Top sommelier joins Flint Wines

Master Sommelier Gearoid Devaney has joined independent UK retailer Flint Wines.

Devaney has been recruited to develop the merchant’s increasing restaurant business and is said to be a “key element” in the four-year old company’s future growth strategy.

Formerly sommelier at Tom Aiken’s in London and Pierre Gagnaire’s restaurant in Paris, Devaney (pictured, far left), has been hired by the merchant for his “impeccable wine credentials” as well as his “fantastic” customer service ethos.

Speaking of his new position, Devaney said: “The opportunity to join Flint was too good to miss and came at a time when I was looking for a new challenge.

“I’ve known [co-owners] Jason [Haynes] and Sam [Clarke] professionally for years and I was aware that they had one of the most exciting wine lists in the business. There are simply no weak links.”

One of the appealing aspects of the role at Flint, according to Devaney, is its focus on Burgundy. “They know Burgundy inside out and trust their instincts in spotting the next generation of talented producers, which means alongside the famous names, of which they have plenty, they have some great value wines which over-perform massively,” he added.

Clarke, co-owner of Flint, said: “Despite the recession and a falling exchange rate, Flint Wines has really prospered and we are in a strong position to really kick on and grow the business significantly. Gearoid will be a key element in this future growth and we are very excited about the next 12 months.”

Devaney became a Master Sommelier in 2009.

To learn more about Flint Wines visit www.flintwines.com

Jane Parkinson, 06.10.2010