THE retail manager of one of Britain's oldest wine merchants is joining one of the country's youngest.

Mark Bedford has been advising Hampshire wine lovers for more than 15 years as the retail manager for Berry Brothers and Rudd in Basingstoke.

He is now set to become sales director of The Cellar Door in Overton.

The Cellar Door only opened last year and is owned by the husband-and-wife team of David and Hannah Thomas.

Now it has one of Hampshire's most respected and knowledgeable wine experts on board in the shape of Mr Bedford.

Mr Thomas has worked in the wine trade for more than 12 years and trained in oenology - winemaking - in South Australia. He has also made wine in France and Portugal and worked with some of the industry's top producers and Masters of Wine.

He said: "We are delighted that Mark will be joining us at The Cellar Door and bringing his considerable skills and expertise to us.

"With Mark on board as sales director, we will be able to build on The Cellar Door's growing reputation as the wine merchant of choice for Hampshire wine lovers."

Mr Bedford has developed a knowledge and appreciation of wine, from everyday drinking to fine and classic wine, through extensive travel in Europe, and has contributed articles on wine to a variety of media, including Gazette Newspapers.

Born in Weston Patrick, he now lives in the Test Valley with his wife Susanna and their children, David and Matilda.

Mr Bedford said: "I am hugely excited at joining The Cellar Door team and helping to create a tailored wine service for both the local and national markets.

"In the past 20 months, David and Hannah have earned respect and created a trading infrastructure which I am confident I can add to."