About Us

Winekraft was founded in early 2021 (mid global pandemic!) by Graeme Sutherland, one of the founders of Good Brothers Wine Bar in Stockbridge and Little Rascals in Corstorphine. Behind the scenes there is a small but dedicated team, with a combined total of nearly 45 years in the trade.

Specialising in ethical, sustainable and responsibly made wines, WineKraft is very much the reimagining of the "local store" but serving everyone from John O'Groats to Lands End. 

Graeme - owner and chief wine-o

Graeme has been working in the wine industry since leaving University in 2000. After a stint as an apprentice winemaker in Burgundy with Maison Louis Jadot, he furthered his career around the world working in bars and restaurants in Edinburgh, Sydney and London. He has worked for a number of the most prominent wine importers in the UK including Bibendum and Enotria.
In 2016, he and his youngest brother Rory, took the leap into the UK on-trade with their first wine bar and they have not looked back since. An advocate of sustainable winemaking and viticulture, he firmly believes the wine is made in the vineyard.
Favourite wine style: Dry aromatic Riesling
Favourite region visited: Too many to choose from but I love Alsace for the beauty and Washington State for the wild.
Most underrated grape: Albillo Real - It can be as fine Great Burgundy!!

Check out more of Graeme's picks here.

Kirsty - manager and resident cork dork

Kirsty moved to Edinburgh during lockdown after working in various independent wine stores all over Scotland for around 7 years. She began working in the wine trade as a “Saturday Girl” after finding herself a little lost post-finishing her Master’s degree, but completely fell in love with wine and still hasn’t left the industry!

Kirsty speaks Spanish and Portuguese, which has nurtured a love for all things Iberian Peninsula. When she’s not tinkering with our website or studying for her Spanish Wine Scholarship she likes to surf (badly,) skate and make playlists for running (which she doesn’t enjoy as much as making the playlists.)
Favourite wine style: Big and bold for both reds and whites
Favourite region visited: Champagne, for the fountains and karaoke
Most underrated: Cabernet Franc - such a great food wine

Check out more of what Kirsty is drinking here.

James - assistant and reigning "most bottles carried at once" champion

Originally from Wales, James has spent the last 9 years travelling around the globe and traversing all sorts of different aspects of the wine world. From bar-tending in Australia to wine-making in America, James has tried all manner of all things wine. After a short stint in e-commerce he joined the team at Winekraft in January 2023, bringing with him a fresh perspective and a measure of wine-making expertise.

James is very susceptible to peer people, so he is (reluctantly) training for a second Iron Man in his spare time. He enjoys hiking, going out in nature and keeping up with the numerous languages which he learnt whilst travelling.
Favourite wine style: Valpolicella for the wine geeks
Favourite region visited: Mendoza because the mountains are spectacular
Most under-rated: Tannat makes great full bodied wines but they seldom make their way over here

James' top wines right now can be found here.