IG Wines is a fine wine merchant and investment advisory company that provides wine investors and collectors with complete confidence in their fine wine transactions and portfolio management decisions. We specialise in the finest wines that constitute the backbone of investment, collecting and drinking, focusing on Bordeaux, Burgundy, Italy and other leading areas from the rest of the world.
Our expert advisors provide tailored advice to help you make the right decision, whether you are seeking to maximise a wine’s drinking horizon, or make a return on your investment. We offer complete and personalised investment analysis of your wine portfolio, with a focus on identifying buying and selling opportunities, market timing and continuous management to help you build your perfect cellar. To give clients further confidence, we provide access to our innovative tools that help you analyse the market and monitor your own investment.
The IG Wines Management Team
JON HIRSCH
CO-FOUNDER, DIRECTOR
Jonathan Hirsch is co-Founder of IG Wines. After stints in the medical technology sector and trading equities, he followed his passion and generations of his family into the wine business. He comes from a long line of wine merchants including his Great-Great Uncle who was chairman of Pimms and his Grandfather who was at one stage the largest buyer of chateau bottled claret in the UK. Jon is a trustee of the charity, 2 Water and is involved with and consults on a selection of entrepreneurial businesses as well as presenting on entrepreneurship at Imperial Business School. Jon is often considered spoilt having grown up on the finest wines the old world has to offer but he enjoys a wide selection travelling often to Napa, Bordeaux and Tuscany.
PAUL HAMMOND
CO-FOUNDER, DIRECTOR
Paul has a first class degree in philosophy and the Wine Spirit Education Trust Diploma. He is the co-founder IG Wines, President and Founder of the wine charity, 2 Water. He has worked in the fine wine industry since 2008. Paul has entrepreneurial interest, as well as a consultancy role in several other companies and several Enterprise Investment Schemes. Paul is a regular guest speaker and presenter at several business schools and writes the City Am wine club column. He loves aged claret, white Burgundy, Napa reds and is currently focusing on Tuscany, which he believes to be the most exciting wine region in the world at present.
ABIGAIL FRIEDMAN
BUYING DIRECTOR
Although born and raised in the States, it was while working in a wine bar in Paris that Abigail first developed her unquenchable thirst for fine wine. From Paris, she eventually made her way across the channel to London, where she first manned the bar at the now-sadly closed natural wine institution Terroirs before joining the Fine Wine Team at Bibendum Wine, which then led to a six-year stint as the Senior Buyer for Cru World Wine. After completing the WSET Diploma in London, Abigail eventually gave in to the lure to return to France and enrolled in the University of Bordeaux’s DUAD program (Diplôme Universitaire d’Aptitude à la Dégustation) where she spent her time living and working remotely until the end of 2019, when she made the decision to join the team at IG Wines as their Director of Buying and returned back to London. Unsurprisingly, France will always remain Abigail’s first wine love, especially the great wines of Bordeaux and Burgundy, however, her wine rack is always stocked with at least a few select bottles of Cru Beaujolais and Loire Cabernet Franc and Chenin Blanc. Beyond France, she is more than mildly obsessed by all things Riesling and Nebbiolo as well as more recently delving into Frappato from Sicily and Mencia from Bierzo and Ribeira Sacra. Outside of the office, if you cannot find Abigail in one of London’s many brilliant restaurants, she is most likely to be found in some far-flung corner of the world discovering her next new favourite wine region.
JAMES COLACICCHI
PRIVATE CLIENT SALES DIRECTOR
James (‘Cheech’) Colacicchi started his career in wine well over a decade ago in the glory days of Oddbins. By way of Lea and Sandeman, Bibendum and then finally Cru World Wine, James has been around the vinous block. Somewhere along the way he picked up an obsession with Sangiovese, all things Burgundy and the wines of the Rhone and he is now completely addicted to buying wine, of which he has masses. Increasingly James dreams of Riesling. Outside of the office he can be found in the rivers of The Highlands and Northern England looking for Salmon, and shooting pheasants during the season. Game cookery is a huge part of his life.
JONATHAN DART
SALES DIRECTOR
Having graduated from Leeds University in 2009 with a degree in music, Jonny’s formerly varied career included stints with an international adoption charity, a luxury retail business and the sports betting industry. However, a life time love affair with food and drink always called out to him and in 2012 he finally started his journey into the Wine Industry. Following two years quickly rising the ranks at Majestic Wine and obtaining his Advanced WSET Certification, Jonny joined IG Wines in 2014 as a Private Client Account Manager. He has since been fortunate enough to both run the sales team and immerse himself in the buying role, but now spends his days as the Sales Director. As well as being fascinated by the market, Jonny has an eclectic taste in both wine and spirits. That said, he is definitely happiest with a serious glass of mature Bordeaux or Burgundy in hand, ideally served alongside a Michelin star or two. When not eating and drinking you might find him hacking his way around a golf course in his spare time
MADDY HOLLICK
OPERATIONS DIRECTOR
After Maddy finished her degree in Mathematics she started her career working on the warehousing side of fine wines at London City Bond. Having liaised with the IG Wines team regularly, looking for a challenge and wanting to expand her knowledge of the trade, she decided to head up to the city and join the team. Although most of her time is spent under water playing hockey she enjoys a glass of wine on her rest days and the odd cocktail at the weekend.
PERCIVAL BROWN
CHAIRMAN
With 65 years’ experience and as a leading name in the London wine trade Mr Brown’s accolades speak for themselves. His career began in 1944 in a London Gin Distillery, quickly becoming a Director of Atkinson Baldwin and Co Ltd. Here he was commissioned by the owners Drambuie to purchase the oldest registered firm in Bordeaux from its owner, Chateau Cantemerle. It soon became the first serious importer of Domaine bottled Burgundies as well as the biggest single buyer of first growth clarets, Chateau d’Yquem and vintage ports. Under this guise he launched bottled Macallan Malt Whisky and The Harvey Walbanger into the UK market. In 1982 he left the group and purchased Hayman Brothers a very respected Burgundy and German wine specialist. Adding Bordeaux wines and fine spirits to their portfolio they shortly became the largest supplier of wines and spirits to British Airways. Mr Brown also had a keen interest in the London restaurant scene owning shares of Le Gavroche and La Tante Claire amongst others as well as assuming a directorship of Motcombs Restaurant and Bow Wine Vaults. Mr Brown was appointed as the Chairman of the Wine Trade Benevolent Society and President of the Guild of Sommeliers. He now resides as an examiner for the board of Master Sommeliers.
The IG Wines Team
TOBY ROYLE
PRIVATE CLIENT SALES
Toby ‘Dylan’ Royle started his wine career within the walls of London’s oldest department store, Fortnum and Mason. He built his experience managing private wine accounts with a focus on high net worth individuals and corporate clientele. It was during his time at Fortnums that he purchased his first case of Burgundy, an investment which led to a three month crusade around France in a self converted jeep. Whilst travelling he completed his Advanced WSET Exams with Distinction. Toby believes that music is the ultimate wine pairing and as a Bob Dylan fanatic, often speaks in quoted lyrics. Captivating Pinot Noir, Old School German Riesling and First Class Vintage Champagne is where he is focusing his own collection. He’s also passionate about New Era Napas and Hill Side Rhones. Outside of the office Toby feels most at home on the water spending his weekends surfing in Devon and watching as much live sport as possible.
DAN MALYON
SENIOR ACCOUNT MANAGER
Dan first became interested in wine when also developing his love for food and cooking. He has a strong background in foreign exchange brokering and consultancy in which he developed his account management skills from there moved into IG Wines as a Private Client Account Manager looking after clients private wine and investment needs. Outside of work Dan is a rated tennis player playing at a high club level and enjoys drinking a nice bottle of red with friends.
HARRY WILSON
PRIVATE CLIENT SALES
Harry’s love for wine stems from an early age. He vividly recalls his first taste of wine during a balmy summer holiday to France with his family. Since then his passion has developed, lured by both the romanticism and history along with the commercial side of wine investment. Harry built his experience at Laithwaite’s Wines and Fine & Rare Wines where he honed his skills in managing private client wine accounts and investment portfolios. He is also WSET Level 3 qualified. Outside of work Harry enjoys discovering new restaurants with friends and also competes in target shooting at club level.
CHRIS CASANOVAS
LOGISTICS COORDINATOR
After finishing his degree in Engineering Chris decided to travel the world for a couple of years. It was whilst travelling in Australia that the idea of working in wine began. He began working for Chandon Australia front of house before moving and working a vintage with the winery team to increase his wine knowledge. After returning to the UK Chris Joined IG Wines to further expand his knowledge and is currently undertaking his Advanced WSET.
MATTHEW COLLINS
OPERATIONS SUPPORT COORDINATOR
Matthew first gained a love and appreciation for wine during his family holidays to Tuscany. He spent many summers visiting wineries and helping his father select wines to bring home with them. In time, after stints in teaching and personal training, Matthew would join Majestic Wine where his tastes and knowledge grew. While there he gained a love of white Burgundy and Claret as well as achieving his WSET advanced certification. Working as a Store Manager taught Matthew many things about the wine trade and inspired him to move to IG Wines to experience the fine wine market. When he can, Matthew likes to spend his weekends at Castles, taking part in re-enactments of medieval sieges and combat tournaments.
GEMMA WOOD
LOGISTICS COORDINATOR
Having grown up around wine with a father in the trade Gemma knew from early on this was what she wanted to do. Having set up a wine society at university and subsequently spending two years working for a medium sized importer in the North she left England for warmer climes for 2 years of winery work, making wine in order to get a deeper, more practical understanding of the process where she was lucky enough to learn under top winemakers such as Patrick Léon. Since returning, she has joined IG Wines looking to expand her knowledge of the fine wine sector and is undertaking her Advanced WSET. When push comes to shove she most enjoys aged left bank claret with a perfect roast or white burgundy from the source where she spends a lot of her holiday. She speaks French and is a keen traveller.
STUART CHAPLIN
FINANCIAL CONTROLLER
After acquiring his degree in philosophy and literature, Stuart began work in the travel food industry where he supported the commercial finance team of a large multinational. Working his way through the company, Stuart served in a multitude of Finance and Commercial roles both in the UK and abroad. Time in Hong Kong both deepened his finance knowledge and love for food and drinks in all forms, whilst Stockholm allowed him to develop a keen commercial understanding. Returning home to the UK at the start of the Pandemic, private consultancy work exposed Stuart to a wider range of industries, before he set his sights on IG Wines and the compelling business they operate. He is still developing his wine palate, though he enjoys anything that pairs well with good conversation. In his spare time, Stuart writes story games and reads whatever he can get his hands on. He also enjoys every opportunity to try interesting new cuisines from around the world.