Originally from Canada, Ben has led Friarwood as its owner and director since 2015. His deep passion for the drinks industry and knowledge ensures that Friarwood’s offerings of wines and spirits uphold the highest qualities and standards, helping establish Friarwood as a top wholesaler and retailer in the drinks market.

Growing up on a picturesque estate in St Emilion, Auriane spent her entire life with wine production as a way of life. Driven by the same passion, she trained as a winemaker first and then pursued an MBA in Wine Business, Marketing & Management from INSEEC, Bordeaux. Auriane enjoys spending time with her family, sharing good bottles with friends and travelling anywhere warm and sunny!

Claudia grew up in Italy where she started to learn about wine straight from the kitchen table. She grew into the UK wine and spirits industry starting in logistics and then moving
into management.

Claudia loves to play rugby and enjoys a fresh mojito on a Greek beach.

Toni, originally from Kosovo, has been a vital member of our team since 2005. With his extensive background in the wine trade and experience as a restaurant general manager, Toni has been instrumental in strengthening our sales team. Residing in Bermondsey, his deep industry knowledge and dedication have greatly contributed to our success over the years.

Diana originates from beautiful, scenic, but infamous Transylvania—she claims never to have seen a vampire! She has a keen eye for detail and an obsession with numbers.

Diana has lived in London for the past ten years. When not balancing our books, she enjoys exploring the world of Alsace wines, with a particular passion for the aromatic Gewürztraminer.

Having grown up in Brittany, France, then spent much of his career in the world of fine dining - including many years at La Tante Claire restaurant in London as sommelier and manager, Patrice is passionate about all things wine and food!  Patrice enjoys nothing better than sitting round the table with family or friends enjoying great food and wines; but in his spare time, he can often be found using his hidden talents with some sort of DIY project on the go!

Nelson brings a vibrant blend of brand strategic and creative flair to Friarwood as our Spirits Portfolio Brands Manager. With a rich background spanning key roles in London's top bars in five-star hotels and his entrepreneurial spirit rooted in Lisbon, Nelson is instrumental in elevating our spirits selection, expertly balancing market trends with genuine passion for brand storytelling.

Originally from the vibrant city of Bogotá, Colombia, Alison has nurtured a passion for personal growth, spirituality and romance through reading. Since joining Friarwood, her initial curiosity about wine has blossomed into a deep enthusiasm, recently culminating in achieving her Level 2 Award in Wines from WSET.

Nick fell in love with wines from the Rhône Valley in the mid-90s which sparked a lifelong passion. Nick loves travelling to the hidden winemaking regions of Europe, discovering the cuisine and uncorking new finds with friends. Away from work, you can usually find him roaming the countryside with foraging basket in one hand and a pub guide in the other.

The newest member of our Marketing and Retail team, Max has a background steeped in the world of wine and vineyards. His journey from government policy to the wine industry underscores his dedication to pursuing his passion.

Renata is part of our finance team and joined in October 2023. Renata is an optimistic person who was brought up in Poland, a country full of scenic landscapes and beautiful food. 

After work, her favourite activities are swimming and, on a calm day, reading in the garden with a glass of Chateau Montviel.

Franck, our delightful senior retail manager of our Wimbledon Village shop, originally hails from the Western Coast of France.

He is passionate about providing exceptional customer service, meeting new people, and loves sharing experiences related to food, wine, and travel.