Brian has had a long-term interest in wine but started his professional wine journey having created Top Shelf Wine Services around 12 years ago at the English Wine Centre where he joined the small existing tasting team as a freelance tutor, later moving on to becoming the lead wine tutor for eight of those years. Throughout that time, he has amassed a vast knowledge of the history of English Wine and has closely followed the growth and development of the current vineyards which make today’s excellent English vintages and enhance the reputation of English Wine.

Having studied at the Wine and Spirit Education Trust and at Berry Brothers and Rudd Wine School, Brian has further developed a wide range of international knowledge and could possibly claim to be one of very few people who has delivered an English wine tasting event in France – in stuttering French – and a French wine tasting event in England in thankfully much better English!

He has had considerable experience in leading these events both domestically and internationally and along with many private bars, restaurants, clients and events, his list of corporate clients includes:

• American Express Director’s Conference
• Anglo – Swedish Trade Delegation
• Barclays Bank Wealth Management Division
• British Medical Association Wine Society
• British Airways Cabin Crew Wine Club
• Copenhagen Wine Society
• Ditchling Wine Society
• Estee Lauder Beauty Consultants Conference
• French Champagne Producers Delegation
• HSBC Private Client Event
• Isle of man Food and Drink Society
• Oslo Airport Duty Free Shop Staff
• Rottingdean Wine Society
• St. James’s Place Wealth Management Clients
• Stockholm Wine Club

Media appearances:

• The Hotel Inspector – Channel 5
• South East at Six – BBC
• Radio 4 – BBC
• Seahaven FM – Local Radio
• Sussex Business Times – Feature articles on Top Shelf Wine Services “Dinner with a Difference” product.