Q&A

Give us a Netflix recommendation. Ozark. But everyone has seen that. Just watched Maestro in Blue. The first Greek series to make it to Netflix.

Do you have any sporting loyalties?

Leeds United. God help me. I used to watch Leeds in the 70s when I lived in Harrogate. The football was great but the fans were horrific and there were fights everywhere. It was in the days of Billy Bremner, Peter Lorimer and Sniffer Clark. The violence usually started on the pitch! So I stopped. Haven’t been to see them since.

Who’s your favourite music artist?

So many. My first love was Bowie. Then I discovered The Ramones, The Clash and The Pistols. I have always loved Nile Rodgers, even when a punk. Bon Iver.

Who’s your favourite wine critic?

Olly Smith. I love Olly. He tastes brilliantly and has a rare talent of being able to describe the essence of a wine in a few words. He engages with people and gets them drinking and enjoying wine. He is also a great human being. Always positive and full of beans.

What’s your most treasured possession? My Ibanez Artist 1979 electric guitar. Given to me by my mum on my 21st birthday.

What’s your proudest moment?

Steve started at Martinez Fine Wines in Ilkley and joined Oddbins in 1987 as a trainee buyer. By the time he left in 2013, as buying and marketing director, he had helped the business win numerous awards and was instrumental in introducing Australian, Chilean and Greek wines to the UK market. He then set up Novum Wines, which became part of Hallgarten Druitt in 2010. He is now head of buying for the company.

What’s the first wine you remember drinking?

Apart from my mate’s dad’s homebrewed “Motor Scooter and Railing”, it was Michel Redde Pouilly-Fumé 1978.

What job would you be doing if you weren’t in the wine trade?

I would have loved to have been a rock star, but I am musically challenged. Or beach bum. I started my life as one and I am planning on being one again.

How do you relax?

Usually with a glass of wine. Anytime when I am in Greece. By playing the guitar very badly. Going to the gym.

What’s the best book you’ve read recently?

Lonely Boy by Steve Jones of The Sex Pistols. I tend not to read for pleasure; I’m dyslexic. I can’t believe how many people in the trade I have met that are. I think it has helped me in my job. I tend not to write notes, just the wine description and either an X for “don’t bother” or ticks from 1 to 5 if the wine is worthy, and a few bulletpoints. I think once you have committed something to writing your brain files it away. I like to keep the files open so I can remember the wines to compare and contrast in my head at any time. I don’t think it has held me back at all, although it might be a reason why I am so rubbish at languages. I wish I had been able to speak French in my early days in the trade.

The birth of my son and watching him develop into a wonderful human being.

What’s your biggest regret? No regrets.

Who’s your hero?

My dad. He was an honest, decent bloke. Taught me only to say something when I had something worthwhile to say; very Yorkshire. He was conscripted into the Second World War at 18 and recruited into the Reconnaissance Corps, apparently one of the forerunners of the SAS.

Any hidden talents?

No discernible talents at all.

What’s your favourite place in the UK? The Yorkshire Dales. But my favourite place anywhere is on a Greek beach in the summer.

If we could grant you one wish … Eternal youth.