We are exceptionally proud to share a truly historic milestone for the United Cellars family. At the 2026 Beam Awards, our Founder and Managing Director, Anthony Ghattas, was honored with the headline accolade of the evening: Man of the Year.
The Beam Awards stand as a benchmark for commercial innovation, vision, and leadership. The Man of the Year category is the pinnacle individual award of the program, strictly reserved for a leader who has demonstrated extraordinary business acumen, driven industry-wide transformation, and shown unwavering commitment to mentoring the next generation of professionals.
For everyone who has walked the journey with United Cellars over the last two decades, this recognition is a thoroughly well-deserved acknowledgment of Anthony's relentless dedication to the world of fine wine and spirits.
The Visionary Behind the Vigneron Network
When Anthony Ghattas founded United Cellars in 2004, he did so with a single, disruptive conviction: that life’s finest moments deserve to be celebrated with a truly seamless, world-class experience. He envisioned a business that bypassed traditional industry middle-men to connect passionate collectors directly with the world's most historic wine estates—from the classified growths of Bordeaux to the cult vineyards of the New World.
Under his stewardship, United Cellars has transformed from an ambitious Australian start-up into a powerhouse independent merchant spanning Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and Europe. Anthony's pioneering approach to combining personalized digital infrastructure with bespoke, human-centric cellar advisory services (our beloved Cellar Angels) has fundamentally rewritten the rules of modern wine retail.
"To receive the Beam Awards Man of the Year accolade is incredibly humbling, but business is never a solo venture. This award is a reflection of the collective resilience, passion, and brilliance of the entire United Cellars team worldwide. We set out twenty-two years ago to bring 'Any Wine, Anywhere' to our clients, and we are still just getting started."
— Anthony Ghattas, Founder
A Legacy of Leadership and Innovation
What makes Anthony's leadership uniquely impactful is his capacity to balance tradition with forward-thinking evolution. In a market as historic as fine wine, he has consistently championed digital modernization, leading United Cellars to a spectacular year of international expansion, global cross-border logistics success, and digital e-commerce growth in 2026.
Beyond the numbers and corporate growth, this award celebrates Anthony’s role as an industry mentor, a champion of sustainable global winemaking partnerships, and a leader who leads with culture first.
Please join the entire global United Cellars team in raising a glass of our finest vintage to Anthony Ghattas, our 2026 Man of the Year!
