Ella Lister
Founder & CEO
Ella founded Wine Lister in 2016, applying the analytical rigour she honed as an investment banker, to the world of wine she is so passionate about. After a degree from Oxford University in French and Italian, she started her career in London as an analyst at Lazard. As her love of wine intensified, she started writing about wine in 2009, first for The World of Fine Wine, and subsequently for the Financial Times and Decanter. Wine Lister was born from a combination of Ella’s passion for wine with her analytical spirit. She has to pinch herself every day to be working with the world’s top domaines, tasting incredible wines, and forging friendships with the visionary people behind them.
Ella speaks English, French, and Italian.
Ella’s heart will always be true to French and Italian wine, from Pomerol to Piedmont, via the Loire (Chenin), Burgundy, and Tuscany (Sangiovese), but Spain and Greece are currently piquing her interest.
Tara Albini
Head of Clients & Marketing
Tara’s interest in wine was prompted by her working at several London wine bars and restaurants alongside her studying at the Courtauld Institute, from which she obtained a BA in History of Art. Joining Wine Lister in 2020, Tara supported the company’s launch of its strategic marketing and communication division, managing the organisation of its events and PR collaborations, while marketing these services to the world’s fine wine producers. Having completed her WSET Diploma at the end of 2023, she looks forward to continuing to support the success of Wine Lister’s clients, while watching the company reach new heights.
Tara speaks English.
Alongside Jura’s native Savagnin, Tara holds dear to her heart Italy’s two pre-eminent indigenous grapes – Sangiovese and Nebbiolo – which inspire in her an irreplicable sense of nostalgia upon each sip.
Nicolas Billy
Head of Data
Hailing from France, Nicolas self-identifies as a “bon vivant”, having spent his childhood weekends at his grandparents’ auberge and learning about Asian cuisine through his mother. He soon turned his interest to wine after working in hospitality in Canada, where he met merchants and producers, and sampled a diverse range of wines. With a financial background and experience in both tech and data, Nicolas was eager to combine his expertise with his newfound passion, for which Wine Lister proved an ideal fit.
Nicolas speaks English, French, and Spanish.
When it comes to wine, Nicolas enjoys taking deep dives into specific regions. His latest obsessions include Pinot Noir from Sancerre and Menetou-Salon, particularly Alphonse Mellot.
Oleksandr Semenov
Lead Developer
Known as Sasha, Oleksandr studied information security in computer systems at the National Technical University of Ukraine (KPI). He began his software engineering career in the finance industry, and after six years decided he wanted to experience life in a start-up.
Sasha speaks English and Ukrainian.
Oleksandr was 13 when he first tasted the family wine, made by his father in vineyards next to their house in Ukraine. He acquired a taste for wine, and his favourite grape variety now is Pinot Noir.
Xenia Praksina
Events & Press Communications Manager
Xenia’s passion for wine was born out of her extensive travel. With a degree in Intercultural Communication, she started her career working in the wedding industry, producing private luxury events in Thailand and around Europe. Wherever her work or personal travel took her, Xenia would seek out interesting wine producers to visit, and after nine years she decided to turn her love for wine into a new career path. With WSET Level 3 under her belt, she now creates bespoke events on behalf of Wine Lister’s clients, helping to share their wines and the stories behind them with key figures in the international fine wine industry.
Xenia speaks English and Russian.
While Xenia’s current crush is Pinot Noir, particularly from Alsace and New Zealand, she would never say no to a white Burgundy, and loves trying indigenous grape varieties from lesser-known regions.
Kevin Chan
Analyst
Graduating from the University of Hong Kong amid a global pandemic, Kevin soon transformed his lockdown obsession for wine into a career. His passion for the industry and thirst for knowledge intensified while managing a wine shop, where he frequently organised tastings. Keen to explore European wine culture, he relocated to Austria where he completed a harvest in the Burgenland and obtained the WSET Diploma while working as a sommelier in a two Michelin-starred restaurant.
Kevin speaks Cantonese, English, and Mandarin.
Kevin’s current fascination lies with the longevity of Riesling and the diverse offerings of grower Champagnes.
Aidan Griffiths
Account Manager
Born in Argentina to English parents, and raised near Cahors in southwest France, Aidan naturally developed a keen interest in wine - and not just Malbec! After obtaining a Master’s degree in Marketing, Communications, and Advertising from the Sorbonne, he further honed his skills working for various companies in Paris, Buenos Aires, and London. His enduring passion for wine led him to undertake the WSET Level 2 and subsequently pursue a career in the industry, bringing his past experience in the luxury sector to deliver the best for Wine Lister’s customers. He is currently studying for WSET Level 3.
Aidan speaks English, French, and Spanish.
Aidan is a fervent believer that French wines are classics for a reason, but loves to try wines from lesser-known regions with just as rich a heritage, such as Georgian or Greek wines.
Juliet Lecouffe
Content Coordinator
After studying French and Italian at Oxford University, Juliet spent the best part of a decade in publishing, first with a literary scouting agency, Eccles Fisher Associates, and latterly as an editor for the Quarto Group. A move to France with her young family in 2017 prompted a change in direction: she began translating professionally. Translation projects for fine wine clients drew her into the fascinating world of wine writing and communications.
Juliet speaks English, French, and Italian.
Juliet’s wine loyalties lie with her adopted homeland, France, but her head has occasionally been turned by wines from other, more exotic climes. She can still taste the full-throated, aromatic Malbec she drank in Cafayate, Argentina, and will never forget the deliciously crisp Chardonnay she discovered in Stellenbosch, South Africa.
Rosie Bickerdike
Marketing Assistant
After spending many childhood holidays in France and subsequently studying French and Spanish at the University of York, Rosie’s curiosity about wine was inevitable. Eager to gain work experience in the industry after falling in love with wine culture during her year abroad in Lille and Madrid, Rosie worked at a boutique, family-run vineyard in West Sussex for a season. Whether helping to organise events and tours or assisting in the winery and the vineyard, she thoroughly enjoyed this immersion, inspiring her to pursue a role at Wine Lister.
Rosie speaks English, French, and Spanish.
Rosie is fond of Rieslings, and a firm favourite of hers is Burgundian Pinot Noir.
