Judges

Judges for the Melbourne Royal Wine Awards are selected from across Australia and are engaged based on their exceptional industry knowledge and expertise.

The judges are sourced from a broad base and include leading Australian winemakers, wine journalists, wine buyers, distributors and fine wine retailers. 

Entries are blind tasted and judged on their own merits (see ‘Judging Process’ in the Entry Booklet for details.  To ensure the anonymity of the Exhibit and to protect the integrity of the judging process, entries are allocated a tasting order number, separate from the Catalogue (Exhibit) Number. 

Meet The Judges

Chair of Judges

Marcus Satchell

Marcus, a seasoned winemaker hailing from South Gippsland, Victoria, brings over 26 years of expertise to his craft. His journey has taken him through the wine regions of the Yarra Valley and California. Alongside his wife Lisa, Marcus is the owner of Dirty Three Wines, specialising in Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Riesling. Beyond his own label, Marcus serves as a consultant and contract winemaker for various clients in the region. Marcus was a Len Evans Tutorial Scholar in 2011.

Panel Chair Judges

Emma Norbiato - Calabria Wines, NSW

Leanne Altmann - Trader House, VIC

Sarah Crowe - Yarra Yering, VIC

Tom Carson - Yabby Lake Wines, VIC

Tom Wallace - Brown Family Wine Group, TAS

Rob Mann – Corymbia Wine, WA

Judges

Alex Beckett - Marnong Estate, VIC

Ben Harris - Wynns Coonawarra Estate, SA

Emma Farrelly - State Buildings, WA

Emma Gillespie – Deep Woods, WA

Glenn Barry - Tonic Wines, SA

Julian Grounds – Stonier Wines, VIC

Nadja Wallington - Chalou Wines, NSW

PJ Charteris - Charteris Wines, NSW

Samantha Payne – Full Glasses, NSW

Simon Steele - Bellbrae Estate, VIC

Tim Dolan - Kaesler Wines, SA

Trina Smith - Pernod-Ricard Winemakers, WA

Associate Judges

Amanda Flynn - Yering Station, VIC

Andrew Higgins - Tamburlaine Organic Wines, NSW

Billy Xynas – University of Melbourne, VIC

David Li - Joval Wines, VIC

Emily Glover - De Iuliis Wines - NSW

Imogen Dillon - Ten Minutes By Tractor, VIC

Topsi Wallace - Jim Barry, SA

Jacinta Jenkins – Pocket Gully, SA

Sierra Blair – Ghost Rock Wines, TAS

Simon McMillan – Brown Family Wine Group, VIC

Tegan Clydesdale – Fowles Wine, VIC