Meet Shane – Bitten by the Wine Bug

If you’ve been in the shop lately, you might’ve chatted with Shane – or maybe you’ve noticed someone enthusiastically recommending a lesser-known bottle from the back shelf. Shane joined our team after a big career pivot, and he’s been bringing his love of wine (and words) to the blog for few years! 

We caught up with him to hear more about how he got here, what sparked his passion, and what he’s looking forward to sharing.

Q: Shane, tell us how you first got into wine.

Shane: I had some extra time on my hands during the pandemic, so I decided to make the most of it by studying for the WSET Level 2. What had been a passing interest very quickly turned into a full-blown passion. I suddenly found myself totally bitten by the wine bug.

Q: What happened after that?

Shane: Well, I didn’t stop there. I left the corporate world behind and went all in - signing up for and completing WSET Level 3 as quickly as I could. It was a big shift, but it just felt right. And strangely enough, studying wine also cured what I think was the world’s worst case of writer’s block.

Q: Now you’re writing for the blog – how did that come about?

Shane: When David asked if I’d be interested in writing something for the website, it felt like I’d been elected! I’m genuinely excited to share what I’ve learned, and hopefully help a few people along the way. Wine is such a deep, fascinating subject - and the more I learn, the more I want to explore.

Q: What’s your favourite part about working in the shop?

Shane: Without a doubt, it’s the fact that every day I learn something new. Whether it’s chatting with customers, tasting something unexpected, or just talking wine with the team - it’s always fresh, always interesting.

Shane’s Wine of the Moment:

Each week (or whenever inspiration strikes), Shane will be picking a wine that’s caught his attention. It might be something unusual, underrated, or just plain delicious.