The start of our new academic year is always a busy and exciting time at Plumpton College Wine department. With preparations for the upcoming harvest and our existing students returning.
We also welcome the new Wine Production & International Wine Business undergraduate students and Viticulture and Oenology post-graduate students on-site. As ever, a mixture of backgrounds and experiences make for dynamic groups, all united by a passion for wine.
Finally, we are very pleased to announce new staff members to the department:
Sam Linter – Director of Wine
Sam comments – I am pleased to have started at Plumpton College as the Director of Wine. We have exciting opportunities, to grow and perfect our courses, with the very talented team in the Wine Department. We are all keen to empower the next generation of wine entrepreneurs, viticulturists and winemakers, to support our successful and growing UK wine industry and those further afield!
Nisha Hartelius is writing an article about Sam and her new appointment in this magazine (page 22), for further information.
Nick Hutchinson – Wine Business Programme Manager
Nick has a BSc Econ from UCL and trained as an Accountant at Arthur Andersen, before embarking on a career in Investment Banking, where he was a Managing Director of Counterparty Risk Management at Morgan Stanley. After surviving the financial crisis, a decision was made to see life outside the city, by enrolling on the BA Wine Business Degree at Plumpton. Nick graduated top of his class with 1st Class honours.
After graduating from Plumpton, Nick spent nearly 8 years at Bolney Wine Estate in Sussex, working in Trade Sales and later in Hospitality as manager of the extensive tour programme and the cellar door.
He is delighted to be back at Plumpton, a place with real resonance for him, as it allowed him to retrain and refocus and hopes that students will be equally inspired by their time here.
Rebecca Apley – Wine Business lecturer
Rebecca has been working in the business of wine for 15 years, and is delighted to accept a post lecturing Wine Business at Plumpton College. Her experience in the hospitality industry is wide ranging, with a portfolio of clients across Yorkshire and Sussex, including time teaching WSET courses for the fantastic Yorkshire Wine School. Her most recent project was for Henners Vineyard, Herstmonceux, managing their first direct to consumer venture. This beautiful new cellar door is now enjoying its second season open to the public.
Rebecca has specialised in this kind of opening management and training since setting up her company, Apfelbaum Ltd, in 2017. She has worked with household names like Diageo and Heineken as well as unique independents such as Once Upon A Vine. Here, Rebecca and chef Vanessa Doyle won the Loire Valley Wines X Harpers merchants’ competition with their pop-up dining experience, Loire Valley Nights. Before Apfelbaum, Rebecca worked in restaurants, bars, and pubs, developing a love for whiskey, wine, and exceptional customer service.
