John Clerides – Owner
john at marquis-wines.com
John was raised listening to stories about his father’s childhood in a Cypriot mountainside village. He heard about how his grandfather looked after his family of nine by raising an assortment of animals, and by growing their own fruits and vegetables. His grandfather also tended their vines and made wine, along with their local moonshine which was nothing less than racing fuel. The seeds were planted for his curiosity about food and wine.
In 1977 his career began like any other good Greek Canadian, in the family restaurant. Ten years in the restaurant business gave John a strong foundation for working with people and listening to his customers. Painfully aware of the frustrations locals had by the limited selection of wines and indifferent service, John jumped at the opportunity to open Marquis Wine Cellars in 1986. Inspired by speaking with many of his seasoned wine friends and his readings John’s quest for knowledge began.
John has travelled extensively though Australia, Washington, Oregon, California, Italy, Spain, France and Austria, sourcing unique, flavourful, undiscovered wines. Even after 25 years his quest for discovery remains unabated. You will most likely find John in either one of three places, at Marquis Wine Cellars assisting his clients, in a vineyard or cellar somewhere in the wine world, or his most preferred location: at the local ice rink playing hockey.
Jon Ellison – General Manager
jonellison at marquis-wines.com
Originally hailing from Ontario, where he grew up working on farms, Jon started at Marquis Wine Cellars in 2004 as our delivery driver/sales associate. After a two-year period on the sales floor learning the store, our wines, and our clients, Jon moved into the office and took over our logistics, special offerings, and the running many of our events. Over the years these roles evolved and Jon took on new challenges like becoming our head wine buyer in 2014 and becoming General Manager in January of 2019. Since 2007 Jon has travelled to many parts of the world to source new and exciting wines for the store. While most often travelling to France, due to his fluency in French, his travels also include trips to Italy, Australia, Washington, Oregon and California. Jon also tastes extensively in Vancouver with importers and winery principles as they pass through town, as he is always on the search for the next great wine for the store. In addition to his BA in History and Political Science from McGill, Jon’s formal wine training includes levels 1 & 2 of the International Sommelier Guild and WSET Level 3. When not at work Jon is an avid reader, golfer, wine sampler and has been known to be pretty handy around a barbecue.
Robert Bell – E-Commerce Manager
robert at marquis-wines.com
Since joining the Marquis team in 2015, Robert has utilized his diverse background and passion for technology to transform the company's online presence into the leading wine e-commerce platform in British Columbia. A UBC graduate and WSET Level 2 certified, Robert's experience spans across sales, purchasing, digital design, and teaching in Japan. He navigates the digital space, employing the latest technology and managing a vast array of resources to enhance online sales and user experience. When away from his role at Marquis, Robert enjoys skiing, reading, and savoring his favorite wines – from the crisp Grüner Veltliner of Austria and refreshing Chablis to the robust Spanish Tempranillo and diverse Rhône offerings.
Ken Parr – CFO
ken at marquis-wines.com
Chrystala Georgiou – Senior Sales Associate
chrystala at marquis-wines.com
Jesse Richmond – Sales Associate & Buyer for South America
jesse at marquis-wines.com
Christopher Cox – Sales & Spain Buyer
christopher at marquis-wines.com
Lindsey Ail – Wine Club Director, BC Wine Buyer
lindsey at marquis-wines.com
Driven by equal parts passion and a desire to learn, Lindsey joined the Marquis team in 2017 after a decade as a practicing RMT. Her intention is to share her love of exploring and gaining a deeper appreciation of the world through wine. Lindsey has completed the Wine & Spirit Education Trust Level 3 Certificate and continues her wine education be it in books, online, or the much preferred hands-on approach. Outside of work Lindsey derives pleasure from reading, escaping into nature, and the daily adventures with her labradoodle, Maisy.
Shawn Hamilton – Sales Associate
shawn at marquis-wines.com
Viviane Bedard - Sales Associate
viviane at marquis-wines.com
Samantha Deutscher - Sales Associate / Social Media Contributor
samantha at marquis-wines.com
Samantha arrived to Vancouver in 2010 pursuing a career in the performing arts, and - as most "starving artists" do - worked predominantly in the hospitality industry. Her passion for wine was sparked on the restaurant floor and has continued to grow and flourish over the years, having completed her WSET Level 3 Certificate in 2015. In her spare time, Sam can be found cooking elaborate meals for her friends and family, belting out showtunes at karaoke, and cheering on her much beloved Calgary Flames.