New head sommelier at Langham Hotel
Valeria Laura Rodrguez has joined the Langham Hotel in London as head sommelier.
Her previous post was at The Vineyard at Stockcross, where she was assistant wine director.
She has also worked at The Bryant Park Hotel in New York and Caesar Park Hotel in Buenos Aires.
Rodrguez says: This is a fabulous time to be joining The Langham Hotel. Our new bar, Artesian, designed by David Collins, opens in December, and next year the restaurant will also be transformed, reopening in the summer of 2007.'
From Plumpton to Portugal
Liz Wells has been appointed trainee winemaker at
10 International, the new company set up by Bill Rolfe, formerly of United Wineries.
Wells, who is currently training at Plumpton College, has just completed the 2006 harvest in Portugal.
Rolfe's fellow director Toby Hancock says: We are delighted to have a young British winemaker on the team who
we believe will give valuable input to our partner producers around the world, as well as for our own new brands.'
Double appointment at H&H
Two new sales executives have been appointed at H&H Bancroft. Rob Allen, formerly of Percy Fox, joins the London trade sales team, while Jason Busby, who was previously at Majestic and English Wines Group, has joined to develop key accounts and national spread'.
New faces at Corney & Barrow
Corney & Barrow has appointed Rebecca Palmer as on-trade buyer, while Charlie Stephenson joins the on-trade regional sales team. Palmer, who was previously a buyer at Direct Wines, will work alongside associate director
Alison Buchanan and MD Adam Brett-Smith.
Promotion at PLB
PLB, which looks after brands including Spier and Sutter
Home, has promoted Claire Summersby to head its marketing department. She replaces Pamela Dunn, who
has left PLB after six years.
Summersby will be supported by Paul Shelton, who has been promoted to trade marketing coordinator, and marketing assistant Adele Gould.