Gus Gluck
Business Operations and Beverage Manager, Neighbourhood Group
Gus Gluck is the Business Operations and Beverage Manager for Neighbourhood Group, which encompasses some of Melbourne’s most-loved inner north venues: Neighbourhood Wine, Old Palm Liquor and Bahama Gold. To date, Gluck’s 12-year career has cemented him as an acclaimed global figure in wine and hospitality, named by Drinks Retailing Magazine (2021) as one of the ‘100 most influential people in the UK wine trade’.
With his unwavering commitment to quality, unique understanding of local and international markets, and ability to foster strong stakeholder relationships, Gluck has been pivotal to each venue’s success,
"True hospitality is not methodical, it exists on the fuzzy edges of real magic, where our team attempts at every moment to give people the greatest time possible. I am there to fully support them, celebrate them when they succeed, help when we sometimes don't, and to improve, always", Gluck shares.
Hailing from London, his career commenced with the city’s esteemed wine bar group Vinoteca from industry stalwarts Brett Woonton and Charlie Young, as did Neighbourhood Group's principal directors, Almay Jordaan and Simon Denman. Swiftly moving through the ranks, Gluck went from a young bartender to opening manager, launching three of the group’s restaurants in King’s Cross, Chiswick and Soho. After four successful years, Gluck traversed ‘down under’ in 2016 to the Yarra Valley's Mac Forbes Winery, working as a cellar hand across all technical aspects of the production process and viticulture. At the end of the vintage, Melbourne’s burgeoning hospitality scene called Gluck to the original landmark cafe and wine bar, Pope Joan, of which he was wine buyer for a short stint.
An assistant general manager and sommelier role took Gluck to Melbourne’s much loved restaurant, Neighbourhood Wine, renowned for its authentic dedication to provenance and seasonality. Here he worked closely with Co-founder Simon Denman, assisting him with wine logistics, buying and stock management, as well as staff training and culture. Two years later Gluck had the opportunity to open the London-based award-winning wine bar, restaurant, and bottle shop, Quality Wines. As such, in 2018 he moved back to his home country to co-found the highly reputed venue, working as the general manager and running the entire beverage business operations.
In 2021 Gluck’s passion for wine led him to co-found the London-based wine importer and distributor, GB Wine Shippers (GBWS), buying and selling European and Australian wines globally. The company achieved an incredible 72% growth in its second year of operation and Gluck is still a company director today.
A year later Gluck returned to Melbourne, and the now Neighbourhood Group, to work again with Co-founders Almay Jordaan and Simon Denman. Initially, he expanded the company, working as assistant beverage manager and on the floor at the pair’s latest venture, Brunswick’s beloved public bar and bottle shop, Bahama Gold. Today, Gluck consults on the wine lists for the group’s multiple 1300 bottle strong cellar, advising on domestic and imported drops, and is responsible for Neighbourhood Group’s marketing, and business development.
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Notes to Editors:
Gus Gluck media image gallery link: via Google Drive
About Neighbourhood Wine
Neighbourhood Wine is a decade-old stalwart of Fitzroy North, leading the way in holistic cooking and low-interference wine. Led by life and business partners Almay Jordaan and Simon Denman, it’s a paean to straightforward cooking, seasonality and beautiful hospitality
Address: 1 Reid Street, Fitzroy North Victoria 3068
Phone: (03) 9486 8306
Website: neighbourhoodwine.com
Hours: Monday – Thursday & Sunday from 12 pm – 11:30 pm, Friday & Saturday from 12 pm – 11:55 pm
Instagram: @neighbourhoodwine
Media image gallery link: via Google Drive
About Old Palm Liquor
Opened in 2019, Old Palm Liquor is the second venue by husband-and-wife hospitality duo Simon Denman and Almay Jordaan. Located in the heart of Brunswick East’s buzzing Lygon Street, the venue offers a fire-licked menu of modern South African-inspired dishes, in a series of interconnected 70s style dining spaces.
Address: 133B Lygon St, Brunswick East VIC 3057
Website: oldpalmliquor.com
Phone: (03) 9380 2132
Hours: Monday – Thursday & Sunday from 12 pm – 11:30 pm, Friday & Saturday from 12 pm – 12 am
Instagram: @oldpalmliquor
Old Palm Liquor media image gallery link: via Google Drive
About Bahama Gold
Bahama Gold is the third venue by partners and industry veterans Almay Jordaan and Simon Denman, owners of inner-north darlings Neighbourhood Wine and Old Palm Liquor. The intimate, twelve-seat public bar and bottle shop located next door to Old PalmLiquor has a 1000-bottle wine cellar – typically showcasing low-intervention wines and drops from small producers – and also serves as a casual listening bar, featuring one of Melbourne’s most sophisticated vinyl sound systems.
Address: 135 Lygon St, Brunswick East VIC 3057
Phone: (03) 9388 0954
Website: bahama.gold
Hours: Every day from 12 pm – 12 am
Instagram: @bahama.gold
Bahama Gold media image gallery link: via Google Drive
For media enquiries, please contact:
Georgia Heathcote | Reymond Communications
E: georgia@reymond.com.au | M: +61 (0) 497 199 842
