About Us

While this section is called About Us, really the Antipodean Sommelier isn't about us. Its about you. Its about providing you with a range of outstanding (and often award-winning) boutique wines that cover New Zealand's premier winemaking regions.

Like you, we've watched the wine industry here in the UK change. Not so long ago, the consolidation of some of the big suppliers led to less variety in the wines available. So we've partnered with selected independent merchants to help bring you the variety and quality you want and deserve.

Oh, and along the way we're also helping our friends at up-and-coming wineries down under get the attention they deserve. If you're interested in knowing a bit more about our Directors, keep reading to see what they have to say for themselves. If you have any questions or comments please don't hesitate to use the boxes on the right to get in touch with us. We'll get back to you as soon as we can.

James Leary

Up until the birth of The Antipodean Sommelier, I had been working for nine years in Asset Management and Treasury in New Zealand and the UK. It was high time for me to take a break from the corporate world and follow what had become something of a dream.

As a grower of pinot noir grapes in the Awatere Valley in Marlborough, I had met some fantastic boutique wine-makers and saw an opportunity to help them get their wines noticed in the UK, New Zealand's largest but most distant export market.

In 2010, I was fortunate enough to meet a man with a similar vision and passion for wine. Tony.  Today we share more than just a passion, we share The Antipodean Sommelier.

I hope you enjoy our wines as much as we do!

Tony Wellings

Wines and Spirits have been my life for over 20 years. My first job as a Trainee Sales Executive with Seagram sealed my passion for the industry and had me working with world renowned champagne, port and spirit brands. More importantly, it gave me my first company car, a Ford Escort Estate 1.3L.

I spent the subsequent years of my career working my way up the ranks, including time with Paul Vranken (Heidsieck and Pommery Champagnes), Allied Domecq (Montana and Campo Viejo) and finally Pernod Ricard (Jacobs Creek).

Through all of this, there was one thing that really stuck: a passion for new world wines and the desire to set up something of my own. In 2010, I met James, the timing was right and our dream of bringing people like you outstanding award winning boutique wines from small up-and-coming wineries was given life, and legs.

And here you have it, The Antipodean Sommelier.

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