nic@modalwines.com
Nicolas Rizzi
Respectful agriculture has been a passion of mine since my early adult life. This passion has shaped the way I live, from everything I consume to all of the products I use and the way I view my health. I am fascinated by the natural world and all its wonders, its inner workings, its innate intelligence. It is this holistic philosophy that led me to discover a world of wine deeply connected to soil health, to regeneration, and ultimately to the integrity of what ends up in the glass. This discovery convinced me to leave a 15-year career in the music industry to build a company dedicated to championing growers fighting the good fight. This journey has been profoundly inspiring for me, I have grown in ways I couldn't have imagined and I am beyond grateful for the life that Modal Wines has afforded me. And of course for my extended family of like-minded growers and customers I get to share special moments with in the UK and all over this beautiful planet.
roman@modalwines.com
Roman Pawar
It all started with flavour. With a family full of passionate cooks who guard their recipes like state secrets, at a young age I started wondering, "What makes this taste so good?". It soon became clear that the quality of the raw ingredient is always the most important starting point. And that, in turn, all depends on farming. When I learned about a corner of the wine world that emphasized farming great fruit and preserving its integrity throughout the winemaking process, my interest was naturally piqued. At the time, I had just left academia and my thirst for research was amply filled by the world of low-intervention wine and all the flavour experiences it would unlock. Within 6 months, I had completely changed my life path and found my first job in the industry, immersing myself in the inner workings of an import company and the vibrant UK hospitality scene. Since then, I’ve realised the other key ingredient in flavour experiences: the people. Those who dedicate their lives to crafting, communicating, and sharing the traditions that have so long been at the centre of human communities remain my abiding inspiration, and I count myself lucky to work amongst them at every step from farm to table.
angelo@modalwines.com
Angelo van Dyk
Wine has always been a part of my life. My parents were incredible hosts, and I remember the long, lazy lunches we shared with family and friends always had bottles being passed to and fro. As a child, I remember being enchanted by the labels with their myriad colours and their flowing fonts, and the beautiful, vivid liquids that would cascade into the adults’ glasses. Wine was inextricably linked to conviviality and special times, and so as a young man, it seemed only logical to pursue those good times as a career. I’ve been fortunate to work in almost every aspect of wine. I’ve farmed it, made it, poured it and sold it. Recently, it’s taken on new meaning for me. I’m less concerned about the ‘unicorns’ and rares, and spend more time considering how what we do as an industry impacts the world around us. It is a huge privilege to work with an agricultural product that carries such influence, and consider it a huge responsibility to do better for everyone involved, from the farmer through to the final consumer.
amelia@modalwines.com
Amelia Sidebottom
While I always had a healthy appreciation for alcohol, I first became interested in wine when my childhood home (Tenterden, Kent) became the centre of the English wine world. Seeing fields transform seemingly overnight from pasture into vibrant vineyards sparked a newfound obsession. I was determined to learn more - studying biodynamics, travelling to vineyards across the world and getting my WSET to learn how to properly appreciate the depth and taste of wine. This journey took me to Germany, where I started to learn the fundamentals of natural wine, before bringing me all the way back to Tenterden, where I was able to expand my viticultural skillset and now onto London, joining the Modal Wines team in June of 2025. I grew up farming, helping tend to my family's flock of sheep and a variety of other animals, so Modal Wines' farming-led ethos was a natural fit. I love working with our producers, and am constantly inspired by their innovative methodologies and approaches to this most fundamental practice.