MEET OUR EXPERT TUTORS
The London Wine Academy is proud to have a team of exceptional professionals who bring expertise, enthusiasm, and years of experience to every course. Our educators include Masters of Wine, leading trade buyers, and top sommeliers—all recognised as leaders in their fields. Our tutors have achieved the prestigious Wine & Spirit Education Trust Diploma, and many have also undertaken the rigorous Master of Wine Programme, reflecting their dedication to excellence.
With extensive backgrounds in the global wine trade, they keep up to date with emerging trends and are passionate about making wine education accessible, engaging, and inspiring for everyone. Whether you’re just starting to explore wine or building on an existing passion, our friendly and knowledgeable tutors are here to guide you, share their insights, and help you enjoy wine to its fullest.
LETA BESTER
Founder and director Leta Bester discovered her passion for the fascinating World of Wine whilst at Stellenbosch University in the heart of the Cape Winelands. Having visited most key wine regions and worked in New Zealand, Australia and the UK Wine trade, Leta embarked on the Masters of Wine programme in 1993.
After 5 years as a freelance Educator, Leta realised that there was a need for structured wine courses that focus on the consumer, with the main aim to make the world of wine more accessible to you in a friendly, professional contemporary and non-intimidating way and so in 1997 the London Wine Academy was born!
REBECCA MITCHELL
Rebecca Mitchell is an inspiring wine professional, competition judge, drinks consultant, copywriter, and educator with over 27 years experience in the wine trade. She is a certified sommelier with the Court of Master Sommeliers and a certified educator for the Wine & Spirit Education Trust. Rebecca’s wine career began at Bordeaux University where she wrote her dissertation on the ‘Terroir of the Médoc region’ and her first job was Cellar Door Host for Chateau Pichon-Longueville Comtesse de Lalande. Rebecca has recently qualified as a Certified Port Educator with the Instituto do Vinhos de Douro e do Porto. Rebecca previously worked as Head Sommelier at 2* Michelin starred Gidleigh Park Hotel on Dartmoor. She is a Panel Chair for WineGB West and judge for the IWSC and IWC.
CLIVE BARLOW MW
Having spent 10 years in the wine trade Clive Barlow passed the Master of Wine Exam in 1999. He now runs an independent wine consultancy and training business, Press Wine Services, in Kent. His clients have included Waitrose, Sotheby’s, Whitbread, London Wine Academy and Adnams as well as a number of private and business clients for whom he sources wines and advises on the cellaring. He is a senior judge for the internationally prestigious and independant Decanter World Wine Awards and Wine International. He has worked with TV Chef Tony Tobbin for a cable TV show called Meat and Drink on food and wine matching.
MARTINE BOUNET
Martine Bounet was a buyer for the wholesale division of Berry Bros & Rudd Ltd. A French native she has been in the wine trade for over a decade and started her career in Bordeaux for the then negoce activity of well known Château Lynch Bages. She received the distinctive ‘Commandeur des Vins de Bordeaux’ title in 2003. Her passion for wines brought her to all the major wine regions not only in France but across the globe.
With a wish to quench her thirst for wine knowledge she is studying for the Master of Wines program which is considered the highest wine education in the trade. She is a recommended Wine Tutor and Assessor for the WSET (www.wset.org) and has also obtained the City & Guild Certificate 7302 teaching qualification.
LIZ AKED
Having travelled across the world sourcing wine for a raft of well known retailers Liz educates the next generation of wine professionals and fortunately for us consumers. A trained negotiator, educator and tennis referee she is likely to be very useful in a hostage situation and regularly steels honey from the six hives of bees her husband keeps in the garden at their Northamptonshire home.
Most Often Asked Question: What’s your favourite wine?
Most Likely to Say: I’m a Rhone Ranger
CHRIS DONALDSON MW
Chris started his wine trade career at El Vino, Fleet Street. He gained broad experience as a Buyer at Harrod’s Wine Department before leaving to help establish Roberson Wine Merchants for Buckingham Wines. He successfully completed the Master of Wine examination in 1991. Chris was CEO of Cockburn & Campbell Ltd (Wine Division of Young & Co Ltd) for 15 years before leaving to set up his own business. Now working as Export Director with The Royal Tokaji Wine Company and as a consultant to restaurants, shops, importers and producers.
When not tasting or drinking wine, he’d rather be playing cricket.
MATT DAY
Matt was Young Wine Writer of the Year in 2002 and was recently one of the wine presenters on Taste – a new fifty part Sky One food and drink series. He cut his taste buds working with Oz Clarke on WineToday.com (New York Times on the Web) and has since contributed to various publications including Wine Magazine and Harpers. In 2005 he embarked on the Master of Wine program.
THIS COULD BE YOU!
Your Face could be here…
If you think you have what it takes to join our team, please get in touch. To teach at the London Wine Academy, as a minimum requirement, you will need the WSET Diploma and existing teaching experience. We would love to hear from you.