Former Enotria CEO joins Berkmann Wine Cellars

The former CEO of Enotria Winecellar, Alison Levett, is joining Berkmann Wine Cellars as a non-executive chairperson.

Levett, who was named The Drinks Business Woman of the Year in 2012, is taking over from outgoing chairman Peter Lowe, who will continue to focus on the fine wine sector as the new chair of the board of Berkmann Family Holdings Ltd.

Levett said she was delighted to be returning to the wine industry after taking on a number of advisory and non-executive roles in other industries.

During her nearly eight years at Enotria, where she was well-respected for her integrity and for helping to build the reputation of her business, she diversified the business from on-trade specialist in Italian wines to a global business with a broad number of agencies from around the world.

Prior to this,  she was the UK & Ireland managing director for Allied Domecq.

“I have long admired Berkmann Wine Cellars with their full service approach to the hospitality industry, which is underpinned by a remarkable wine portfolio of iconic and respected agency relationships,” she said.

“It has been a brutal period for the hospitality sector but I have been incredibly impressed as to how Rupert Berkmann and his team have risen to these challenges, and are now emerging stronger and fitter. After a period of intense business management it’s now an ideal time to be helping them to set the vision for the next 5 years, which will certainly have their family values and passion for wine at its heart.”