United Kingdom

Arlene King

Arlene is a Jamaican lady now living in the UK, working as a sommelier with a network of private clients. Arlene initially moved to the UK to study computer science, but tasting her first glass of Bordeaux instead set her down a different path. She began undertaking wine courses, working with a tutor to develop her theory and tasting technique, attending many tastings in London to broaden her knowledge and her palate. The path has not always been straightforward, but Arlene has persevered through the difficulties that she has faced. She aims to promote diversity within the wine world through her work, for example by introducing her clients, many of whom are People of Colour, to wineries that are owned and operated by People of Colour. By fostering connections between diverse clients and diverse wine producers, Arlene is building a community of People of Colour in wine, who will interact with and learn from one another.