Ex Animo was started in 2014 by husband and wife team David and Jeannette Clarke.

They met in London in 2004 where they were both working for the Harrod’s Wine Department in Knightsbridge, at that time one of the most prestigious wine shops in the world.

Jeannette had moved to London after obtaining her BSc Agriculture with Enology and Viticulture from Stellenbosch University and then working multiple harvests in South Africa, California and New Zealand.

David had worked for 5 years in fine wine retail in his native Melbourne, and arrived in London via a three month tour of the wine regions of Italy, France and Spain.

Jeannette was helpless against David’s charms and they were married in 2007 and moved to Melbourne.

During a happy five years in Melbourne, both David and Jeannette both starting working in fine dining restaurants. They soon both passed the Certified Sommelier exam with the Court of Master Sommeliers. They continued to work separately as Head Sommeliers at high end restaurants in Melbourne until 2011/2.

Once their daughter was born in 2012, it was a countdown to moving to South Africa where Jeannette wanted to be near her family. They moved in January 2013.