Sophie Lord was named Decanter’s Wine Buyer of the Year in 2023, with one judge describing her as “a great role model” within the wine trade, recognition that reflects both her expertise and leadership. She began her career at Virgin Wines 18 years ago in customer services, quickly moving into a Wine Advisor role where her passion for wine truly took hold. While working full-time, she progressed through her Wine & Spirit Education Trust qualifications, ultimately achieving the prestigious WSET Level 4 Diploma. Sophie later became the company’s in-house WSET educator, championing wine knowledge across the business before moving into the buying team. Now Buying Director, she leads the department, travelling the world to source outstanding wines and collaborating with winemakers to create exclusive blends. Her journey from customer calls to global sourcing brings both commercial insight and deep technical knowledge to the judging table.