Warren Gibson – SIWC 2019

Warren Gibson was educated at Massey University, New Zealand, and at Roseworthy College, South Australia. He began his winemaking career in New Zealand in 1987, subsequently travelling the world as a Flying Winemaker, including vintages in Australia, Italy, Hungary, France and California. This represents over 30 vintages across ten international wine regions. In 2005, Warren was named “New Zealand Winemaker of the Year” by “Winestate” a specialist Australasian wine magazine, The following year,...Read more

Andrea Pritzker is an independent wine consultant, wine judge, WSET educator, writer and public speaker. Born and raised in Toronto, Canada, she spent a study year in Heidelberg, Germany as a requisite for her honours degree in European Studies. It was in Germany that her passion for wine was ignited, sparked by the university’s sponsored trips to the local vineyards. Upon returning to Toronto, she obtained a full time role in travel along with a part-time job working evenings at a local wine m...Read more

Involved in Wine Shows in both Australia and New Zealand. Chairman of Judges at Spiegelau International Wine Awards (Blenheim) and the Royal Easter Wine Awards (Auckland). Past Chairman of Judges at International Cool Climate Wine Show (Mornington Peninsula, Victoria), the Liquorland Wine Show (Wellington and Blenheim, New Zealand) and the International Chardonnay Challenge (Gisborne, New Zealand). Mike is also the current deputy Chairman of the Royal Easter Show Wine Awards - a role he took ov...Read more

Toni Paterson MW is one of Australia's leading wine commentators. Over a near twenty-year writing career, she has contributed to numerous publications, writing hundreds of articles advising wine lovers on what to try and buy. She has been the Drinks Writer for Australian House and Garden magazine for a decade and is a contributor and tasting panellist for Gourmet Traveller WINE. She has authored three consumer wine guides, published by Random House, and has been a columnist for Australian Good ...Read more

Martin Williams is a winemaker, based in the Yarra Valley near Melbourne. After studying Chemistry and Biochemistry at the University of Sydney, Martin completed an MSc in Oenology and Viticulture at the University of California, Davis in 1991.  By this stage he had travelled and worked in various wine regions of Australia, New Zealand, Europe and the United States, accumulating broad-ranging winemaking experience before settling in the Yarra Valley, with Tarrawarra Estate, in 1992. From 1...Read more

Jennifer resides in Hong Kong and splits her time between Hong Kong and Shanghai heading up top importer distributor Summergate’s portfolio and leading their brand management (and educators) team. Her teams help producers build their brand and distribution in China, Hong Kong and Macau, in addition to providing training and education (including WSET) for staff and customers. Jennifer moved to Asia in 2018 in order to be closer to the dynamic Asian wine market where she is able to build upon her...Read more

Brent Marris inherited a solid foundation for a life devoted to winemaking and viticulture. He grew up on one of the first contract vineyards in Marlborough established by his parents in 1978. Inspired and encouraged by his father, John Marris, he graduated from Roseworthy Agricultural College (South Australia) in 1983 with a Bachelor of Applied Science in Oenology (winemaking and viticulture) thus becoming Marlborough’s first locally born, and raised, qualified winemaker. Brent has 32 years of...Read more

Bree Boskov Stock is an Australian-born Master of Wine with two decades of international experience in the wine industry. Her wine career spans sommelier, educator, brand consultant, national sales and buying roles across Canada and east-coast Australia. A certified WSET educator since 2008 and Master of Wine since 2016, she lectures across all levels of the WSET certification and produces wine education programs for both trade organizations and consumers in Canada, the US and Australia notably...Read more

Bryan began his working career as a palaeontologist, before diverting to his other passion of wine, working in vineyards and as a McWilliam’s cellarhand before becoming a winemaker. Bryan returns to the McWilliam’s team after a spell at Westend Estate, where he was winemaker since 2001. In his time at Westend he built a formidable reputation as a talented and savvy winemaker, nominated last year by the Gourmet Traveller Wine Magazine for “Winemaker of the Year”, the only NSW winemake...Read more

Having completed a BSc (Hons) in Anatomy and Structural Biology, Emma decided a more sociable career was in order and instead pursued her passion for wine. Emma has worked in fine wine retail, holds a diploma in winemaking and viticulture, and in 2011 became New Zealand’s ninth Master of Wine. Emma is wine columnist for The Australian Women’s Weekly (NZ edition), co-editor of The Independent Wine Monthly alongside Jane Skilton MW, and writes on a freelance basis for a number of trade and general...Read more

EMPLOYMENT June 2016 - Present Head Sommelier Hotels Merivale August 2007 – June 2016 General Manager/Sommelier Tetsuya's September 2005 – July 2007 Head Sommelier Guillaume @ Bennelong Sydney Opera House May 2002 – August 2005 Head Sommelier - Merivale Group est Restaurant June 1998 – April 2002 Assistant Sommelier M.G. Garage Restaurant August 1995 – June 1998 Restaurant Manager/Sommelier Bennelong Restaurant July 1993 – August 1996 Section Manager Darley Street Thai Restaurant March ...Read more

Dr Sue Bastian gained a B.Sc. Hons, PhD in Biochemistry and Postgraduate Diploma in Oenology at The University of Adelaide and is Associate Professor in oenology and sensory studies and manager of the Sensory Research Facility at the University of Adelaide where she has conducted research and been a wine educator for over a decade. Her initial interest in wine and sensory science was stimulated by her teetotaller parents and her study of biochemistry, cell biology, psychology and physiology. Su...Read more

Sam Kurtz was born and raised in the Barossa Valley the 6th generation of his family to settle in the region. His ancestors from the Koch and Gramp families planted some of the first vines in Barossa and every generation since have worked as either grape-growers, winemakers or in a winery. Breaking briefly with tradition Sam began studying Civil Engineering before leaving and getting a cellar job in a local winery. It was whilst working there he became fascinated by the complex blend of art and ...Read more