Peter Wood

Peter started working for Oddbins in 2001 before starting St Andrews Wine Company in 2012. He has also been a wine writer, buyer and consultant and named as one of the top 100 most influential people in the drinks trade.

What hidden talent do you have? I can cook a really good roast rib of beef.

What is your favourite book? The Moon's a Balloon by David Niven

What do you wish you could do? I'd like to have even the slightest amount of musical talent.

What is your favourite place on earth that isn't home? Anywhere with winemakers in it - or the A68 road from Edinburgh to north Yorkshire.

You are only allowed one flavour ice cream - what do you pick? Anything from Wheelbirks Ice cream parlour as it is made with milk from Jersey cows and is staggeringly good.

What is the best wine you've ever tried? It is definitely a port... the issue is which! 1945, 63 or 70 Grahams because I love old Grahams vintage and I know 1970 better than any other port? Or maybe it is 1927 Taylors because of the kindness of an old man called Henry who shared his 80th birthday drink with me, or maybe '27 Real Companhia Velha Colheita, tasted in Porto with a member of the Silva Reis family... or 1868 Warres... or Taylors Scion... Oh I don't know!


Miller Cornelius

What hidden talent do you have? I don't have one! I'd be absolutely lost trying to participate in a talent show.

What is your favourite book? It changes weekly! Although when I'm writing this it is A Cheesemonger's Guide to the British Isles. I may need to ask Peter to update this regularly!

What do you wish you could do? Speak more languages.

What is your favourite place on earth that isn't home? Pawley Island, SC.

You are only allowed one flavour ice cream - what do you pick? Mint, hands down.

What is the best wine you've ever tried? Another one that will need updating regularly, but for now, I have to go with a 1927 Real Companhia Velha Colheita tank sample, enjoyed overlooking the Douro with Tiago Silva Reis.


Laura Coffin

What hidden talent do you have? I make mean pumpkin bread loaf

What is your favourite book? There are too many, but recently, I've been returning to The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S.Lewis

What do you wish you could do? Live in a small cottage in Vermont to write novels and bake bread.

What is your favourite place on earth that isn't home? Lake Winnipesaukee in New Hampshire

You are only allowed one flavour ice cream - what do you pick? Fior di latte- the original gelato flavour

What is the best wine you've ever tried? Domaine les Bastides Vin Cuit Provencal. It's a beautiful wine traditionally opened during the 13-day Christmas festival in Provance.  All stewed strawberries and Christmas spice that reminds me of holidays baking in the kitchen with my mum. 


Jinchao Jiang

What hidden talent do you have? I used to be able to do Ballroom Dance during middle school.

What is your favourite book? I wish I knew.

What do you wish you could do? Teleportation

What is your favourite place on earth that isn't home? The Schengen area! For a quiet place you go to Switzerland, for a hip place you go to Berlin, for good food and the sea go to Southern France and Italy. It has everything!

You are only allowed one flavour ice cream - what do you pick? Matcha

What is the best wine you've ever tried? 1985 Bouchard Pere & Fils, Greves Vignes de L'Enfant Jesus 1er Cru.


Natalie Wood

What hidden talent do you have? Being a pole dancing instructor and being able to go upside down on various street signs around St Andrews on a night out. 

What is your favourite book? The Master and Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov. The devil goes to Moscow with a talking cat in tow and creates a lot of chaos. There is also the greatest party in all of literature. It's just a fab book.

What do you wish you could do? I want to visit Iceland. The natural landscape is beautiful. 

What is your favourite place on earth that isn't home? Back in Cambridge, there's a casual gallery called Kettle's Yard. It's the residence of Jim Ede. Ede was an art collector who considered many artists personal friends. The space is absolutely magical and the walls are covered in artwork, many of them gifted to the artist. One painting was even given simply in exchange for a coffee. 

You are only allowed one flavour ice cream - what do you pick? My favourite icecream comes solely from Jack's Gelato back in Cambridge and the best scoop has always been Black Sesame.

What is the best wine you've ever tried? Although I've been lucky enough to unintentionally find myself next to a glass of Petrus, my favourite wine is probably the Repasso from Bodegas Renacer that we have here at St Andrews Wine Company. This Malbec from Argentina is just so gloriously velvety and always makes me feel like I want to dress up. 


Cate Cleary

What hidden talent do you have? I can hold a core strengthening plank position for 5 minutes

What is your favourite book? This was a very difficult question because I have so many favourites but The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini will always be a book that will remain in my mind.

What do you wish you could do? Draw, paint, anything artistic with an outcome that actually looks good....

What is your favourite place on earth that isn't home? Eagle Creek ski run on Goat's Eye Mountain, Sunshine Village Ski Slopes, Banff, Canada. I LOVE skiing and this place has a special place in my heart because its where I first learned to ski and have been lucky enough to return multiple times. This particular ski run is my favourite out of the entire set of mountains. 

You are only allowed one flavour ice cream - what do you pick? It has to be pistaccio gelato (but it has to be from a gelateria in Italy - the exact one is still to be confirmed)

What is the best wine you've ever tried? So far I would have to say 1963 Grahams, but I also do love the 1996 Colheita by Poças.