United Kingdom

Angela Scott

Angela recently moved to the UK after living for a time in New Zealand, where she was a Partner in Cellar Ahuriri, as well as a Harvest Lab Assistant at the Hawke’s Bay Wine Company. Angela’s start in the wine industry came later than it does for many people, but one constant of her life’s work has been a desire to engage with and help people from diverse backgrounds the world over. This can be seen in her volunteering for the Peace Corps in Haiti, and through her previous profession as a human rights lawyer in Washington D.C. Angela’s journey in wine began with membership in a D.C. wine club, and was cemented by an epiphany during a retreat in Napa Valley. She started working for the wine writer Karen MacNeil, and went on to become head of hospitality at Spottswoode winery. Passionate about education and determined to pursue the MW, Angela sold her house to generate funds for her studies, and then moved across the globe to New Zealand with her MW winemaker husband. The coronavirus pandemic complicated Angela’s efforts, as due to lockdown laws she was left isolated in New Zealand without other MW students to study and share the cost of samples with, as well as compelling her to study via online classes, an additional, unwelcome expense. However, this has not prevented her from excelling on the course. Further to pursuing her own studies, Angela has continued to engage with others the world over, mentoring several WSET students in both the USA and in New Zealand, and she is a determined advocate for diversity and inclusion in the wine world, particularly with regard to encouraging businesses to afford People of Colour the same opportunities as those from less under-represented backgrounds.