Bespoke Blends for Marks and Sparks

New Zealand winemaker Jeneve Williams joined Marks & Spencer in 2012 as the buyer for the retailer in charge of wines from South America, Eastern Europe, New Zealand and Italy. A year on, and The Telegraph’s Susy Atkins reckons Williams’ Italian choices are the best on the high street.

Having studied winemaking at Roseworthy College in Australia, Williams travels to far-flung wineries putting together bespoke blends for the store.

“I love Italy’s diversity: all those grape varieties, the new finds at every turn,” Williams says. She’s introduced unusual wines from the volcanic slopes of Mount Etna, a rare dry Sicilian zibibbo, an exotically scented Le Marche lacrima red, and the low-alcohol Giardini.

Next she’s scouring Calabria, Puglia and Sicily, where she describes herself as like “a kid in a candy shop”. Look out for what she picks and mixes.