Who We Are
The Winepartners principals are highly qualified wine industry professionals, Dave Nicholas and Paul Couldrey, with over 30 years of international and domestic wine industry experience between us. We have worked successfully with both the small and the large of the New Zealand wine industry; we have extensive knowledge of international markets and a large network of contacts. In addition to senior management experience in domestic and international wine businesses, our career portfolios include marketing consultancy, national sales & distribution and international market development
Paul Couldrey - Director
Paul co-founded Winepartners in 2003 and has spent his entire career in sales and marketing in the wine industry. Paul has held senior sales management roles with large New Zealand wineries and wine distributors. At New Zealand Wines and Spirits he was responsible for Lion Nathan's wine distribution business where he developed and implemented the company's wine strategy, negotiated distribution agreements with domestic and international wineries and managed relationships with key brand principals. Paul also has hands on wine retail and on premise experience. He has been a co-owner of a fine wine retail store and he creates wine lists for leading Auckland on premise outlets.
Email: paul@winepartners.co.nz
Mob: +64 21 489 220
Dave Nicholas - Director
Dave has specialised in international sales and marketing for over two decades, with the last fifteen years in the wine industry. A former chairman of New Zealand Wine Exporters, he led the international operations of Corbans Wines for seven years before joining US-based Winery Exchange. These senior roles took him to every major market for New Zealand wine and engendered lasting relationships with key trade, media and producers worldwide. As well as writing for a number of trade and industry journals, Dave is a regular speaker at wine industry seminars and events.
Email: dave@winepartners.co.nz
Mob: +64 21 647 547
Stu Devine - Associate
Stu Devine is Winepartners North American market specialist. He has recently returned to New Zealand having spent five years based in New York managing the US and Canadian markets for the Villa Maria Group. He has an in depth understanding of the complex US market and has established a broad range of relationships amongst the trade, distributors, importers and media. Stu's background is viticulture. He has owned a vineyard in Hawkes Bay and has been involved in Winegrowers research. In 1998 he was employed by Villa Maria Estate as a viticulturist where he set up and managed their sustainable winegrowing programmes throughout New Zealand as well as managing their Hawke's Bay winegrowers and harvesting programme. Before basing himself full time in the US, Stu helped develop the Villa Maria brand in North America with regular sales visits where he educated customers on cool climate wine growing.
Email: stu@winepartners.co.nz
Mob: +64 21 244 3969