Meet the Team at Vintage Wine & Port
Wine Lovers First, Merchants Second
Vintage Wine & Port is a family-owned UK wine merchant specialising in vintage wine and vintage Port gifts for birthdays, anniversaries and special occasions.
Behind the website and cellars is a small team of people who genuinely love wine. Some of us have been part of the VWP journey for many years, while others have joined more recently — but we all share the same enthusiasm for great bottles and great stories.
All members of the team study through the Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET), the world’s leading qualification in the wine trade. That means whoever you speak to at VWP will have a solid knowledge of wine and can help guide you to the perfect bottle.
Our wines are stored in our own cellars in the historic town of Fordingbridge, Hampshire. From here we dispatch directly from our UK stock to customers across the UK and to more than 40 countries worldwide.
The Team
Dr Tony Carter
Founder & Managing Director
Astrophysicist turned Port aficionado, Tony co-founded Vintage Wine & Port with Claire in 2008. What began as a shared passion for vintage wines gradually evolved into one of the UK’s leading specialists in vintage wine and Port gifts.
Tony holds WSET Level 3 with Distinction, is a member of The Port Forum, and in 2024 was elected to join the Confraria do Vinho do Porto — an honour recognising individuals who promote and support the appreciation of Port wine.
He spends a good deal of time in Portugal visiting producers, exploring the Douro Valley and discovering new wines to bring back to the VWP cellars.
Favourite wine this year: 1935 Cockburn – an immense, powerful Port that still carries remarkable elegance.
Claire Carter
Finance Director
Claire co-founded VWP and is responsible for keeping the business running smoothly behind the scenes. She oversees finance, strategy and operations — and occasionally keeps Tony’s wine-buying enthusiasm in check.
Her love of wine began while travelling through some of the world’s great wine regions, and she now holds WSET Level 3 with Distinction. Claire also has a particular interest in South African wines.
Favourite wine this year: Klein Constantia Vin de Constance.
Rachael Cron
Operations Manager
Rachael first joined VWP as a Christmas temp — but quickly became indispensable. Today she oversees the day-to-day operations of the company, coordinating everything from customer orders and logistics to cellar and dispatch operations.
If a bottle arrives safely and on time, there is a good chance Rachael had something to do with it.
She is currently progressing through her wine studies and has already developed a growing appreciation for Port.
Favourite wine this year: Quevedo 2019 LBV.
Ed Trevett
Cellar & Imagery
Ed is responsible for our cellars and for preparing bottles for dispatch. He also takes many of the photographs that appear on the website, ensuring customers can clearly see the bottle they are buying.
Now WSET Level 3 certified, Ed’s interest in Port is steadily growing — particularly Tawny Ports.
Favourite wine this year: Any Sandeman Tawny Port he can photograph before drinking.
Antonia Sheldon
Wine Sales
Antonia joined the team during the festive rush and quickly became part of the VWP family. She assists customers with selecting wines and is currently progressing through her WSET studies.
Alongside her interest in wine, Antonia is also a keen local historian and has been researching the fascinating past of the VWP premises.
Favourite wine this year: 1994 Graham's Single Harvest Port.