Meet The Team
Rachel (She/Her)
Meet Rachel, our Co-founder.
Rachel made a big move during COVID from teaching maths to secondary school children into the wine industry. Read whatever you want into that!
Rachel's introduction to American wine was in her early 20s, on a trip to California with her father (now Co-Founder!), and she has loved them ever since! Recently, she has been obsessed with the sustainable practices that seem to be prevalent in the American winemaking scene.
Her favourite wine is a relaxed, dry sparkling (with her love for natural wine, her fav is the Grosgrain Pet Nat) or an earthy Pinot Noir. Alongside wine, she loves to rock climb and take her high energy dog for long walks (he needs a lot of them, being a Whippet Border Collie Cross!!)⠀
Em (They/Them)
Meet Em, Shop Manager.
Em found an interest in the wine industry through tastings whilst working in hospitality around studying History of Art. After completing their third year essays they took a WSET Level 2 to begin their official journey in wine education. After 2 years with us and a WSET Level 3 later, Em is now our Shop Manager!
They love any kind of Riesling, whether sweet or dry, and the Tatomer Riesling with its saline minerality is their current shop favourite.
Outside of the shop, Em can be found honing their photography skills or searching for the next sample sale.
Jin (He/Him)
Meet Jin, Assistant Events Coordinator.
Jin's curiosity in wine grew every year. Which led him to participate in a full harvest in Bordeaux back in 2024.
He is a natural wine geek who started his wine journey through Jura wines from France. Falling deeply in love with natural and sustainable wines, he has expanded his passion to American wines, where the world's biggest sustainable wine region is found.
His favourite wine? Melville Estate Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir. Natural Pinot Noir with minimal intervention that will take you directly to Californian strawberry fields with a single sip, a phenomenal wine.
Wine lovers also love food right? You can find Jin strolling around Paris for good food, great cheese and excellent desserts.
Melisa (She/They)
Meet Melisa, Sales Assistant.
Melisa came to Pacific Wines after nearly a decade in hospitality, where their interest in wine steadily grew through close work with sommeliers and independent wine merchants. Since joining the team, they’ve deepened their knowledge of American wine and love helping customers discover new favourites.
They’re especially drawn to textured whites and light earthy reds. Cul Sec by Dupuis is their current favourite because you can chill it on a hot summer day or sip it room temp on a chilly evening.
Outside the shop, Melisa is a practicing visual artist and stylist, usually found creating in their studio or hunting for vintage fashion treasures.