Born and bred in Cambridge England, Claire was working in Oxford when she met a handsome young Australian chef and decided to move to Australia. Once here, she worked in wine retail, achieved a Diploma in Business Administration and Bachelor of Wine Marketing at Adelaide University.

Claire moved to the Barossa to work for Two Hands Wines as Cellar Door Manager and later Brand Manager. Two years later, Claire and her then partner William established Carême Pastry in Tanunda, with the aim of introducing Australian cooks and chefs to artisan all butter pastry.

Beginning with a stall at the Barossa Farmers Market, they went on to establish distribution in retail and food service nationally and now export to a half a dozen countries in Asia. As Managing Director of Carême, she is responsible for strategic planning, financial, operational and brand management.

Claire’s community commitments include being a founding committee member for the groundbreaking Barossa Slow events in 2004 and 2006. She joined the board of the Barossa Farmers Market in 2016. A passionate advocate of the Market, she believes it plays a critical role in many aspects of our food culture and is a vital launch pad for new producers. She went on to hold the position of Treasurer, then Chair, stepping down from the board in 2021.

Claire’s door is always open to budding new food producers and her door is always open to those seeking advice on how to get a start in the food industry.

Claire and William continue to run Carême as business partners. They have two daughters Florence and Elena, whose sporting efforts keep her busy as a volunteer at Barossa United Soccer Club and Nuriootpa Tennis Club.