Judges

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

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 from South Gippsland, Victoria, brings over 27 years of experience to his craft. His journey has taken him through the regions of the Yarra Valley, California, and many parts of France and Italy. Together with his wife Lisa, Marcus owns Dirty Three Wines, specialising in Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Riesling. In addition to his own label, he also works as a consultant and contract winemaker for various clients across the region. In 2011, Marcus was a Len Evans Tutorial Scholar.

Panel Chair Judges

Chris Crawford - Fogarty Hall Fine Wine Estates, VIC
Lisa Jenkins - Fleet Wines, VIC
Rob Mann - Corymbia, WA
Sarah Crowe - Yarra Yering, VIC
Simon Steele - Bellbrae Estate, VIC
Tom Wallace - Brown Family Wine Group, TAS


Judges

Alex Beckett - Marnong Estate, VIC
Alexey Doumbouya - Hill Smith Family Estates, SA
Ben Harris - Wynns Coonawarra Estate , SA
Emily Glover - Glover Wines, NSW
Emma Farrelly - State Buildings/COMO The Treasury, WA
Emma Gillespie - Deep Woods Estate, WA
Nadja Wallington - ChaLou Wines, NSW
PJ Charteris - Charteris Wines, NSW
Samantha Payne - Freelance Drinks Writer, NSW
Steph Dutton - Penfolds, SA
Tim Dolan - Kaesler Wines, SA
Trina Smith - Pernod Ricard, SA


Associate Judges

Alexey Doumbouya - Hill Smith Family Estates, SA
Amanda Flynn - Yering Station, VIC
Billy Xynas - The University of Melbourne , VIC
Chris Webb - Cumulus Inc. (Trader House), VIC
Denise Hager - Giant Steps Wine, VIC
Jacinta Jenkins - Balnaves of Coonawarra, SA
Jessey McGowen - Vinarchy, SA
Jessica DiGiorgio - Seville Estate , VIC
Sierra Blair - Ghost Rock Wines, TAS
Simon McMillan - Brown Family Wine Group, VIC
Tegan Clydesdale - Fowles Wine, VIC
Topsi Wallace - Jim Barry Wines, SA

 

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