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The panel charged with the task of finding the best of examples of Australian wine.
Meet the panel charged with the task of finding the best examples of Australian wine to showcase at the Landmark Australia Tastings for Savour Australia 2013.
Currently Head Sommelier at Black by Ezard, Teage Ezard’s recent Sydney establishment, Kim Bickley has been a sommelier for more than 10 years, working with some of the best in the industry. Born and raised in Australia, she is an ambassador of Australian wine, and trains and encourages her staff to embrace the excellent quality of Australian wines and their importance to any wine list.
Kim is always looking to broaden her knowledge despite holding numerous qualifications including: Court of Master Sommeliers ‐ Certified Sommelier, Len Evans Tutorial Graduate, Sommeliers Australia Tutorial Graduate, Landmark Australia participant and WSET Diploma student.
A leading light in the vibrant Australian wine writing scene, Mike is currently a feature writer for the highly respected Australian Gourmet Traveller Wine and is also Editor-at-Large for the highly-regarded wine commentary website www.winefront.com.au. He has also been published in a number of notable wine publications including Wine Business Magazine Australia, Meininger's Wine Business International magazine (Europe) and Harper’s Wine & Spirits (UK).
Mike is an active wine judge in Australia and overseas, and a graduate of the prestigious Len Evans Tutorial. Mike was named Wine Communicators of Australia Digital Wine Communicator of the Year 2013 and he delivered a keynote speech at the Pinot Noir New Zealand 2013 international conference.
James Halliday is one of Australia’s most respected wine critics and wine writers. He was the most senior and active wine judge in Australia (1977-2009), and regularly judges at wine shows overseas. He is an unmatched authority on all aspects of the wine industry.
Recognised at the highest level for his contribution to the wine industry, James has received awards that include the Charles Heidsieck Award for Excellence in Wine Journalism (1983), the James Beard award in both 1993 and 1994, the Julia Child award for Best Wine, Spirits or Beer Book (1994) and the Maurice O'Shea Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Australian wine industry (1995).
Huon Hooke is one of Australia's leading independent wine writers. A journalist first and wine professional second, he has tertiary qualifications in both fields and has been writing on wine for 30 years. He pens a weekly column for the Sydney Morning Herald ‘Good Food’ section and contributes to Australian Gourmet Traveller Wine, Decanter, US Sommelier Journal and various other publications.
He has published 17 books on wine, including the biography of Penfolds Grange creator Max Schubert. He co-authored the annual Penguin Good Australian Wine Guide for 14 years and was named Australia’s Wine Communicator of the Year in 2008. He’s been a show judge for 26 years and this year will chair the Boutique Wine Awards, the NSW Wine Awards, Tasmanian Regional Wine Show and represents Australia in the Six Nations Wine Challenge.
A wine zealot with 150 bottles of Grange by age 24, John Jens is the man behind John Coppins, Perth's largest wine merchant for more than 23 years. Throughout his illustrious career, John has spent more than 15 years as a wine journalist and has always been passionate about advocating Western Australian (WA) wines.
He was a founding 50 per cent partner in Margaret River’s Devil’s Lair and has wholesaled such labels as Pierro, Yellowglen, Petaluma, Cullen and Moss Wood. He currently works as a sommelier and wine importer with his wife’s family in their WA based group of Lamont’s restaurants.
Jeremy Oliver is one of Australia’s foremost wine educators and is deeply committed to furthering the wine trade between Australia and China. He operates The Jeremy Oliver Wine School, which hosts wine events and educational sessions to create links between the government, corporate and wine lover segments of the Chinese market with Australian wine.
Publishing his first book, Thirst for Knowledge, in 1984, Jeremy became the youngest-ever published wine author in the world. In 2005 he was named the inaugural Wine Writer of the Year by Australian Wine Selector magazine. He is now the author of 25 books including his best-selling guide to Australian wine, The Australian Wine Annual. He also contributes to a multitude of international publications.
With more than 20 years wine industry experience, Sophie Otton recently ventured out as an independent wine consultant, educator, writer and speaker. Prior to this, she was Wine Director for Rockpool Bar and Grill Sydney. She successfully completed the WSET Diploma in Wine and Spirits in London and is a Certified WSET Educator, Level III. She has also been a national winner of the Negociants Working with Wine Fellowship and received a scholarship to the inaugural Len Evans Tutorial.
Sophie is a wine judge and certified sommelier with the Court of Master Sommeliers, and in 2009 won the Judy Hirst Award for the sommelier responsible for the Wine List of the Year. She has worked as a feature wine writer and tasting panellist for Australian Gourmet Traveller Wine Magazine since 2000.
Tyson Stelzer is a multi-award winning wine writer with an annual readership of four million worldwide. He was named Australian Wine Communicator of the Year 2013 and The International Champagne Writer of the Year 2011 in The Louis Roederer International Wine Writers' Awards.
An author and publisher of 13 wine books, Tyson also contributes regularly to notable publications including including Wine Spectator, Decanter, Qantas The Australian Way, Australian Gourmet Traveller Wine and Wine Companion Magazine.
As an international speaker, Tyson has presented at wine conferences around the world and is a regular judge and chairman at wine shows throughout Australia.
Nick Stock is one of Australiaʼs most prolific wine commentators and a best-selling author who is widely published across major print media. He is active in radio and television broadcasting, digital media production, wine show judging, public speaking and educating. Awards include Best Drinks Journalist (World Food Media Awards 2007), Best Wine Tourism Feature (2012 Born Digital Wine Awards) and he has twice been crowned Australian Sommelier of the Year. Author of the Age/Sydney Morning Herald Good Wine Guide, Nick brings a deep understanding of all corners of Australian wine and is renowned for his engaging, informed and entertaining style.
