Alexander Westgarth, Founder & President
ALEXANDER WESTGARTH
Founder & President
As Founder and President of Westgarth Wines, Hampstead-born Alexander Westgarth has combined a personal love for the vine with his nearly two decades of experience in the fine wine industry. A keen sportsman, Alexander represented England’s junior basketball team on the European Championship circuit before transitioning into the fine wine trade in 2001. He quickly established a reputation for savvy advice and developed a loyal international clientele. Years of consulting for other organizations followed, bringing him an exceptional network of industry contacts and prompting him to launch Westgarth Wines. The company rapidly became known as one of the most dynamic, tech-forward fine wine retailers, and has earned an impressive international presence within the premium wine marketplace.
In tandem with overseeing his company, Alexander is also a popular wine writer, blogger and guest expert on the talk circuit. Featured in multiple publications both in the U.S. and abroad, he is often tapped to share his insights on the fine and rare wine market. A first-class oenophile certified by the Wine and Spirit Education Trust, Alexander resides in southern California.
Maurizio Broggi, Wine Specialist
MAURIZIO BROGGI
Wine Specialist
Born and raised in Milan, Maurizio Broggi’s background is in engineering, but he soon caught the wine bug after enrolling in a Sommelier course in Italy for fun. He has since gained an impressive wealth of experience in the industry.
Working as a wine educator, consultant and wine ambassador for several different Italian consortia and associations, he eventually left his home country and moved to China to work as an ambassador for a Hong Kong based wine distributor. A few years later his career took him to the USA as a wine educator where he worked closely with a number of Italian consortia to develop a wine education program that focused specifically on the wines of Italy.
Maurizio holds a WSET Level 4 Diploma in Wine and Spirits and was awarded the Napa Valley Vintners Scholarship as a North American high-achieving Diploma graduate. He is currently working towards achieving his Master of Wine. He teaches WSET levels 1 through 4 in the US and online for the WSET Headquarters and has also been a judge at the Decanter World Wine Awards. In 2018-2019, he studied winemaking at UC Davis where he successfully completed the Certificate Program in Winemaking. In the rare moments he spends away from wine, he also loves bike riding.
Summer Sun, Operations Manager
SUMMER SUN
Operations Manager
As the Operations Manager at Westgarth Wines, Summer Sun brings the company nearly a decade of experience in the fine wine industry. Her tenures in Operations and Marketing at some of the most prestigious wine merchants in Hong Kong – Asia’s fine wine capital – imparted a keen understanding of the vigorous Asian wine market and by extension, the global fine and rare wine landscape. Earning an undergraduate degree in Advertising from Wenzhou University and a Master of Arts in Integrated Marketing Communication from City University of Hong Kong, Summer’s contributions to Westgarth Wines revolve around ensuring operational, logistical and organizational continuity as well as communications outreach to both internal and external stakeholders.
Fluent in English, Mandarin and Cantonese, Summer holds an Advanced Certificate passed with distinction from the Wine and Spirit Education Trust. She and her husband currently reside in Vancouver, B.C., where she successfully balances her role at Westgarth with being a mother to two young children.
Nick Smydo, Wine Consultant
NICK SMYDO
Wine Consultant
For Nick Smydo, the path to wine wasn’t a straight line. While baseball took center stage during his college years — where he studied forensic accounting — his true calling came later. What began as a side interest soon became a full-fledged career, with Nick diving headfirst into the world of fine wine.
Nick built his wine expertise largely through books, critic articles, and countless tastings. For more than seven years, he has worked in wine sales, blending his natural love of storytelling with deep appreciation for top producers like Cos d'Estournel, Smith Haut Lafitte, and Soldera. Nick’s tastes lean toward Brunello and Left Bank Bordeaux. Outside of wine, he’s a dedicated foodie who loves to cook and pair his meals with the perfect bottle. A lifelong sports enthusiast, he still holds a love for baseball but admits football will always be his favorite.
