Sales (Cornwall, Devon & Somerset)
With 10 years under my belt at CPW, I guess it makes me one of the 'oldies'. At the beginning, I was the stock girl; organising JIT stocks, dealing with the logistics of bonded warehouses and invoicing. My u-turn, if I can call it that, was somewhat of a surprise. After posts at Shell, Nestlé and Initial, I found myself broke but very content at CPW, tapping away at stock codes and tasting wine at every opportunity.
I had always wanted to work for a smaller company and when the opportunity arose in the wine world, I just grabbed it. I remember the interview as if it was yesterday. In a tiny damp office, with flaking pale green paint, John in his woolen waistcoat and Chris in a t-shirt clutching a packet of Gitanes. "Do you mind if we smoke" said John. "No, no, that's fine" I said. I spotted the wine list on the table "Wow, Simon Drewe - nice cover". I came away elated... I had just found one hell of a company... real people and real wines.
Why wine? You may ask, after all I did nearly end up at Art College at one point. Something just grabs you, it's hard to explain. My inspiration could have come from my time working in the hotel trade when I left school. I have strong memories of leaning alongside the red wine cupboard at the Walnut Tree and André, the then Maitre d' suggesting I buy a half bottle of Ch Pavie to take home and try. (Those were the days!). Or perhaps it was my very short spell at Mas de Daumas Gassac in the Languedoc. I was drinking some of the 1982, so it's no wonder I saw the light!
Some years on, I have progressed into the world of sales. I have some truly wonderful customers, with many eccentrics among them. Here I am, working with some fabulous wines in one of the most beautiful parts of the country. I love what I do. I try to help my customers make the right choices for their wines and wine lists, to enthuse, to taste, to train and assist with everything that encapsulates bringing wine to the end consumer; point of sale, presentation and of course... glassware. Yes, yes... I know. I'm obsessed about glassware. Why have anything else, when you can have the best... Riedel. Form and function taken to new limits... these glasses are gorgeous. Do the customers love them? Do you sell more wine because of them? Do they endorse a quality establishment? Yes, yes, yes!
So, I guess you want to know what gets my heart beating that much faster.
Jerez (sherry), Spain, Portugal, Champagne, Cognac, Armagnac and very special spirits and... customers who want to sell wonderful food and wine.
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