Meet the Team...
The ViVAS team
is a crack group of experts, drawn together from across the country
and united by their love of a decent bottle of wine and a delicious
digestiv. They are all handpicked for their great enthusiasm and
passion for the subject and the wish to do something truely
different in the drinks business. They have a vast array of
experience from retail, hospitality and food service which creates
the knowledge to help design drinks lists that really work for both
you and your customers. Read more about the team, what makes them
tick and as well as their hidden gems....
Louise Playle - North East
Louise has over 8 years experience in the drinks industry covering food-led pubs in rural areas, city centre nightclubs and style bars in the North East.
Louise's favourite drop is the Wither Hills Sauvignon Blanc. She also has a love for bubbles and you may catch her out reaching for a bottle of fizz like Marquis de la Tour, Conti Neri Prosecco to celebrate any day of the week or for a special treat - Laurent Perrier Brut!
Contact Louise on 07880 093464
Katy Petrillo - North West
Katy has worked in the drinks trade for the last 15 years for
both wholesales and suppliers at regional and 
national account level which gives her a
brilliant overview of what customers need to do to inject a bit of
excitement and creativity in to their drink business whilst
delivering sales to their bottom line.
"I really enjoyed a bottle of Ice wine recently, unfortunately not in Canada, where it originated but whilst away in North Yorkshire with my husband and some friends! Ice wines are naturally sweetened as the grapes are frozen on the vine which concentrates the sugar in the grapes and creates an unctious, syrup-like wine but still retains great acidity creating a truely unique dessert wine."
Contact Katy on 07824 607968
Michael Money - Midlands
Michael joined the team in the summer of
2010. He has made his presence felt ever since covering many of our
depots. Now established as the CDM for Birmingham Michael is
responsible for the West Midlands, Shropshire, Mid Wales as well as
North Gloucestershire, Warwickshire & Herefordshire.
Michael's career has alcohol at it's heart with an array of sales
and marketing roles in wholesale and as a licensee.
"My favourite drinkers from our range currently follows the current trend towards Sauvignon Blanc with "Les Nuages" from Loire a stand out favourite. With it's stable mates Pinot Noir & Pinot Noir Rose they perfect accompaniment to long summer afternoons!!"
Contact Michael on 07917 271101
Richard Tatton - Midlands
Richard is one of our latest recruits and brings with him a
wealth 
of experience over 27 years in HoReCa, On-trade and
Travel retail across Europe and the UK. Richard sees his role as
going far beyond the customers door, championing better
marketing, staff training as well as his great passion for
drinks.
Whilst he has a love of fine Cognac and takes many holidays in the region, his favourite wines are Lirac, Gigondas and Vacqueyras from the Rhone valley, but if there's none around then a bottle of Cru Bourgeois Medoc, hits the spot!
Contact Richard on 07867 469522
Elaine Horne - Home Counties
Elaine started in the softer side of the drinks industry with
Coca Cola - Schweppes in 1986 before the lure of 
alcohol led her to joing
Matthew Clark in a number of roles and regions over the next 20
years before we were able to tempt her away to join the team in
2008. Elaine is a lady on a mission to "...convert the rest of the
wine drinking free world to the joys of NZ Sauvignon Blanc!" and
its this passion and single mindeedness that make her an important
addition to the ViVAS team.
"My hidden gem from our wine list is the Riva Leone Barbera from Piedmont Northern Italy. It is full of juicy dark berry fruits but light enough to quaff on its own and at a very reasonable price point that won't break the bank!"
Contact Elaine on 07824 608007
Carol Nash - South East
Carol has had a close association with alcohol over much of 
her career having
worked for Carlsberg Tetley as an account manager and
laterly with Allied Domecq/Beam selling their portfolio of
brands and generic alcohols as a food ingredient to the
Grocery & Wholesale retail market. But she finally decided that
she would turn her hand to the world of wine (as well as Beer &
Spirits) to indulge all of her interests at once!
Her favourite tipple? "Stump Jump Reisling/Sauvignon Blanc/Marsanne - it's so fresh and the citrus just fizzes on my tongue - yummy!"
Contact Carol on 07909 001748
Julie Fontaine - South East
Julie has been working in hospitality throughout her
career in a number of diverse rolls from catering for the Directors
Dining Room at BP to the F&B manager at Wimbledon Golf Club.
Julie joined the team in 2008 keen for 
a new challenge in the drinks world and has
developed an insatiable appetite for drinks knowledge, asking those
questions that others are too scared to ask! Her "no nonsense,
straight talking" approach coupled with the willingness to go the
"extra mile" has made her a firm favourite with all her
customers.
"One of my favourite hidden gems I've discovered during all the tasting I have had to endure (!), is the little know Gruner Veltliner from Austria. It makes a great change from the myriad of Sauvignon Blancs, Pinot Grigios and Chardonnays out there! It's a zesty, fresh and off dry white wine with a peppery finish which makes it a perfect match for spicy and full flavoured foods.
Contact Julie on 07730 300296
Emily Purches - South East
Emily has great expereince across different areas of the On & Off trade having spent the last few years as Sales Account Manager for Matthew Clark and previously working for Monster Energy as a Trade Development Manager in the South-West. She is passionate about the drinks business and is currently studying towards her WSET Diploma.
When not out in the trade Emily can be found pounding the pavements in preparation for a race a acrross the channel from Paris to Versaille. Twitter; @evk_purches
Contact Emily on 07785 453934
Sarah Paterson - South West
Sarah started in
the wine trade at Majestic Wine in Corporate Sales, selling wine to
the great and good of London. Following that she upped sticks and
went to Australia working as a fine wine consultant
before returning to the UK to work for Lanson Champagne
selling to the on and off trade before joining ViVAS in February
2012.
Her favourite tipple? "It depends on the occasion, but as my background is in Champagne, I have to say a glass of crisp, cold vintage champagne!"
Contact Sarah on 07867 469488
David Wyman - South West
David has had a life-long love affair with wine, ranging from
owning his own wine business to running wine clubs
. His passion, knowledge
and general enthusiasm make him a great addition to the team and
his encyclopaedic knowledge of the Devon and Cornwall HORECA scene
mean that no stone is left unturned!
"My hidden gem of a wine would be Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Nicolis 2005. Amarone is my favourite red wine with powerful fruit created by the grapes being laid out on reed mats to dry, thereby concentrating the flavours. Intense, spicy and bitter fruit. Always a master of a red wine."
Contact David on 07764 162848
Paul Walker - National Accounts
Paul previously held a number of senior roles during a 16 year
career with Matthew Clark. He managed both 
Independent and major
National Groups including Compass Group, Intercontinental Hotels
and Merlin Entertainments. Paul joined ViVAS in October 2010 to
develop the drinks category within 3663's existing and potential
national account customer base. Paul's cool, calm and collected
approach brings a reassurance and rational influence to the
team!
"Having toured the area several times over the years, I've a real soft spot for the Loire, and in particular Touraine Sauvignon Blanc, it's got a distinctive zest all of it's own - so Look no further than our very own Les Nuages Touraine Sauvignon Blanc, a fantastic example and partnered with the Pinot Noir and Rose, they make a stunning Loire trio!"
Contact Paul on 07585 306976
Or for general enquiries either phone or email info@vivaswine.co.uk
