GRAND VIN WINE MERCHANTS - Key Persons


Alister Rayner

Job Titles:
  • Sales & Marketing Manager
Alister joined the GVWM team in May 2019, following more than a decade working with fine wine collectors and investors in England and the US. After a career developing and marketing financial investments, Alister obtained his Wine MBA from the Royal Agricultural College. He worked in the vineyards of Bordeaux before cutting his wine teeth in the London trade, and then spent a number of years in Los Angeles, trading with merchants, dealers, and collectors through the auction houses in the States and Asia, returning to the wine investment market in London in 2016. He has been a judge for a number of years at the International Wine Challenge and is a passionate proponent of both English and Californian wines.

Andy Lench

Job Titles:
  • Group President
  • Bordeaux Expert

Christine Reeves

Job Titles:
  • Operations Support
Christine is an integral part of the team, providing support to the Sales, Logistics and Credit Control functions. Christine joined GVWM in 2015 bringing over 10 years experience, having previously worked in business support and import/export co-ordinator roles.

Jodie Askew

Job Titles:
  • Accounts & Office Manager
Jodie re-joined the GVWM team in 2022 in the dual role of Accounts and Office Manager. She previously worked with us from 2008 - 2014, initially in logistics, before moving into Accounts Support in 2011. Between leaving and returning, Jodie studied to gain her AAT qualifications. Jodie has worked in the accounts department of a manufacturing and retail company, producing products for babies and children. After which, she worked as a senior finance assistant in the private care sector, where she deepened her knowledge of accounts and gained vital managerial experience. Jodie has returned with breadth and depth of experience in business that makes her an invaluable asset, bringing a discipline and reassuring thoroughness to the company.

Katie Jago

Job Titles:
  • Operations Support
Katie provides invaluable administrative support to the Sales, Logistics and Accounts Departments. Katie joined GVWM in 2016 and has soon become a fundamental part of our team.

Kevin Narborough

Job Titles:
  • Purchasing & Trade Sales Manager
Kevin looks after all trade enquiries and is the longest serving employee with GVWM. With over 30 years of experience in the wine industry, he has a fantastic wealth of knowledge when it comes to Bordeaux, having visited the region for the En Primeur tastings every year since the 2000 vintage, giving us many years of first-hand experience and knowledge of these wines and the producers that make them. Rest assured however, Kev's expertise is not only limited to Bordeaux.

Martin Lea

Job Titles:
  • Private Client Sales - UK & Asia
Martin joined the GVWM Group in 2007 having come from Majestic Wine where he obtained a very good grounding in the wine industry from a retail perspective. Martin quickly adapted and changed to the professional and service driven model of GVWM and along the way found time to study and obtain his WSET Diploma further strengthening his knowledge and credentials within the wine industry. Martin opened the Hong Kong office for GVWM in October 2011 and has led the growth and development with great enthusiasm and energy delivering great success for GVWM and his many clients. He was appointed Head of Private Client Sales for UK & Asia in November of 2017, and in February 2018 relocated to our office in the UK to manage and expand our private client sales operation.

Matthew Bird

Job Titles:
  • Private Client Sales
Matthew joined the GVWM team in May 2023. His first real exposure to wine was as a student at the Royal Agricultural University where he briefly studied the wine industry as part of his degree. After instantly falling under the wine spell, he proceeded to continue his studies in Dijon. From Dijon came the natural move to Bordeaux, to work as a wine tour guide, cycling around the chateaux of St Emilion, showcasing the history and wines of the area. Post pandemic he started work with Mother Vine, a wine shop in the heart of Chelsea. From his time spent in tourism and retail, Matthew has discovered his passion is to provide excellent service and knowledge, to help customers find the best wines for them, which made his move to GVWM an easy choice.

Rob Veitch

Job Titles:
  • Sales, Support and Digital
Rob joined the GVWM team in 2020, initially on a fixed term contract, which soon became permanent. He provides welcome support to the sales and purchasing team as well as engaging in a few sales himself, having passed his WSET level 1 at the end of 2022. Aside from that, Rob also looks after the GVWM website and social media platforms. Previously, he helped people find the way around the cities, towns and villages of Britain in his role at AZ maps. After that he spent time working at Gatwick Airport, and more recently as a writer and Assistant Editor at a lifestyle popular magazine based in Sussex.

Tracy Narborough-Jago

Job Titles:
  • Logistics Manager
Tracy has many years of experience in the wine business and as logistics manager prior to joining the company in 2006. Her experience, knowledge and dedication has been a major benefit to the company, ensuring that our logistics requirements are handled as efficiently as possible - a major requirement for a wine merchant with both UK and overseas movement of fine wines.