WORLDWIDE VINEYARDS - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Representative in Germany
Born into an old wine growing family in the Mosel, as a child Alfons was already helping his father and driving the family tractor in the fields and between the rows of vines. After studying viticulture in Geisenheim, the young engineer acquired experience in cultivating vines and in experimental research.
He worked for three decades as a researcher and adviser to various State bodies such as the DLR Mosel where he ended his career in November 2010. His research was essentially concentrated on preserving genetic resources and on clonal selection.
In 2003, a research mission on grafting in the field attracted his interest. His research work led him to the publications and work of Worldwide Vineyards. He undertook to exchange experiences with us in 2006. He even created a blog where he publishes his reports.
Since the end of 2010, Alfons Klippel-Stahmann has been in happy retirement with his family in Mosel and has become Worldwide Vineyards' privileged contact in Germany.
Carole obtained a Masters Degree in Applied Foreign Languages in 1997 from the University of Aix-en-Provence (English - Italian), after an initial diploma in marketing techniques. She obtained her professional experience in the fields of sales, conference organization, marketing and administrative management.
Since 2002, Carole has invested her passion and enthusiasm in the life of Worldwide Vineyards. With her many skills, she takes part in the management of marketing, administration and accounting for the company and brings her sense of discipline and organizational skills to the team. Also in charge of communication, Carole contributes to the new, dynamic image of the company.
Granddaughter of wine producers, Caroline married Marc Birebent, to whom she has given three children, Jean, Gilles et Marie.
Caroline is a great traveller. She studied in France, in Germany and in the United States to obtain her Masters Degree in Applied Foreign Languages from the University of Nice-Sophia Antipolis.
She had the happy occasion of getting back into the wine producing world and back to her roots when she joined Worldwide Vineyards in 1997.
Since then, Caroline has been a devoted executive secretary and assistant. Speaking fluent English and German, she takes part in business trips, using her language expertise and communication skills. Caroline is the cheerful face of the company and gives priority to customer relationships.
With a diploma in viticulture and œnology from the Lycée Agricole in Hyères, Fabien Gautier has been working in the wine producing world since 1996, and has forged a solid professional experience with highly reputed estates in the Var region such as Clos Mireille of the Domaines Ott or Saint André de Figuière.
Determined and diligent, Fabien has been a brilliant and lively team leader at Worldwide Vineyards since 2006.
Guy Brichet is a fifth generation of wine growers and runs the family vineyard in Cairanne, in the Côtes-du-Rhône Villages appellation area.
With a diploma in viticulture and œnology as well as a degree in viticultural law from the Université du Vin in Suze-la-Rousse (Drôme), he had managing some of the most important wine cooperatives of Provence for 24 years before he joined us in 2006. Appointed to the technical department, he visits our customers in France, Spain and Portugal.
His versatility, experience and passionate energy for the world of wine make Guy a highly regarded consultant, just a little dreaded for its terrific country accent!
With Italian origins, Joséphine obtained a Masters Degree in Italian Language and Literature from the University of Nice in 2003. She completed her studies by doing a secretarial course.
Sales Assistant at Worldwide Vineyards since 2005, Joséphine receives phone calls, ensures customer follow-up and orders management. Speaking both Italian and Spanish, she is the interface with the technicians and team leaders for whom she organizes the travel arrangements good heartedly and with dedication.
Job Titles:
- Managing Director
- Jornada Tecnica De Viticultura, Briones La Rioja, Enero 2016
At the head of the company since 1997, Marc has devoted his life to his passion for vines and wines. He is the standard bearer of modern top grafting techniques, and has made Worldwide Vineyards, the world leader in this field.
Job Titles:
- Representative in the United States
Paul Birebent's eldest son, Pierre graduated in viticulture and œnology from the Lycée Agricole Macon-Davaye in Macon, Burgundy, and then emigrated to California, in the United States in 1985.
Pierre worked as vineyard manager for various properties (Stags Leap Winery, Kuletto Family Vineyard), and as winemaker (Costello Vineyards) for several years. In 1998, he joined the prestigious Signorello Vineyards for which he has been brilliantly serving as vineyard manager and winemaker since then.
As one of the Worldwide Vineyards' shareholders, Pierre is our representative on the North American continent.
Stefano Lendaro, Italian, was born in Belgium where he spent the first part of his life and obtained a diploma in Science.
Drawn to the Middle East, he became interested in Islamic arts and crafts, and travelled throughout the Mediterranean. He had been an art dealer in Syria for six years, before returning to the family roots in Italy, in the Friuli, where he discovered another passion: vine growing. He learned about viticulture in the field and provided services to growers for a number of years.
Stefano joined us in 2006. Polyglot, with exceptional interpersonal skills, he manages our Italian subsidiary and also operates in the German, Austrian and Swiss markets.