Our Story
Swains Wine Bar & Store is the culmination of Victoria Sharples’ passion for wine and food. Her career spans across Australia, Europe and the UK. Strong, determined and knowledgeable in all things wine, this Antipodean has created the ideal place to escape and indulge in a world of proper wine and proper food.
Victoria Sharples
Victoria “fell into” the wine industry whilst studying. Since then, her journey has been eclectic and diverse. Victoria has been at the coalface of buying, producing and selling wine. As a wine entrepreneur, she established her own wine importing businesses in the UK and Australia. Her wine experience is peppered with skills acquired from her roles as brand ambassador, brand manager, buyer, sommelier, retailer, educator and judge. Before opening Swains, Victoria worked as Head of Wine Operations at St. JOHN (the Michelin-starred restaurant group in London, with its own winery in the Minervois, France). Here she developed a niche, blending wines to a specific style and price. Victoria continues to be involved in the industry, providing mentorship for The Drinks’ Trust’s new initiative, Drinks’ Community Mentoring Programme, and regularly participates in masterclasses and trade forums.