People

Good service is at the heart of what we do. Whether you are visiting our shop or calling us on the telephone, you'll be served by one of the small and dedicated team at Baythorne Wines. Here you can put a name to a face or a face to a voice on phone.

Founder and Owner

George Unwin

In October 2005, fresh out of Uni and in need of a stop-gap job before embarking on a career in the subject area of his masters degree, ecology, George took a job stacking shelves and assisting customers in the shop of a renowned Colchester Wine Merchants.

He never did start that other career, and 2025 marks 20 years in the wine trade for George.

During this time, his work in retail, wholesale and private client sales have all contributed to his broad understanding of the industry as a whole.

His early formal wine education led to a WSET diploma in wines and spirits (completed in 2008), and from there he has tasted his way to a deep knowledge of the wines of the world.

Establishing Baythorne Wines in 2014 was a long-held dream come true for George, and he is still very much involved in all aspects of the business. As well as assisting customers in the shop or over the phone, you will often find him unloading pallets, packing boxes ready for shipping or delivering wines locally in his 'farm' truck.

He keeps his palate in order by heading up the buying for the business. This involves regular tastings of potential new wines, only the best of which make it onto our shelves.

Wine Sales and Marketing

Mark Wilkins

Mark’s journey into the world of wine began in the vineyards and Armagnac distilleries of southwest France, where he lived and worked for several years. While there, he served as an Armagnac Ambassador for the Bureau National Interprofessionnel de l’Armagnac (BNIA), joining a select group of ‘modern-day Musketeers’ — an honour shared by the likes of Leonardo DiCaprio,
John Malkovich, Delia Smith and Raymond Blanc. His role involved organising tasting events, collaborating with producers, and sharing the stories behind France’s oldest spirit.

Of the 500+ Armagnac producers in Gascony, it was the small, family-run estates — driven by passion and tradition — that left the greatest impression. It was that same ethos of character and independence that led him to Baythorne Wines.

Before joining the wine trade full-time, Mark spent 25 years running his own London-based creative design agency, Ideas Factory, helping businesses tell their stories through branding and advertising campaigns. That experience — combined with his WSET Level 3 qualification and recent retail management at Majestic Wine — gives Mark a unique mix of marketing insight, retail know-how, and a genuine love of connecting people with great bottles.

Ask him about his favourite Armagnac — but be prepared to settle in for the full story!

Wine Shop

Lynda Woodward

Lynda joined the team at Baythorne Wines in 2024.

Following a successful career in facilities management, dealing with large corporate clients, Lynda decided she wanted to wind down from her fast-paced job with a glass of wine in hand.

She undertook the WSET Level 3 course and from there developed a keen palate for interesting wines from all round the world.

The opportunity to put this growing knowledge to the test in a local wine shop was one she jumped at. She regularly helps out in the shop, usually at weekends, offering advice and assisting customers with their purchases.

Wine Shop

Lisa Steel

Lisa joined Baythorne Wines in 2024 to assist in the wine shop at weekends and at busy times of the year within the school holidays. That's right, Lisa also teaches full-time. Given her busy job and family commitments we're so lucky that Lisa is always willing to help us out, often at short notice.

Whilst Lisa is yet to embark on any formal wine qualifications, she has learnt a huge amount during her time here at Baythorne Wines. She has developed a good knowledge of our range and can offer very good advice and assist you with your purchase.