Future 50 Q&A: Konstantin Baum MW

The Future 50 is a new initiative created by WSET and IWSC to select 50 future influencers of the global drinks industry. Find out more and view the final list here.

Konstantin Baum MW, who runs the German online retail company meinelese.de, became Germany's youngest ever Master of Wine three years ago.

What do you do?

I run the online retail company meinelese.de, importing artisanal wines from Europe and distributing them throughout Germany. I also run the wine program of the Brenners-Park Hotel in Baden-Baden, one of the best hotels in the world, and I am the ambassador for the Califonia Wine Institute in Europe.

How was your work affected by the coronavirus outbreak?

I was stuck at home and unable to travel, which is a shame. My online retail business did very well – I saw purchases rise and order prices go up as well. Even so, I am looking forward to things going back to normal so that I am able to travel and visit winemakers again.

How did you spend your time during the lockdown?

I worked and spent more time with my family – it was great to be at home to see my little daughter Carlotta grow up. The additional time I had from traveling less also allowed me to spend more time on projects like expanding my warehouse and rebuilding my website, and I did some online seminars for the California Wine Institute.

What is the proudest achievement of your career so far?

Getting the MW, building a successful business and having a happy family.

Have you got any particular ambitions or plans in motion?  

Too many plans – not enough time. Even though some people might say that I achieved a lot, I feel like I am not even halfway done.

What excites you in the drinks industry right now?

It is an industry full of interesting people and most of them are fun to be around. I think there are still so many opportunities in this industry for improvement and innovation.

What’s been your standout wine of the past year?

Always the last wine that I discovered before anyone knew about it. Currently, it is Domaine de la Graveirette’s 2016 Puy de Safre Châteauneuf-du-Pape.

Do you have any advice for people starting out in the drinks industry?

Don't forget to look outside this beautiful industry for ideas on how to improve the way we work.