Lindsay Poole nee Ryder (1976 Leaver) – A Career in the Wine Industry
After leaving Merchant Taylor’s Lindsay studied Hotel and Catering Management in Manchester, following that with many years running restaurants and latterly a wine bar and private room in Mayfair. It was during this last position that Lindsay was inspired to further her knowledge of wine by attending two courses run by the Wine and Spirit Education Trust, which she loved!
In 1989 Lindsay married and moved out of London to live in Warwickshire and decided to further a career in the wine trade. She joined Grants of St James Specialist Wholesale division selling wine into the restaurant trade, where her knowledge of that industry proved very useful.
Whilst pregnant in 1994 she took voluntary redundancy from Grants when they were taken over by Matthew Clarke. Not wishing to work full time whilst her children were young Lindsay decided to become self employed working out of someone else’s portfolio.
In 2007 Lindsay and her family had the opportunity to spend five months living near Barcelona, which was the perfect opportunity to develop some relationships with Spanish wineries. Lindsay and her two daughters learnt Spanish, though the girls found it easier than Lindsay did and it certainly made her wish that she had been offered the opportunity of learning Spanish in place of French at Merchant Taylors’!
Having returned to the UK, Lindsay set up Wine Poole which she has continued to grow steadily and organically. In addition to importing direct from four wineries in Spain, Wine Poole also buys from three major UK importers plus two specialist importers of New Zealand and Argentinean wines. They supply local hotels and restaurants as well as individuals all over the UK through their website. Lindsay runs a number of local wine clubs and they hold two large open tastings each year.
Wine Poole allows Lindsay to indulge her passion for tasting wine, with managing a flourishing business and having close contact with local hotels and restaurants, an industry which is still close to her heart.
Contact:
Lindsay Poole (nee Ryder)
1976 Leaver
Wine Poole Ltd
Tel: 00 44 1926 490970
