Hannah Lunn

“I’ve worked in the industry for over 11 years and would say that my biggest challenge isn’t one specific incident or moment in time. It is, in general, the difficulty of being taken seriously. I have found that my appearance as a young, smiling, enthusiastic woman has often caused others to think me incapable of deeper thought or high-level skills when it comes to wine, despite my education and experience.

Overcoming this has been more about realising that it doesn’t matter what others think and realising that staying true to your character is not only important for you but for others working in the industry. If everyone was dull and serious about wine we’d never evolve, and the industry would never become as accessible as (I believe) it should be.”

“Despite what I’ve mentioned above, I have been fortunate enough to work for two brilliant companies before launching my own, both with a strong and inspiring female presence who were a constant motivation, not just for me but for other women. To see others thriving and to have their support, especially when you’re starting out in the industry, is so important. It makes you realise you can go further; you can pass those exams, you are capable. I think nowadays social media can also have a profound positive impact for the same reasons.”

“There is so much out there to be excited about right now; it’s hard to focus on one thing. But being from Sussex, I’d have to say that the rapid and constant rise in the quality and popularity of English wine is truly joyful to see. I recently visited Everflyht whose sparkling white and rosé are sublime and was excited to hear all about what they’re doing with regenerative viticulture – not to mention their plans for some fantastic sounding future cuvées!”

“I’d like to nominate Jen Davis, a.k.a. The Wine Queen.  Jen not only holds her DipWSET but also an MSc in Viticulture and Oenology and she uses this expertise in such an exciting way; unlocking the world of wine for others to enjoy. The breadth and depth of what she does is truly inspiring – from sharing insights into her own personal vineyard project to co-founding a unique events company where dating meets wine tasting (First Glass Wine Events) to creating a stylish wine delivery service where hand-picked bottles to suit all budgets are delivered with accompanying videos and guides (Grape Nights). She has a lot to give to this industry and that in itself is just fabulous.”