Meet the Wine Division
Plumpton College Wine Division benefits from having a talented staff team, some of whom have worked extensively in the Wine Industry in a range of areas such as wine research, global wine sales and marketing and vineyard management.
With their combined experience, passion and knowledge, the Plumpton Wine Division can certainly position themselves as one of the best wine training colleges in the world, with all students benefitting from being taught in state-of-the-art facilities.
With industry leading researchers who regularly contribute their findings within the industry, you can be certain that you will learn all the essential skills during your time at Plumpton, preparing you to find employment in this diverse and dynamic sector.
Sam Linter - Director of Wine
Sam brings a wealth of experience and accomplishments to her new role. Prior to joining Plumpton College, she served as the Managing Director and Head Winemaker at Bolney Wine Estate, where she achieved remarkable milestones that transformed the brand into one of the UK's top ten wine producers. Under her leadership, Bolney Wine Estate pioneered a successful tourism model, leading the way as one of the first UK vineyards to do so.
Sam continues her current role as the Chair of Wine GB. Her dedication to raising awareness about English wine is a hallmark of her career. Throughout the years, Sam has been an active participant in various groups and initiatives aimed at nurturing the industry's growth and amplifying its recognition. Notably, she co-founded Sustainable Wines of Great Britain during her tenure at Bolney Wine Estate. This commitment led to the business achieving full accreditation for its eco-friendly approach.
Nick Hutchinson - Programme Manager FdA Wine Business and BA International Wine Business
Nick has a BSc Economy from UCL and trained as an Accountant at Arthur Andersen, before embarking on a career in Investment Banking, where he was a Managing Director of Counterparty Risk Management at Morgan Stanley. After surviving the financial crisis, a decision was made to see life outside the city, by enrolling on the BA Wine Business Degree at Plumpton. Nick graduated top of his class with 1st Class honours.
After graduating from Plumpton, Nick spent nearly 8 years at Bolney Wine Estate in Sussex, working in Trade Sales and later in Hospitality as manager of the extensive tour programme and the cellar door. He is delighted to be back at Plumpton, a place with real resonance for him, as it allowed him to retrain and refocus and hopes that students will be equally inspired by their time here.
James Clapham - Programme Manager MSc Viticulture & Oenology
James taught the laboratory-based elements on the BSc Viticulture and Oenology programme prior to becoming the PM for the MSc programme. His work in the lab included both chemical and microbiological analysis, as well as other key subject areas.
"Chemistry and microbiological processes are the foundations of wine science. Good knowledge of these subject areas is crucial to truly understanding wine".
More about James
Having graduated with a degree in Microbiology at the University of Bristol in 2007, James then went on to complete an MSc in Biomedical Science at the University of Brighton in 2014.
Research projects have included cloning and expression of bacterial adhesins , discovery of novel antimicrobial substances and enzyme based synthetic peptides for the prevention of biofilm formation. In 2021 he will begin his PhD.
Academic Qualifications:
- Degree in Microbiology at the University of Bristol in 2007
- MSc in Biomedical Science at the University of Brighton in 2014
Sally Wright - Programme Development Manager
Sally recently joined Plumpton College as the Programme Development Manager for the Wine Division Short Courses. She is responsible for developing the short course programme and liaising with industry stakeholders. Sally is committed to helping students find the right courses, whether they are looking to build on existing knowledge or interested in learning about UK wine production as a new skill. Having moved into wine following a 25-year career in Investment Management, Sally enjoys sharing her experience and helping those who are considering a career pivot into the UK wine Industry.
Prior to joining Plumpton College, Sally was the Operations Manager at Vinescapes, coordinating the team to support establishment of new vineyards and the ongoing management of client vineyards. Previously she worked at Albourne Estate hosting at the Cellar Door and Vineyard and Winery tours. Sally has a MSc in Viticulture and Oenology from Plumpton College and a BSc in Biological Sciences from the University of Durham.
Rebecca Apley - Wine Business Lecturer
Rebecca has been working in the business of wine for 15 years, and is delighted to accept a post lecturing Wine Business at Plumpton College. Her experience in the hospitality industry is wide ranging, with a portfolio of clients across Yorkshire and Sussex, including time teaching WSET courses for the fantastic Yorkshire Wine School. Her most recent project was for Henners Vineyard, Herstmonceux, managing their first direct to consumer venture.
This beautiful new cellar door is now enjoying its second season open to the public. Rebecca has specialised in this kind of opening management and training since setting up her company, Apfelbaum Ltd, in 2017. She has worked with household names like Diageo and Heineken as well as unique independents such as Once Upon A Vine. Here, Rebecca and chef Vanessa Doyle won the Loire Valley Wines X Harpers merchants’ competition with their pop-up dining experience, Loire Valley Nights. Before Apfelbaum, Rebecca worked in restaurants, bars, and pubs, developing a love for whiskey, wine, and exceptional customer service.
Jo Cowderoy - Viticulture Lecturer
I am very pleased to have returned to teaching at Plumpton College and have the opportunity to share my knowledge and experience. I first taught at Plumpton between 2010 and 2015 and I enjoy seeing the successes of past students - many now leaders in industry!
I first became interested in viticulture at Rock Lodge Vineyard in Sussex (now managed by Plumpton College) many years ago, while studying agriculture at London University’s Wye College. I have over 25 years’ experience including vineyard management and wine production in the UK and France, wine sales and marketing, journalism, as well as education and training. I also have WSET level 4 diploma.
Sarah Midgley - Winemaker, Lecturer & Programme Manager for Wine Apprenticeships
After completing a Grad. Dip. at Lincoln University in NZ she made wine around the world and worked as Assistant Winemaker at Camel Valley vineyard in Cornwall. She worked as Plumpton College winemaker from 2014-2020 and now heads up our apprenticeships in wine as Programme Manager. She is passionate about the wine industry and sustainability, and is a member of the Sustainable Wines of Great Britain (SWGB) Winemaking group.
Deepika Koushik - Winemaker
Her winemaking experience includes stints in the Russian River Valley in the USA and Burgundy, where she was awarded the Confrérie des Chevaliers du Tastevin Award (2019). In addition to this, Deepika was the recipient of the INSPIRE Scholarship for topping her State in HSC level (equivalent to A levels) exams in India and was the recipient of the Mrs Ferooza Easwaran Golden Jubilee Prize for Securing the highest grade in Microbiology (2013-2014). Deepika has taught undergraduate students microbiology in India and the USA.
“I am passionate about viticulture and oenology and I have a strong understanding of the science at its core and an appreciation for the tradition that comes with creating wine.”
David Blake - Wine Lecturer and Vineyard Manager
David has extensive experience in the vineyard and winemaking and has worked vintages around the world, including Spain, New Zealand, Napa, USA and Mexico.
More about David
He worked in France for several years, including in Chablis for Domaine William Fevre, St Aubin for Domain Hubert Lamy, and Domaine La Tour Saint Hilliare, where he held winemaking and vineyard manager roles in both conventional and biodynamic vineyards.
David is passionate about sharing his experience of vineyard management and winemaking, which led him to return to the UK to become vineyard manager and lecturer at Plumpton College.
Maddie Cannon - Viticulture Lecturer
Maddie has a keen interest in premium grape production, English terroirs and old vine management. Having been raised on a family fruit farm in Kent she knows how key a strong grounding is to sound fruit growing. After studying Crop Science in the UK Maddie then went on to carry out research in both Australia, at CSIRO, before coming back to work at East Malling Research.
More about Maddie
In 2017 Maddie went on to become a qualified agronomist. Early in 2018, Maddie joined Nyetimber, rising to become one of the company's viticulturists, responsible for sites in Kent, Sussex and Hampshire, leading both the companies' agronomy and research teams with a primary focus on quality, pushing viticultural practices forward as the company scaled. Now at Plumpton, Maddie is excited to bring both her technical and practical viticultural knowledge to the role.
