Olivier Freymuth is an international wine buyer, importer and portfolio strategist with more than 20 years of experience sourcing, developing and building wine portfolios across Europe, North America and Asia.

Born into a French family with roots in Burgundy and Alsace, Olivier’s passion for wine began early and has grown into a career that has taken him around the world. Over the years, he has worked with legendary producers, as well as those from lesser-known regions, and everything else in between,  building strong relationships across retail, hospitality and the independent trade. He’s always on the lookout for wines that surprise people and challenge expectations.

Olivier began his wine career by founding Best Wine Selection in 2002, before gaining extensive international buying and commercial experience with leading wine businesses, including ASC Fine Wines in Shanghai, where he helped develop producers’ presence in the Chinese market. Returning to Europe, he continued to build his expertise through wine buying, consultancy and portfolio roles.

Today, as Director of Wine at CN Foods, Olivier leads wine portfolio development and strategy, sourcing and shaping a range for the UK independent retail and hospitality market that reflects changing tastes and real commercial demand. Known for his curiosity, commercial insight and instinct for discovery, he looks for wines with authenticity, individuality and a clear point of difference — helping great wines find the right audience.

He’s endlessly curious, always keen to learn and firmly believes wine should be enjoyable and accessible to everyone.

Known for seeking out wines with individuality, commercial relevance and a clear point of difference, Olivier brings the London Wine Competition a valuable combination of international sourcing expertise, UK market knowledge and practical understanding of what helps a wine succeed on the retail shelf.

Fun fact: Olivier first met fellow judge Eric in Alsace more than 30 years ago. Eric was just beginning his wine journey… while Olivier had no idea his own was about to begin.