PHILLIPE KALMBACH
Founder of Wine Source Group and Melchior Club, he is a leading figure in the international fine-wine world. Wine Source Group has become a premier global distributor, supplying more than 600 Michelin-starred restaurants across New York, London, Paris, and Singapore. Melchior Club, meanwhile, stands as a reference wine club for the world’s most discerning collectors.
Although his career began in the tech industry, wine has always been his true field of expertise. With over 25 years of experience in fine-wine sourcing, he has built one of the most connected global distribution networks in the industry, with strong operational hubs in London and the United States.
Throughout his career, he has supplied some of the world’s most prestigious Michelin-starred restaurants, elite private cellars, and top international collectors. At the same time, he has remained an active investor in the wine sector, contributing to the growth and evolution of the fine-wine market.
Driven by vision, deep market insight, and an exceptional global network, he is today recognized as a key player in the international fine-wine ecosystem.
XAVIER ROUSSET
Xavier is a dynamic, French-born Master Sommelier whose passion for wine began at just 16, following a formative visit to a winery in Collioure. Early in his career, he was mentored by the late Gérard Basset at Hotel du Vin, where his talent and dedication quickly set him apart. At only 23, Xavier became the youngest Master Sommelier in the World, a defining achievement that launched an exceptional career in fine wine and gastronomy.
He went on to serve as sommelier in several Michelin-starred restaurants, including the legendary Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons in Oxford, holder of three Michelin stars, gaining invaluable experience at the very highest level of international gastronomy.
Xavier later brought his expertise to London, where he earned a Michelin star for his own restaurant in 2007, before channeling his entrepreneurial drive into building a group of six wine-driven restaurants that he created and continues to operate across the city. His vision combines culinary excellence with an inclusive, contemporary approach to wine, focused on delivering experiences that are both refined and approachable.
Today, Xavier remains a leading figure in the hospitality and wine worlds, recognized for his ability to blend technical mastery, entrepreneurial vision, and a deep passion for sharing wine with a broad and discerning audience.
