Q&A with Leah Newman, Owner of Whispering Wine

Name: Leah Newman, Owner, Whispering Wine

Tell us about your current role?

I run Whispering Wine based in Newcastle in the North East of England. My work is very variable. No two weeks or months look the same. I host a by-annual Wine Fair, consult on wine lists for restaurants/ bars, run staff training sessions, and provide online tasting events, in-person and corporate events. In the little bit of time I have left, I fit in the voluntary role of “mentor” for The Wine Society’s online wine community. I’m also a merchant and constantly seek out quality sustainable wine for my customers.

How did you first get into the drinks industry?

I worked in both the human and animal health pharmaceutical industry as a key account manager. During my time in animal health, I was responsible for organising large hospitality client events, and part of that was choosing wine and menus. I started formalising my experience with WSET courses and once constant travel up and down the country became too difficult with small children, I chose to pursue my wine career.

What is your favourite part about working in the industry?

I’m a people person and I love to network so the social and relaxed nature of the industry really appeals to that side of my personality. There’s never a dull moment and I’m always kept on my toes with the abundance of quirky, fun and like-minded people, so it’s the people but also I have to say the access to great wine. I would also fall into the category of a “collector”, so being able to access certain wines is a privilege I don’t take for granted.

We’re meeting up for a drink after work – what are you having?

I guess that depends on where we are going for a drink, but I may start with a Manzanilla Sherry or a Hepple Gin with a twist of lime. It’s without a doubt my favourite gin at the moment, it’s triple distilled in the wild Moors of Northumberland and is full of beautiful juniper botanicals. I’m quite traditional when it comes to my gin but I’m also a closet sherry lover in all its guises so if there’s a decent one on the menu, that’s what I’ll have.

You can only have one drink for the rest of your life, what’s in your glass?

Such a hard question, it’s a toss-up between a great Puligny-Montrachet or a Santorini Nykteri Assyrtiko. I can’t decide.

It’s Saturday night, what restaurant are you going to?

Newcastle is changing a lot, more restaurants have opened since Covid than were around before, so from a gastronomic point of view, it’s a really exciting city to discover and dine out in. One of my favourite restaurants to go to is The French Quarter which is situated in an old Railway arch close to the central station. Think classic and contemporary small plates with a great and ever-evolving wine list. It’s cosy, reasonably priced with by-the-glass offerings well thought out and exciting.

My other go-to in Newcastle is Kaltur, a Spanish-owned and run tapas restaurant on Grey Street. They import most of their produce directly from Spain including their wines. Their wine list is extensive, so for lovers of Spanish food and wine, this is the place. I often just pop in for a glass of something at the bar, the staff are great and it’s easy to feel relaxed even if it’s just for a quick drink.

Is there a bucket list drink you want to try, or a dream drinks destination you’d love to visit?

I don’t think I’ll ever get to taste a Domaine de la Romanée- Conti, except in my dreams, so the next best thing would be to visit South Africa, particularly Elgin, Walker Bay and Cape Agulhas. There are such amazing wines coming from all over the Cape at the moment and to go there would be a vinous dream come true. I’d probably need a month to wine my way through though.

The most memorable experience of your career?

Receiving my DipWSET at Guildhall in London was a pretty momentous occasion. I think more so because I began my Diploma studies in January 2020 with 16 others in Edinburgh. Those two years through the pandemic were not good times for morale with constant disruption to exams and classroom days. It was really tough. Five of us completed and received our diplomas. I am very proud of them and myself, so graduation day felt like a massive reward for all of us and I think for our families too.

One thing you’d like to see more of in the drinks industry?

I still think we have a way to go with gender equality within the drinks industry and that also extends to minority groups. I would like to see more inclusion and more programmes being developed to encourage more diversity, acceptance and respect within the industry.

What advice would you give to someone who wants to start a career in the industry?

Work hard, be humble and grab every opportunity with both hands. Go to tastings as often as possible and try to be open-minded and respectful of others. No matter how experienced you become we can always learn from others. This is a dynamic industry where everyone continually learns, be open to that and you’ll go far.

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Follow Leah’s journey on Instagram.