Meet our team of experts, including four Masters of Wine and one Master Sommelier, all involved in different aspects of the business, from senior management to buying and sales.
Fergal Tynan MW
Chief Executive
Fergal Tynan MW is an acclaimed winemaker and industry leader with over 30 years of experience across some of the world’s most exciting wine regions and earned the Master of Wine title in 2005. He began working in the trade early, sourcing and reselling fine Bordeaux while still in his teens; since then, his career has spanned a range of roles, including buying, selling, and winemaking. Fergal earned the Master of Wine title in 2005 and has since become known for his global, hands-on approach, making wine in Australia, Southern France, and Spain, and co‑founding projects such as Thistledown Wines and Terres Fidèles. His work is guided by deep regional exploration, long-term partnerships with growers, and a commitment to authentic, site‑driven wines. As Chief Executive of Alliance Wine, Fergal combines leadership and creativity with practical winemaking insight to help shape the company’s strategic direction.
Jean Wareing MW
Head of Buying, Brand Management & Technical
Jean's passion for wine began during a formative trip to Burgundy and Champagne while studying Geography at the University of London, which inspired her to pursue a career in the wine trade. After graduating, she worked at Morris & Verdin, where she also began her Master of Wine studies. Jean later moved into communications at Phipps PR, before relocating to Manchester to begin what would become an 18‑year career with Boutinot. There, she worked across all areas of the portfolio, developing her expertise as a buyer. She earned her Master of Wine title in 2005, completing a thesis on precision viticulture. In 2021, Jean joined Alliance Wine, where she now plays a central leadership role. By 2025, she had stepped up to become Head of Buying, Brand & Technical, helping drive the company's strategic growth and shaping its diverse, producer‑focused portfolio.
Sarah Benson MW
Buyer
With a strong background in languages, Sarah transitioned from a career in translation and having completed several WSET courses, she secured her first role with Accolade. Since then, she has gained extensive experience in wine buying and marketing, working across both independent and large retail environments and with a UK bottler. Her passion for wine has also led her to work vintages during holidays in various countries. Sarah bought wine for the Co-op for 8 years where she was responsible for sourcing, selecting, and blending wines from France, Spain, South America, and Greece as well as driving the sustainability agenda. Sarah has also conducted consumer profiling research with Lallemand, gaining insights into consumer preferences for different wine styles.
Beans Boughton MW
Buyer
With extensive experience sourcing, developing, and managing wine ranges for both the UK and international markets, Beans is Alliance Wine’s Buyer for Italy, Germany, Austria, and emerging regions of Central Europe. He works closely with producers across established and emerging regions, from managing allocations of fine and limited‑release wines to collaborating directly with winemakers to reliably deliver commercially focused, high-quality wines at competitive price points. Beans became a Master of Wine in 2020 and judges at several of the UK’s leading wine competitions. His approach as a buyer combines commercial pragmatism with authenticity and long-term partnerships, ensuring clarity and value for customers and suppliers alike.
Liz Donnelly
Buyer
After graduating with an MA in Modern Languages from the University of Glasgow, Liz began her wine career at the renowned restaurant The Ubiquitous Chip, where she completed her early WSET studies. She joined Alliance Wine in 1996 and has since worked across almost every part of the business before becoming a Buyer more than 15 years ago. Fluent in French, Liz sources wines from the South of France, working closely with producers to develop styles that combine regional character with strong commercial appeal. She also has a longstanding interest in packaging and brand development, having created successful labels across France, Chile, and Argentina. Outside of work, Liz is passionate about art and travel.
Christian Honorez
Director of Fine Wine
Christian has over 40 years of experience working with many of France’s most respected wine producers. Originally from the Southern Rhône, he began his career in the UK, where early exposure to leading growers in Burgundy, the Rhône, and the Loire shaped his long-standing commitment to working with benchmark estates. Over the decades he has built deep relationships with iconic domaines, championing producers such as Santa Duc, Clos du Caillou, Denis Alary, and the late Didier Dagueneau. Christian’s approach is defined by authenticity, long-term partnership, and an uncompromising focus on quality. His regional expertise and close producer relationships continue to guide Alliance Wine’s fine wine portfolio and strategy.
Matt Wilkin MS
Director of Prestige Sales
Known for his rigorous standards, long-standing industry relationships, and passion for great producers, Matt Wilkin MS brings over 30 years of experience in the wine and hospitality sectors. He began his career in McLaren Vale, South Australia, where early exposure to vineyards and winery work sparked a deep interest in viticulture and fine wine. After moving to the UK in the late 1990s, he built a distinguished career in Michelin‑starred restaurants and achieved both the WSET Diploma and the Master Sommelier title, earning his MS in 2005. Following the integration of H2Vin into Alliance, Matt now applies his extensive knowledge of classic regions and premium wine service to help shape Alliance’s prestige on‑trade strategy and strengthen its presence in the premium market.
