Five star Berkshire hotel the Vineyard has appointed Alan Holmes as its new wine and restaurant director, taking over from Yohann Jousselin MS.

Holmes is currently wine and beverage manager for Chewton Glen Hotel and Country Club, and has previously worked as restaurant manager at Michelin starred Heathcotes in Lancashire and Petrus at the Berkeley Hotel, London. He holds a UK Sommelier of the Year 1999 and has more recently won Wines of South Africa Sommelier of the Year UK 2010. He will take up his position in early December.

The move comes on the back of the unveiling earlier this year of a series of refreshing new developments at the Vineyard including new wine initiatives and menus and a glass wine vault where they marked the arrival of the 30,000th bottle.

Holmes, said: "The extensive wine offering at the Vineyard is unique, especially with its Californian specialities and cellar holding over 30,000 bottles and the 100 wines available to enjoy by the glass. With its reputation of matching fantastic wines to food, I'm really looking forward to building the list and working closely with executive chef Daniel Galmiche to create a unique wine and food pairing experience for guests."

Andrew McKenzie, managing director, said: "We have always been lucky at the Vineyard to have the very best in the industry heading up our wine programme - Yohann has done a fantastic job managing the changes we have made to our wine approach at since our relaunch this year. He is taking up an opportunity of a lifetime in China and I look forward to hearing of his continued success."

He added: "I am delighted however to have finally captured Alan Holmes who we have known for many years and worked closely with within the Relais & Chateaux family. Alan's enthusiasm for our passion to democratise wine and put it at the heart of everything we do at the Vineyard is infectious."

Yohann Jousselin, MS, will take up a new role at The Grand Lisboa Hotel, Macau in China.