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About Us:Andrew Healy
Born in Dublin, Ireland Andrew Healy is part of that Irish generation known as "The Pope's Children" who were raised with an outward looking view of the world and a deep and lasting appreciation for their own history and culture. Andrew was encouraged to travel early in life visiting the US twice in the late seventies and this has remained a theme in his life since. His introduction to wine was at the family dinner table and on family holidays to France and Spain in the 1980's. Wine was always part of the warm, hospitable home that he grew up in. His passion for wine truly started whilst he was at Catering College in Dublin. During this time he started his Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) exams and became fascinated by the breadth of wine available from all over the globe. On a visit to London as a Scout Leader in 1988 he was heard to say on entering the Food Halls at Harrods that "one day I'll work here". And so it came to pass. In 1990 he did his college placement in the Food Halls at Harrods. He spent 15 months working in all of the Halls ending up in the Wine Dept. From Harrods he moved to Sainsbury's to run the Wine Department at one of their most prestigious stores at Cromwell Road in West London. This was followed by a move to Head Office to work in the Wine Buying Department as an assistant to the wine buyers. His timing was great as in 1992/3/4 he saw at first hand the explosion in wines from the "New World" that were making their way into the UK. He was responsible for arranging shipping schedules, after trip tastings amongst many other tasks. His contact directly with producers from many parts of the world led him on the next stage of his odyssey into wine. In August 1994 he packed his bags after 4 great years in London and took a one way flight to LAX. He had arranged to work harvest at The Firestone Vineyard in Santa Ynez. In between this and the 1995 harvest Andrew travelled to work the 1995 harvest at Nobilo Vintners in Auckland, New Zealand. This was followed by a move to San Francisco and a job with Kermit Lynch in Berkeley. It was here that his eyes were opened to the wines made by people who cared deeply about their wine's expression of terroir. From here it was back to Ireland and whilst trying to open a café/wine bar he worked as a sommelier at Peacock Alley Restaurant. He returned to London in 1997 and following a couple of short stints with the renowned retailer, Oddbins, and as a buyer for the Food Hall and Restaurant, Villandry, he worked for BRL Hardy in a training and tasting role. Andrew hosted tastings for all facets of the trade ranging in size from 4 to 250+ people. Andrew met Guy Anderson at one of these events and Guy offered Andrew his first break in National Sales selling, most infamously, Fat Bastard Chardonnay. Along with La Chasse du Pape from the Rhone and Calvet from Bordeaux this exposure to quality brands in National Sales was invaluable. In early 2000 he took a National Accounts position with Capricorn Wines representing many highly regarded New World producers and oversaw increased sales. In late 2001 he decided to take the plunge and move home to Dublin and work with his Dad in the family business. He spent 7 years running the show and learnt a huge amount about the many challenges that face business owners in these times. Andrew moved back to Napa in late 2008 and spent some time with Crocker & Starr in St Helena before deciding that he has much to offer small, resource strapped, wineries. Andrew is currently enrolled on the WSET Diploma course, a 2-3 year course one level below the Master of Wine. Andrew feels privileged to have worked with wine for nearly 20 years. It has allowed him to traverse the globe, to cross the equator countless times, to fly over the Date Line and arrive before he has left. A few insights into Andrew Wines to take to a desert island? Most memorable wines? Most spectacular wine region visited? Central Otago, NZ Greatest innovation in wine? The Screwcap Favorite Food & Wine combination? Most spectacular place to have a glass of wine in the Valley? Favorite Beer? Guinness (had to be, but I love many others) Favorite City Visited? Venice, Italy Favorite City Lived In? San Francisco Greatest ambition? To play the saxophone, well!! | |
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