Stefano has a long and distinguished career in the world of food and wine, starting out young working in Italy and throughout Europe first as a waiter and in catering, in simple restaurants but also 1 to 3 Michelin starred ones, and then honing his wine skills. “…But my full immersion in the wine business became reality early in 2001, when Bruno literally snatched me from my hometown and got me back into UK!”. Stefano loves wine for it’s  “ … a never ending story, developing everyday with new frontiers”. His favourite wines are Pinot Noir from Burgundy and Germany, Pinot Blanc from Alto-Adige and Fiano and Greco from Campania as well as Aglianico from the South of Italy. “…but of course Barolo complements them all!” he laughs.

“My beginning in the wine industry came when I was asked to work part time at my local winery, Brown Brothers, during school holidays. Over this time I was introduced to their Cellar Door Manager, Russell Green, who took me under his wing and delighted me with his passion, knowledge and enthusiasm. I haven’t stopped working with wine and sales since!” Mark loves the fact that all those in the industry relish the opportunity of opening and sharing great bottles of wine with other passionate people, and is still excited about the thrill and satisfaction gained from introducing people to completely unknown wines or wines from regions previously unknown. He’s another Nebbiolo-lover in the Astrum group, though that means Nebbiolo- based wines too, not just Barolo and Barbaresco. “… the attraction is in their complexity, perfumes, purity, structure and ageing capabilities. A close runner-up is Riesling, wines that are great young or with age and display amazing diversity from different countries, regions or simply producers". After fourteen years with Astrum, Mark has taken on new responsibilities and his role has evolved to both Sales and Marketing Director.

Marco was born in Asti in the southern part of Piedmont, an area renowned throughout the world for the production of many white and red wines. After finishing his financial education, he realized how passionate he was about the F&B industry. He began his professional career in Italy working at various restaurants as a Chef Trainee, before deciding to start a management trainee program with the Michelin starred group of La Smarrita in Turin. Marco decided to carry on with the training abroad, so he moved to Switzerland. In 1991, he moved to London where he has worked for the prestigious Ritz Hotel, The Lanesborough Hotel, The Capital Group, as part of the Management Team, as well as, The Hempel Hotel, Myhotel Bloomsbury, as Food & Beverage Operations Manager. Marco’s vast experience, enthusiasm, and passion for the industry and desire to succeed make him a vital part of Astrum Wine Cellars.

Initially attending UCL to study Geography, Julian's career took an unexpected detour when he decided to write his dissertation on the English wine industry. Leaving university, he started off by joining online wine retailer Slurp as an intern, which soon lead to employment. Looking to learn more and immerse himself in the industry further, Julian left Slurp to work for the Hawksmoor Group as a Sommelier. During his 5 years at Hawksmoor, he spent his time developing his knowledge and advancing his career, including qualifying as a WSET trainer which led to his role as the group wine educator, helping the group expand and open new sites, and playing a key role in creating and building their wine lists. After Hawksmoor he worked for Bibendum as part of their on-trade sales team, looking after premium restaurant groups and independents. One of the reasons Julian chose to join Astrum is his passion for Northern Piedmontese wines “I love, not just your Barolo’s and Barbaresco’s, but the wines of Gattinara and other lesser-known areas of Piedmont. I am also a massive fan of Dolcetto”. In his spare time, you’ll catch Julian spending time outdoors, he loves walking and hiking, going to the pub with friends for a “proper old-school ale", cooking at home and watching films; anything from a thought-provoking foreign film to the cheesiest Christmas classic.

Originally from a small town near Vicenza in Italy's Veneto region, Anna's wine journey is deeply rooted in her cultural upbringing. After moving to Milan at 22, she worked for one of the city’s top wine bars, Signorvino, whilst completing her AIS (Associazione Italiana Sommelier) certification. She eventually ended up working for AIS as their Social Media Manager across multiple branches over the next 6 years. During her time in Milan, Anna also worked for wine merchants Il Rosso e il Nero and Degustate, meeting multiple mentors along the way. In 2020, she relocated to London, and has worked as a Sommelier for Noble Rot and Operations Manager at Keeling Andrew. Beyond wine, Anna adores her dog, Peggy, enjoys reading books on various topics from Philosophy to Activism, she relishes the outdoors, and loves cooking the traditional Italian dishes she learned from her Nonna Edwige. Fun fact, Anna is soon to become a Chevalier of white truffle! Passionate about Piedmontese wine, she is also a big ambassador for Italy’s hidden wine gems, from lesser-known areas, diverse climates, and unique grape varieties.