Philip Stephenson-Oliver is a wine merchant, influencer, political figure, and reservist soldier whose career spans commerce, public service, and defence.

He spent his early years in Langton Green, just outside Tunbridge Wells, where he attended Holmewood House Preparatory School. His education followed a less conventional path following his parents’ divorce, which saw him attend several schools including Claremont and Heathfield College.

Much of his upbringing was shaped by the landscapes of Sussex, where he lived in Lewes, Stonegate, Robertsbridge, and Cross in Hand. This region, celebrated for its role in the rise of English sparkling wine, proved formative. At the age of eighteen, he took part in his first grape harvest, marking the beginning of a lifelong engagement with viticulture and the wine trade.

He went on to study History and Politics at the University of Kent, developing a strong grounding in governance, institutions, and historical context that would later inform both his political and professional pursuits.

After graduating, his ambition to join the regular British Army as an officer was temporarily halted due to a medical issue relating to a heart condition, later confirmed to have been misdiagnosed. During this period, he turned decisively towards the wine industry, working initially as a junior sommelier at Pelham House in Lewes, before becoming a Wine Advisor at Laithwaite’s Wines in Theale. This path ultimately led him to Maida Vale in London, where he continues to live and work.

While at Laithwaite’s, he undertook formal wine education through the Wine and Spirit Education Trust, achieving WSET Level 3 with Merit. He subsequently progressed to the role of Senior Account Executive at Caves de Pierre, a specialist French wine importer widely regarded as one of the finest in the United Kingdom. The disruption of the COVID-19 pandemic and the experience of furlough prompted him to establish his own wine business, marking his transition into entrepreneurship.

In parallel, he returned to his long-held commitment to military service. In 2020, he joined the British Army Reserve and completed basic training in 2021, passing out as a serving soldier with the Honourable Artillery Company, the oldest regiment in the British Army. Since then, he has represented the Army at major national and ceremonial events, including the Opening of Parliament, the Lord Mayor’s Show, and Remembrance Sunday. In recognition of his service, he is due to receive the Coronation Service Medal.

Alongside his commercial and military career, he has played an active role in Conservative Party politics. He became Chairman of the Westminster North Conservative Association in 2022, making him one of the youngest association chairmen in the country. Following parliamentary boundary changes and the formal dissolution of Westminster North, he is now Chairman of the newly established Queen’s Park and Maida Vale Conservative Association.

He continues to deepen his professional expertise and is currently studying towards the WSET Level 4 Diploma in Wines, further consolidating his standing within the international wine trade.