The Armit Wines private clients team offer our customers a dedicated personal account management service with no additional fee. They will be your primary point of contact for all purchases, concerns or questions about wine investment and current wine market conditions.
The team are continually working with their clients to develop and manage their wine collections. With an incredible passion for wine and an extensive knowledge of the Armit Wines portfolio and wider fine wine market, they are experts when it comes to knowing what to drink now and what to save for future enjoyment. The best way to demonstrate this is at one of our frequent dinners and tastings held throughout the year. They range from more formal dinners with winemakers to more informal Paulée style affairs.
Above all, we value personal relationships, and it is most important to us that you enjoy your experience of buying fine wine from Armit Wines.
Peter Valiunas
Head of Private Clients
Email: pvaliunas@armitwines.co.uk
Peter has been with Armit since 2014 and transitioned into the world of fine wine after a career in the City. He has had a fondness for all things vinous from an early age, with a predilection for the Old World and Burgundy in particular. He was lucky enough to explore many of Burgundy’s cellars while living in Geneva in the early ‘90s and is agnostic on geography and grape variety when it comes to tasting - as long as a wine is well made and interesting!
In his spare time Peter loves to read and appreciate his wife’s fine cuisine, perhaps a bit too much!
Alex Robertson
Private Client Account Manager
Email: arobertson@armitwines.co.uk
With over eight years of experience in the wine trade, Alex started his career on the shop floors at Oddbins. Keen to experience the winemaking side of the business he completed a short stint at Los Vascos winery in Chile, before furthering his experience at Lea & Sandeman and Laithwaites, and four years with the fine wine team at Bancroft Wines. Alex joined Armit wines in April 2013, attracted by one of the finest portfolios in the trade and enjoys looking after a host of clients from all over the world, advising them on all aspects of their wine buying needs. Other than wine, Alex loves weekends in the countryside, skiing, cycling and visiting his local butcher.
Malcolm Willatts
Private Client Account Manager
Email: mwillatts@armitwines.co.uk
As a means of making ends meet (i.e. funding student drinking) at university, Malcolm found his way to the local Oddbins to stack shelves. Working with talented and enthusiastic managers rubbed off and a variety of full-time wine related jobs followed as his studies came to an end. He began learning the ropes in private client sales with a London merchant for 3 years before joining Armit Wines in April 2015.
When not selling wine he enjoys eating, rugby and more wine, not always in that order. His wines of choice are eclectic but often Burgundian, German and increasingly Italian in origin.
Oli Smith
Private Client Account Manager
Email: osmith@armitwines.co.uk
For Oli, it was a sip of Sauternes that sparked the realisation that wine was something to get excited about. As time passed– and more tasting – a passion for wine grew. A three year stint at Majestic Wine followed, culminating in managing the flagship Fine Wine centre in St. John’s Wood before joining Armit.
Champagne, Rhone and Bordeaux are the wines that you will most likely find gracing his glass, though Italian wines are providing more pleasure than ever. Outside of wine it is hiking, cooking, cycling and the hunt for the best street food in London that occupies most of his time.
Vincent Clarke
Private Client Account Manager
Email: vclarke@armitwines.co.uk
After serving in the British Army with the Scots Guards, Vincent followed his heart and made the transition to the wine trade working in the wine shops at Harrods, Selfridges, and Majestic Wine before joining Armit. He has a preference for Bordeaux, Champagne, and big Chardonnays but believes there is always a perfect wine for every occasion.
In his spare time Vincent loves to spend time walking his dog and horse riding. He is also a keen musician who will play the trombone for anyone that will listen.
Jess Fernandez
Private Client Sales Support
Email: jfernandez@armitwines.co.uk
Jess fell into her first wine job back in Chicago, and quickly dove headfirst into all things wine. After following her fiancé across the pond following a work transfer, Jess was delighted to be introduced to the wonderful team at Armit. She started at Armit in February 2017 and continues her wine education by tasting, reading, listening – and more tasting! She loves a good Rhone and you can usually find an open bottle of Port in her house. In her spare time, Jess can be found trying to acclimatise to her new homeland by binging on British cooking shows and perfecting her cuppa skills.