We are happy to announce two new regional experts to the Dutch Wine Apprentice writing team, Teri and Benjamin. These highly educated wine lovers are ready to teach you more about the wines of the world, with a focus on their own expertise: Australia and the French Alsace region.
As the wine world is so big it is sometimes difficult to keep track of what is going on in individual wine regions or countries. That is why we are always happy to add specialized writing talent to the team. In our search for these experts we managed to expand with two new writers that have a clear focus.
Teri Wheeler will join us with a focus on Australia and New Zealand and Benjamin Roelfs is bringing our knowledge and network of the French Alsace region to a higher level. Benjamin will also use time to write about the German Ahr region and Austria’s wine regions. Although the two are clear experts they might take an occasional trip to other regions as well of course.
Dutch Wine Apprentice Founder and Editor in Chief – Niels Aarts on the expansion:
“Although it is impossible to know every wine region in the world it is clear to use that expertise and a good network in the world’s key wine regions is a must. Teri and Benjamin ensure this for us with their experience and knowledge. On theoretical but also on practical level they have earned their stripes and it is an honor to have them in our ranks”
Teri and Benjamin will be representing us on various wine events and review wines that fit their palate. We are happy to work with both wine lovers and will let them introduce themselves to you.
My name is Teri Wheeler and I am 29 years old living just outside of Utrecht, Netherlands since October 2022. I am originally from Cape Town, South Africa. But I moved with my family when I was young to Adelaide, South Australia and grew up in the wine region of McLaren Vale. Once I left school, I did not know what I wanted to do for work; so, I got a job at a winery near where we lived and worked behind cellar door conducting wine tastings whilst competing my WSET level 2 and moved on and successfully completed WSET 3.
During this time, I worked for wineries such as D’arenberg, Angove, Coriole and Penfolds; hosting VIP tastings and luxury experiences. When COVID hit in 2020 hospitality jobs diminished; but I was fortunate enough to pivot and gain work managing the wine app Vivino in Australia; where I learnt a completely different side of the wine industry, broadening my knowledge of the industry! Whilst working for Vivino I began studying my WSET 4 Diploma in wines; and then in October 2023 I moved to the Netherlands with my Dutch partner and gained work teaching WSET to budding wine professionals and students all over Holland.
As for my favorite wines, for a red; I cannot go past a Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon and for white; a delicious crisp Chablis. I am super excited to join the DWA tea to connect with fellow wine lovers around the world and share our knowledge and passion!Â
Teri’s personal Instagram profile is: @t.w_wineprofessional
My name is Benjamin Roelfs I am a qualified WSET 3 professional and extremely passionate about the wines of Alsace, my personal expertise. I did hotel school as a teenager and my parents always took me to Alsace from when I was still a baby up until last year. And every year we still go back, to visit friends and dive into the amazing gastronomy.
Professionally I am working at Meron BCL, an independent wine lab that analyses most of the supermarket wines of the Benelux.
Most of my wine writing I do on my Instagram page (Benjamin on Wine) but in addition to this I have written for Jancis Robinson, Falstaff, The Drinks Business and Academie du Vin. I also keep the old vines register of Jancis Robinson up to date.
Benjamin’s personal Instagram profile is: @Benjamin_on_Wine
We want to thank Teri and Benjamin and are looking forward to collaborating with them to share our love for wine!
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