David Kelly – Global Wine Sourcing Expert
For three decades, I've worked at every link in the wine chain – from owning a vineyard in Italy to building Great Wines Direct into one of the UK's most trusted online specialists, and now leading global wine procurement as head winebuyer at Komerz.
This page provides a snapshot of my approach as a global wine sourcing expert, the producers I champion, and how I collaborate with both wineries and the media.
Below you'll find how I think about portfolios, examples of the estates I work with, and how journalists, editors, and winery partners can connect with me.
Trusted by leading wine publications & platforms
Our mission
My mission is to connect thoughtful wine lovers with characterful, responsibly farmed wines – and to give the best producers a clear, sustainable route to market.
How I work with wineries, portfolios, and partners
Over the past 30 years I've learned what it really takes for a wine to succeed – not just in blind tastings, but in the market. As a global wine sourcing expert and head winebuyer at Komerz, I work with estates to shape coherent, commercially sound portfolios: clarifying the story behind each wine, defining where it fits in the range, and making sure pricing, packaging, and positioning all line up.
I'm particularly interested in producers who farm responsibly, have a clear sense of identity, and are ready to grow but may not yet have the visibility they deserve. My role is to help them cut through the noise – refining ranges, focusing on the cuvées that genuinely resonate with drinkers, and plugging those wines into the right channels within the Komerz ecosystem and beyond.
The goal is always the same: to build long-term, sustainable business for serious producers, without losing the character and integrity that made their wines compelling in the first place.
Producers I'm Proud to Champion
Here are a few producers that capture how I think about sourcing – serious about their farming, clear in their identity, and offering real, long-term drinking pleasure and value for wine-lovers, globally.
Tom Benz, Mosel, Germany
New-generation Mosel estate combining serious farming with a precise, modern touch in the cellar.
Tom works steep slate vineyards with real care, crafting wines that are mineral, finely textured and true to their sites – the kind of producer who quietly raises the bar for what Mosel can be.
Maison Coquard, Beaujolais, France
Family-run domaine rooted in old vines and thoughtful, low-intervention winemaking.
Based in the heart of Beaujolais, they specialise in wines that are vibrant, pure-fruited and transparently made, showing just how elegant and characterful Beaujolais can be when farming and winemaking are fully aligned.
Domaine d'Eole, Provence, France
Organically farmed estate in the foothills of the Alpilles, where meticulous vineyard work and a long-term view of the land come first.
D'Eole's wines are detailed, balanced and quietly distinctive – a benchmark example of Provence where sustainability, precision and drinkability all sit side by side.
What People Say
Feedback from producers, partners, and the media
David's understanding of what makes a wine commercially viable without compromising on quality is exceptional. He helped us refine our range and find the right positioning for the UK market.
Winemaker, Mosel, Germany
A rare combination of deep wine knowledge and sharp commercial instinct. David doesn't just buy wine – he builds long-term partnerships that work for everyone.
Winemaker, Beaujolais, France
With Great Wines Direct's category leadership and Komerz's data-driven retail engine, we're creating one of the most advanced and intelligent retail platforms in the alcoholic beverage space.
Trade Publication
About David Kelly
My time in wine has been spent walking vineyards, tasting in cellars, and building one of the UK's most respected online specialists in Great Wines Direct, which I founded in 2003 and still lead today as part of the wider Komerz ecosystem.
Today, as Chief Procurement Officer at Komerz and a global wine sourcing expert, I use that 360° perspective to identify producers with genuine substance, not just a good story. I'm interested in estates that care about their soils, their communities, and the long-term health of their brands.
My work sits at the intersection of farming, logistics, and digital retail: using insight from millions of data points at Great Wines Direct, and Komerz, alongside years of tasting and travel, to curate portfolios that feel distinctive, honest, and commercially sharp.
At heart, I'm a connector – between growers and drinkers, tradition and technology, and wines of character and the people most likely to appreciate them.
Insights & Articles
Thoughts on wine sourcing, portfolio strategy, and the evolving world of online wine retail
Great Wines Direct
Low & No-Alcohol Wines: The Future of Mindful Drinking
Discover how the wine world is evolving to meet the growing demand for lighter, healthier options without compromising on taste.
Read moreGreat Wines Direct
What Actually Makes a Wine Sustainable?
Organic, biodynamic, natural – the labels can be confusing. Here's what really matters when choosing eco-friendly wines.
Read moreGreat Wines Direct
Why Buying Direct from Winemakers Changes Everything
Skip the middlemen and discover how direct relationships with producers deliver better wines at better prices.
Read moreContact David
Whether you're a winery interested in distribution, a journalist looking for expert insight, or a wine lover with a question, I'd be happy to hear from you. Use this form to get in touch and I'll respond as soon as I can.
Media enquiries: I'm happy to provide fast, data‑driven comment on global wine sourcing, online wine retail and portfolio strategy.
Warwick House
25 Buckingham Palace Road
London SW1W 0PP
FAQ
Here are answers to some of the most common questions I'm asked about my work, Great Wines Direct and how I collaborate with both wineries and the media.
Yes, I'm still heading up Great Wines Direct. While GWD has been acquired by Komerz and now sits within the wider Komerz ecosystem, I continue to lead the business day to day.
Keeping GWD under my leadership ensures continuity for long-standing customers, protects the brand's original vision of discovering and championing distinctive wines, and allows me to keep using over 20 years of GWD data and customer insight to guide which wines we source and how we position them in the market.
I look for estates with serious farming credentials, a clear sense of place and the capacity to support long-term growth.
Typically that means producers who are already established in their home markets, have a coherent range and are ready to invest in building sustainable export business rather than chasing one-off listings.
My primary role is within Komerz, where I lead wine sourcing and portfolio development.
Within that role I'm given the freedom to act as an independent-minded buyer and strategist – not only to buy and sell great wine, but also to expand the brands I work with, educate and enlighten drinkers, and help shape how quality wine is discovered online.
That independent perspective is exactly why Komerz brought me on board.
I'm happy to provide comment, background and data-driven perspective on topics such as sourcing, online wine retail, portfolio strategy and how modern platforms are changing distribution.
The best way to reach me is via the contact form on this page or by email at [email protected].