Gin that tastes of juniper, unsweetened Rum, and Rye Whisky. Vodka bores him. And he dislikes anything that tastes of smoke, caramel, aniseed, cranberry, hibiscus, or custard. Except advocaat, which is custard…

He is an experienced international beer judge having tasted at The World Beer Cup, Great American Beer Festival and the Brewing Industry International Awards. His previous positions included Head brewer at Boddingtons (Manchester) and Stella Artois Brewmaster. Paul is a Fellow of the Institute of Brewing and Distilling and is one of only a handful of British brewers who have studied at the world renowned Munich -Weihenstephan brewing school

Will has spent the last 15 years as the marketing director for the London International Wine Fair. A self confessed oenophile, Will devotes much spare time to exploring wines from the world over, recent trips to New Zealand and Madeira being memorable experiences.

Tim Hampson’s work includes The Beer Book and Great Beer, both published by Dorling Kindersley; London’s Best Pubs and London’s Riverside Pubs (due for publication in 2011) both published by New Holland Publishers. He is chairman of the Tesco Drinks Awards beer panel, chairman of the British Guild of Beer Writers and his work has appeared in numerous publications including What’s Brewing.

Steve’s career in the Drinks industry has spanned 25 years. He joined Allied Domecq in 1986 and took on senior executive roles in both the UK and Europe. He became Sales & Marketing Director at G & J Greenall in 2001 eventually becoming Commercial Director. Now with Halewood International, a business which prides itself on creative independence, and where the recent launch of Crabbie’s Alcoholic Ginger Beer has not only enjoyed unprecedented success but has gathered a host of prestigious industry awards.

Jason’s career began in the kitchen. After becoming the first ever English sous chef at the Michelin starred Interlude de Tabaillau he spent several years cooking with the Roux Brothers at Gavroche, Gamin, Pulbot, Boucherie Lamartine and doing outside catering with other legendary restaurateurs including Roy Ackerman and Justin de Blank. He also became the driving force behind the menus at of numerous restaurants such as Café Rouge, Dome, Chez Gérard, Livebait, Bertorelli’s and Scotts of Mayfair. Today he heads up the hospitality and foodservice section of Marks & Spencer, this division includes restaurants, deli bars, espresso bars, cafés, in store bakeries, hot food to go counters and kitchens. He is also a non executive director of the London International Wine & Spirits Trade Fair and International Villas.