Speakers

Juan Park 

Director, Spain & South America – Wine Intelligence

Juan has worked at Wine Intelligence since 2007 and has been Director for Spain and South America since mid-2016. He is currently the head of the Wine Intelligence Spain office located in Valladolid and works with clients from Spain, Portugal, Chile, Brazil and Argentina. Prior to this he was Research Director working in the UK office for more than 10 years.

After graduating with a degree in sociology from the University of Salamanca, Spain, he worked in Madrid as a marketing analyst. He came to London in 2005 to study for his MSc in social research methods from the London School of Economics. Juan also holds the WSET Advanced Certificate in Wine and Spirits and the Market Research Society’s Advanced Certificate.

Matthieu Longuère

Wine Development Manager – Le Cordon Bleu

Matthieu Longuère MS is originally from Bordeaux where he studied catering at college for six years. Since moving to England in 1994, he has worked as Head Sommelier at Lucknam Park near Bath. In 2013, he joined Le Cordon Bleu’s as Wine Development Manager at their institute in London, where he has developed and is teaching on a large variety of beverage courses.

In 2000, Matthieu won the UK Sommelier of the Year Competition Trophée Ruinart. Matthieu became a Master Sommelier in 2005.

Noel Young

Founder – Noel Young Wines

Started Noel Young Wines in 1991. Won Small Independent Merchant of The Year in 1995 and then many awards.

Moved in 2019 to open a shop and wine bar rebranded NYWines. Sell over 1800 wines, many change regularly. Proudly independent. Noel has a strong wholesale business and e-commerce accounts for 40% of our business. 

Spanish wines always been hugely important but increasing as he lives part time in Valencia and is launching a wine-making project this year.

Natasha Hughes

Master of Wine

Natasha Hughes MW graduated as a Master of Wine in 2014, winning four out of the seven prizes awarded that year, including the Outstanding Achievement Award.

Natasha began her wine trade career as deputy editor for Decanter’s website but left in 2001 to begin freelancing as a journalist, specialising in wine and food. Natasha consults for restaurants, private clients, wine producers and generic bodies, and also judges at wine competitions around the world.

Alex Canneti

Director of Off-trade Sales - Berkmann

 Alex ran IWS Spain and France (Francevin) from 1997 to 2002 and set up winemaking projects in Calatayud, Cariñena, Somontano, Campo de Borja and Bullas. These were sold to Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Waitrose and Majestic.

Alex looked after Spain and Italy at PLB from 2002 to 2006. Alex was then Sales Director of Moreno Wines from 2006 to 2011.

Alex has now been Director of Off-Trade for Berkmann Wine since 2012. He looks after the Vega Sicilia wines, Finca Valpiedra, Conde de Valdemar, Soto Manrique Cebreros and Viñas del Cambrico Sierra de Salamanca, among others.

Pierre Mansour

Head of Buying – The Wine Society

Pierre Mansour joined The Wine Society in 2000 where he worked as an events manager - this involved organising and running 100 tastings a year. 

Pierre then joined the buying team in 2003 and was promoted to the position of Head of Buying in 2017. He is responsible for Spain and Lebanon.

Pierre is a member of the Gran Orden de Caballeros del Vino since 2019.

Edwin Reyes

Agri Food Consultant - Promar

Edwin joined Promar in 2020. He holds a master’s degree in Agricultural Economics from the University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart. 

For four years prior to joining Promar, Edwin was a Technical Manager for a business called Orthios which is a UK start up mainly focused on the generation of green energy.

Maura Maxwell

Maura Maxwell is managing editor at Eurofruit, the European fresh produce industry’s leading source of news, insight and analysis. 

In her 25 years at the company, she has covered the Spain and Latin America markets, building close links with the industry and moderating online and in-person international conferences on the fresh produce business.

Darren Clough

Commercial and Trading Director – AM Fresh

A leading edge Commercial and Trading Director with over 35 years’ experience, Darren has consistently achieved results in multi-million-pound global trading and purchasing roles. 

Sustainably supplying the multi-channel world with range, quality and price, while building brand equity, supplier partnerships and customer engagement.

José Souto

Senior Chef Lecturer – Westminster Kingsway College

José studied at Westminster Kingsway College. After this, he worked as a Chef at the House of Commons (HOC) for over 11 years. Here he worked up to become a senior Chef de partie and acting Sous Chef in many of the HOC restaurants and helped open what was then the new Portcullis house. 

Later, José took up a lecturing post at Westminster Kingsway College, one of the most highly regarded Catering Colleges in the UK. Since then, he has become one of the leading game chefs in the UK, with knowledge of not only how to cook game, but also about its harvest and preparation.  

Monika Linton

Founder – Brindisa

Co-founder – Brindisa Kitchens

Brindisa was founded by Monika Linton in 1988 to share her enjoyment of the varied cultures, landscapes and extraordinary foods of Spain. 

Brindisa celebrates the traditional foods of Spain. Brindisa Kitchens, co-founded by Monika in 2004, brings Spain to you on a plate, with the warmth of traditional Spanish hospitality, at five London tapas restaurants and a kitchen bar.

Marcos Fernández Pardo

Marcos is CEO of Ibérica Restaurants, which he founded with chef, Nacho Manzano, who holds a total of three Michelin stars. Ibérica is one of the leading, high-end Spanish food groups in the UK.

Marcos has a BSc in Economics & Management and a MA in International Business and Management. He has been successfully developing entrepreneurial projects within the creative industries for over twenty years.

Marcos is also a member of the Foods from Spain Advisory Council.