Past, Present…and Future?
Fine Wine Retailer, Importer & Consultant
Within just two months of entering wine retail, having established a reputation as an authority on premium Champagne and classed growth Bordeaux, I was headhunted by a specialist fine wine importer. In this role, I managed the portfolios of top estates from Germany, the Douro Valley, and France, establishing a deep foundation in fine wine sales & logistics.
In 2013, I launched my import company ‘Off-Broadway Wines’ . It specialised in the wines of New York State though quickly branched out into wines and spirits from other American States including Washington and California.
The following year, I established my first retail enterprise, The Cellar Store. Within a few short years, I grew this into an award-winning, international-only wine store. During this period, I developed my expertise in the great wines of Italy and built a specialisation in the sweet wines of the world (A highlight from my personal collection, pictured left).
In 2015, I began my international consultancy practice specialising in the procurement of rare or interesting wines for personal cellars, blending wines, and product design - including a craft chocolate bar.
Over the past 12 years, I have hosted hundreds of tasting events worldwide.
I’ve delivered authoritative events all sizes, intimate celebrations with just two people, regular wine clubs of 20 people, to large masterclasses of over 80 people in a sitting. My specialist subjects cover the full gambit from an analysis of New York State wines, the changing world of Pet-Nats, an investigation into Sherry, or a world tour of ice wines. I personally spearhead the research and curate a meticulous selection of wines, ensuring only the definitive benchmarks of a region or style are presented.
I have successfully executed high-level collaborations with global market leaders, including Ste. Michelle Wine Estates and Riedel Glassware, reinforcing my position as a premier authority in the international wine sector.
Masterclass Host & Speaker
After training as a chef de pâtisserie, at Le Cordon Bleu, and becoming a certified wine expert, I pursued further academic ambitions in the field of chemistry. I secured a First-Class Honours degree, specialising in green and bioinorganic chemistry, which inspired my PhD project. My research bridged these disciplines by targeting the emerging niche of artificial metalloenzyme design for future medical applications. I successfully engineered small-molecule, metal-based catalysts that outperformed existing literature benchmarks demonstrating superior activity and stability across multiple chemical transformations.
I hold high-level expertise in advanced chemical research. My specialist areas are in metal complex synthesis, catalyst design, and the development of novel approaches to in-situ characterisation and isolation of key intermediates and transition states.
Following the completion of my doctorate, I expanded my research field undertaking two on-going historical research projects. This work requires high-level archival access and collaborations with prestigious global institutions, including the Vatican Archives.
Chemist & Researcher
World of Wine Festival
In 2017, I conceptualised and directed The World of Wine Festival, establishing New Zealand’s first-ever dedicated international wine tasting exhibition. Designed to disrupt the local market, this landmark event introduced New Zealand’s consumer base to an unprecedented diversity of global grape varieties and viticultural styles.
The event ran over a weekend in May 2018 with over 3,000 attendees across the two-day period. The festival successfully showcased a curated portfolio of over 140 benchmark wines spanning 14 countries, including highly specialised allocations from Georgia, Lebanon, the United States, Israel, Germany, and Austria.
To deliver elite educational programming, I secured and managed a premier tier of international wine authorities to lead simultaneous, high-demand masterclasses. The speaker roster featured leading industry experts, including Stephen Wong MW, David Allen MW, Cameron Douglas MS, and Samuel Guilbert of Mas de Daumas Gassac.
“This is the event I have been waiting for my whole life. Rarely are wines of this quality ever opened in one room and to have over 100 to taste, this has been a real joy!”
— Festival Attendee
“An excellent vibe and an ever better selection of wines!”
— Festival Attendee
“This was such an insightful event. I am so glad that I bought a two-day ticket! Masterclasses were incredible!”
— Festival Attendee
Driven by an interest in sharing my passions of food, wine, and education, I conceived Ferment! Festival - a landmark exhibition celebrating all fermented foods and beverages in one of Auckland’s premier venues, The Cloud. The event served as an educational authority, demonstrating the critical role of fermentation in producing the world's finest commodities, including chocolate, black garlic, coffee, artisanal bread, beer, sake, kombucha, and sauerkraut.
In six short months, I successfully executed the festival in early 2019. I performed end-to-end logistics on all aspects of the event from vendor coordination and event management to marketing campaign development.
The event ran over a weekend with over 6,000 attendees enjoying the wide variety of producers, food trucks, and masterclasses on display. Over 50 artisan producers filled the venue exhibiting the best of New Zealand’s food and beverage scene.
Ferment! Festival
“Great day out with the kids. So cool to find all these new producers. Event was awesome fam!”
— Festival Attendee
“Not sure how this can get better next year but I’m excited to find out.”
— Festival Attendee
“Best experience we’ve had at a food festival in NZ. Connal’s passion is endless.”
— Exhibitor
My next project, you ask?
Well, you tell me. What have you got on your mind?
Let’s catch up and see what sticks.