About us

The New Zealand Sommelier and Wine Professionals Association is uniquely poised to help develop the knowledge and skills of people working with wine and other beverages. Our focus is on people who work in cafés and restaurants, hotels and lodges, cellar doors and in wine sales and marketing. These are primarily customer service roles across hospitality, tourism and wine businesses. 

Being curious to learn more about the products that you work with not only stimulates the employee and leads to greater job satisfaction but also helps enhance the visitor/customer experience and may result in higher sales and profitability for the business.

Summary of our goals

• To create a community of people from around New Zealandworking with wine, beverages, wine and beverage sales, marketing within the sectors of hospitality, wine, wine tourism, wine education, wine marketing and sales.
• To foster and encourage the role of sommeliers and wine professionals and raise service standards, ethics and professionalism.
• To foster education of wine and other beverages.
• To assist, and where possible offer guidance to, those wanting to develop career pathwaysas a sommelier and/or wine professional.
• To raise funds for the purpose of assisting members to attend eventsthrough membership levies, donations, sponsorships and various fundraising activities for the purposedof assisting members and others.
• To support international cooperation and build links to related international organisations, competitions and events.
• To organise and conduct conferences, events and activitieswhich promote the objects and purposes of the Association.
• The Association is not for profitand registered under the Incorporated Societies Act 1908.

Constitution

Read our constitution to discover why we were formed and how we operate.

Meet the Committee

Celia Hay

Celia is the director of New Zealand School of Food and Wine and was chef-patron of Hay's Restaurant for 17 years and holds the WSET Diploma. She is author of the New Zealand Wine Guide (2019 2nd ed.)  and How to Grow your hospitality business (3rd ed. 2017). Celia is the founding director of the NZ School of Food & Wine. 

Karen Fistonich

Karen is the former chair of Villa Maria Wines and has served on the Board of Directors for nearly 20 years following a successful career in international banking with ANZ. Karen showed a keen interest in her family's business as a teenager and worked in the Villa Maria wine shop while studying towards her BA in Psychology at the University of Auckland.

Nick Hewitt

Nick is an experienced sales professional with strong leadership, business development and relationship-building skills. He is currently the General Manager of Beverage Bureau Distributors. Nick is certified by the Court of Master Sommeliers and holds the WSET Level 2.

Tori Haysom

Victoria "Tori" Haysom trained as a chef and then moved into the world of wine. Tori holds the WSET Level 3 and is currently studying the WSET Diploma of Wine. Tori is the Senior Account Manager for Dhall & Nash Fine Wines.

Wayne Shennen

Wayne is the sommelier-patron of Rangitoto Tokyo, New Zealand Wine and Craft Sake Bar. Wayne holds CMS Certified Sommelier, Spanish Wine Scholar Award, 2nd in NZ Sommelier of the Year 2017. He holds the Advanced Level of Certified Sake Professionals and is author of the e-book Demystifying Sakè.

Andrea Martinisi

Andrea was born in Italy and worked in the UK for Heston Blumenthal at the Fat Duck and legendary sommelier Gerard Basset MS, MW. Andrea holds the CMS Advanced Sommelier and won NZ Best Sommelier in 2021 and again in 2022. He was placed 8th at the ASI Best Sommelier of the Year 2023. Andrea is Beverage Director of The Grove Restaurant, Auckland.

Angela Allan

Angela has extensive experience in hospitality. She holds NZ Certificate in Professional Wine Knowledge, WSET 3, CMS Certified and French Wine Scholar credentials. In 2023, Angela won NZ Sommelier of the Year for 2023. Angela is a staunch advocate for New Zealand wine at home and around the world.

Cashias Gumbo

Cashias Gumbo originally from Zimbabwe is a certified sommelier with credentials from CMS, WSET, Cape Wine Academy of South African and the University of Capetown Wine Business School. He is the founder of Gumbo Family and Galina Wines. Currently, he excels as the Auckland region's Business Development Manager for Brandhouse Distribution, showcasing his expertise and passion for the wine industry.

Oliver Hay

Oliver has been appointed as the secretary-treasurer of NZ Sommeliers and Wine Professionals. He has trained as a computer systems engineer with long periods in hospitality working part time as a waiter, barista, superyacht sous chef. Oliver is the general manager of New Zealand School of Food and Wine.