GRAPE & GRAIN - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Sales Consultant
- Sales Consultant / Cicerone ® Certified Beer Server
Chris graduated with an Advanced Diploma in Hospitality Management from Cornell University in New York. His love for Ice Hockey saw him move to Bristol, England where he played Semi Pro Hockey while managing Bentley Wine Bar, this is where he acquired a taste for wine. After moving to Australia Chris continued working in hospitality for a period of time, after a few stints in wine logistics he settled into sales working for over 10 years in wholesaling before joining Matt once again at Grape & Grain.
Job Titles:
- Director
- Holden - Director
Fresh from completing her Bachelor of Arts in Marketing and Media Clair took a sales role with Peters & Brownes, WA's leading supplier of dairy and ice cream products. Over 13 years she excelled in many roles including Channel Management, Trade Marketing & Sales Management. In August 2013 Clair took the plunge and resigned from Brownes to join the Grape & Grain team. Clair now splits her time between running all marketing and sales support for Grape & Grain and looking after three young children, often both roles at the same time.
Kelly and Matt met many years ago working together at 44 King St back in 1999. Luckily for Grape & Grain Clair ran into Kel at the local shops and asked if she wanted to join her & Matt to start their new business. Kel is now not only the office guru but now also Aunty Kelly to Matt & Clair's three kids.
Job Titles:
- Sales Consultant
- Sales Consultant / Cicerone ® Certified Beer Server
Luke has been working in the hospitality industry for over 20 years. Put simply, he is passionate about food and wine. Luke has managed and worked with teams in top restaurants all over Australia, as a venue manager, a sales representative and most recently, logistics. What began as an interest in fine dining and restaurant management naturally grew into a keen curiosity and love for wine and beer. Luke is returning to his passion, and in turn to Grape & Grain, we welcome him back with open arms.
Job Titles:
- Operations
- Operations / W.S.E.T Dip / Cicerone ® Certified Beer Server
Maria loves wine! After getting her BA in Culinary Arts from the Dublin Institute of Technology Maria spent time in Michelin starred kitchens only to discover that wine was her real passion. She started her career in the wine industry in Ireland's oldest wine merchants and continued her wine education completing her Diploma from the coveted Wine & Spirits Education Trust in London. Maria moved to Perth, worked a vintage in Margaret River in 2011 and then settled into the world of wine distributing.
Matt's passion for photography was overtaken by his passion for wine in his early twenties. After completing a Bachelor of Arts in Photo Media he hung up his camera to taste his way through many tasting panels. Matt has 15 years' experience in the hospitality industry, managing top venues all around the world, eventually settling back in Perth he went on to work in the wine wholesale industry for 10 years deciding to go out on his own in 2013.
Job Titles:
- Sales Consultant
- Sales Consultant / Cicerone ® Certified Beer Server
Paul studied hospitality straight out of high school, loving the industry that would allow his passion for travelling, food and wine to be satisfied. Living and working in bars and restaurants from Cairns to Canada, he made sure to call on a number of wine regions around the globe before returning home to work in Perth. While studying accounting he worked in much-loved local venues and even though the numbers and spreadsheets game satisfied him for a while, the wine industry continued to call his name. His love for this industry and customer service has him back in his natural habitat.