Guy Hooper

Background

About Guy Hooper

I have worked all my life in the world of wine. I started my wine career in 1993 at Majestic Wine Warehouses in the UK, where I was able to educate and refine my palate by tasting many great and varied wines from around the world. At the same time I was able to perfect the theoretical side of my wine knowledge at the WSET, where I passed the Higher Certificate (now the Advanced Certificate). In the meantime, I also experienced wine making first hand, when I went to Bordeaux to work during the 1994 harvest at Chateau de Sours. During these 3 years I also got a perfect introduction to Sales & Marketing, team building and leadership. However, my passion for wine, taste for travel and affinity to the Hispanic world meant that it didn’t take long for me to embark on a life-changing adventure that would take me to Chile. Here I have worked for 3 Chilean wineries (De Martino, Casa Tamaya & Veramonte) over a period of more than 29 years on the commercial side, helping them open and develop multiple sales channels worldwide, whilst building the brands in the Premium segments of the wine trade around the world. At the end of 2015 a chapter was closed, and 2016 saw the beginning of a fresh one, as I went out on my own for the very first time and founded "wine2design" together with my wife, looking for new horizons and different challenges, with the goal of helping smaller Chilean vignerons sell their wines and build their brands around the globe. Nevertheless, it wasn't too long before the De Martino family asked me to return to the family winery for a third stint. This time to work alongside the fourth generation, on the commercial side once again, as Market Development Manager. As well as selling wines for over 30 years, I have also written about them, have been part of the tasting panel at the IWC in London and taught about the wine industry at a local University from time to time, as well as making presentations to visiting MBA students who want to learn about the Chilean wine business. In the April 2004 issue of the UK’s “Harpers” wine trade magazine I was chosen as one of the “most dynamic personalities within the Chilean wine industry” in an article written by Joanna Simon. On a personal note, I also make my own homemade, handcrafted wine from 662 vines planted in our family's front garden in the heart of the Maipo Valley. The wine is called "Hoops" and you can follow our family adventure on Instagram at @caviahuewines where you will also see that we've added a second wine to the Caviahue Wines portfolio, called "Vecino"- cheers!