Lascelles Wines & Spirits exec Debra Taylor is truly, madly, deeply in love with vino. in-between winespeak and laughter she’s sharing some of the good stuff with us at the Devon House late-night-chic Bin 26, where she serves as one of the investors.

What are you sipping?

E & E Black Pepper Shiraz.

What kind of day are you having?

Not a bad one at all, because I have decided not to take on any of life’s stresses too much.

What’s the best thing about Bin 26?

The selection of wines available; so much wine, so little time. There’s a sophistication and elegance in the place that just makes you feel grown-up.

Socialite or homebody?

I’m a mix of both. socialite because of the nature of my job, homebody because I also love my alone time.

Flats or stilettos?

Definitely stilettos, I hate flats. I’ve always been a ‘legs girl’ and stilettos have totally helped with showing off my assets.

What’s in your handbag?

You mean besides everything? I have a wine opener, hand sanitiser, my camera, lipgloss, pen, perfume, business cards and body butter.

What perfume are you currently spraying?

Perry Ellis Woman.

What’s your style?

I don’t know if I have a definitive style, but if I were to state I’d say it would be a clean mix of traditional and playful.

What are your creature comforts?

Wine, TV and my sofa or bed. I’m a simple girl, at the end of the day.

Who does your hair?

Joan from Beauty Dimensions, which is off Lady Musgrave Road. She’s been doing my hair for the last 13 years.

Who does your nails?

Vivienne Vassel, who works from her home.

TV or good book?

TV.

What are you watching?

Law & Order, yes all of them and CSI. I do throw in Discovery and CNN as well.

What’s your idea of the perfect date?

The perfect date is when someone cooks for me, even if he’s not a master chef. A nice bottle of wine, a home-cooked meal, good laughs and I’m anybody’s. (laughs) well, not really!

What’s your idea of the perfect man?

Does he exist? But ideally he must have a sense of humour, be a caring person and someone that I have the hots for. He doesn’t have to come in a particular package either, except that he must be tall.

What’s your latest obsession?

My radio programme A Moment with Wine on FAME FM. The feedback has been phenomenal, so each week I get to come up with new ideas, concepts on how to present wine in a more user-friendly way. Also, Bin 26 which allows me as a Wines & Spirits executive to really interact with the end-consumer, and raising my 15-year-old son who is without a doubt the love of my life.

What projects are you working on?

Firstly, my Distilled & Chilled TV series, researching universities for my son, and expanding my wine portfolio at Lascelles as well as completing my wine diploma.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve been given?

My parents have instilled in me that “what you don’t have you can do without. Never be envious of anyone because of what he or she has, you never know how he or she came by it”.

And 10 years from now?

Living on a vineyard somewhere. By that time I would have completed my Master’s in wine and I would be looking towards my son getting married.