Judges

Nola is a freelance writer in editor based in Melbourne and Hobart, although she can often be found in New York. With 20+ years of hospitality experience alongside 15+ years as a journalist, she writes mostly about wine and restaurants, with a smattering of travel in between. After spending 2023–2024 as acting editor for Halliday Wine Companion, today she’s a sub-editor on T: The New York Times Style Magazine, Australia and regular contributor to delicious.com.au, Good Food and the Qantas in-flight magazine.

Lisa is a sommelier, WSET educator, and award-winning wine writer. Born and bred in Tuscany has worked in the finest Australian restaurants for ten years. After a stint in the wine wholesale business, Lisa has decided to pursue her dream: to become a professional wine journalist. She works as an account coordinator and freelance wine writer at Halliday Wine Companion. Lisa also reviews wines for WinePilot, curates the wine column for the Law Institute of Victoria journal, and judges at local wine shows. She is also a member of the Qantas/Neil Perry wine selection team. Lisa won the 2022 Wine Communicators of Australia Best Published Feature Article and was the recipient of the 2022 Len Evans/Sydney Royal Professional Development Scholarship.

Brendan is a specialist medical practitioner who developed his expertise in wine through his involvement in tasting groups with colleagues. His love affair with wine was cemented when he lived in Italy for two years. During this time, he developed an affinity for, and an in-depth knowledge of, Italian wines. Brendan is involved in industry tasting panels, writing, wine consultancy and judging, but his passion is for wine education and appreciation, and this has inspired his MW journey. He is part-owner and director of Enoteca Centro, which is part wine bar, part urban cellar door and part knowledge hub, in Perth city. It's his attempt at bringing warm, European-style hospitality, to the heart of Western Australia, and to share his passion for all things wine.  He runs courses - from introductory to specialised masterclasses - at the venue.

Nicole is a freelance writer and Wine & Spirits Education Trust (WSET) educator living in Melbourne on Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung land. She is a regular contributor to Winepilot, and has been published in Gourmet Traveller Wine,  James Halliday Wine Companion Magazine and Meininger’s Wine Business International Magazine (Europe) in collaboration with her mentor, Jeni Port. Nicole’s wine judging career began after being awarded the Victorian Viticultural Society scholarship in 2017. She has since been involved with a number of national shows and is a passionate believer in the power wine has to connect people.

A CMS Certified Sommelier, WSET educator and wine show judge, Kim Bickley has been referred to as one of the top Sommeliers in the country. Having more than 20 years experience in the industry, curating award winning wine lists for restaurants such as Glass Brasserie (Hilton Sydney) , Black by Ezard (The Star Casino Sydney) and Salt Grill. Kim has worked as brand ambassador for Bollinger, Henschke and Petaluma, was a Len Evans and Sommeliers Australia Tutorial Scholar in 2009, attended AWRI’s Advanced Wine Assessment Course in 2015 and is now a member of the Wine Selectors Tasting Panel.  Having relocated to the Hunter Valley in 2016 to join her partner Andrew Thomas (Thomas Wines), she is now working as a consultant sommelier is excitingly on the cusp of opening a cutting-edge wine accessories store in Pokolbin.

Amelia is a long-time journalist and editor who has specialised in wine and drinks media for almost 20 years. The former Editorial Director of Halliday Wine Companion was part of the launch team for that brand's magazine in 2011, and now writes for a range of publications and sites covering wine, food and travel. She also works with key businesses across the drinks industry.

Andrew is a former WCA 'Young Gun' of Wine Journalism and Lifestyle FOOD channel wine expert who writes for a host of publications and judges around the world. Now clocking up over 20 years in the wine industry, Andrew has a Masters in Wine Technology & Viticulture and is co-founder of wine events business The Tasting Glass. In his spare time, he runs foolishly long ultramarathons.

Angus Hughson is an award winning drinks writer and publisher with over 20 years experience in the wine industry. Angus is the Australian Editor for Vinous, founder and publisher at Winepilot and Co-Publisher of The Australian Ark by Andrew Caillard MW. He has also been a regular contributor to The Australian, Gourmet Traveller Wine, Spirit of Australia Qantas Magazine, Mindfood, Courier Mail, Herald Sun and Daily Telegraph as well as a judge at the Sydney Royal Wine Show, Macedon Wine Show, Wine Show of Western Australia and Margaret River Wine Show.

Gill Gordon-Smith is 2017 WCA Educator of the Year and Wine Communicator of the Year. She runs a  retail wine shop and tasting bar in the McLaren Vale region. Gill is a bVIA Italian wine ambassador, a McLaren Vale ambassador and a regular contributor to Fleurieu Living. She is small batch winemaker for Fall from Grace and spends much time eating and drinking her way through the world.

A freelance wine and drinks writer, presenter and retailer (P&V Merchants) – Mike’s work appears in delicious. magazine, Halliday Wine Companion Guide and magazine, WineFront.com.au and other publications.

Peter was a founding member of the Gourmet Traveller WINE Magazine tasting panel, and its convenor, as well as being a member of its Winemaker of the Year panel for more than 20 years. He is a regular contributor to The Qantas Magazine and Country Style Magazine. Notably, Peter is a highly experienced wine educator and a sought-after host in the corporate world.

Wendy Cameron is an experienced winemaker who commenced her career working in her parent’s family winery in North East Victoria before joining Brown Family Wine Group. She spent the next 17 years there, initially as a hands-on winemaker and then as Head of Winemaking. In this role, she had responsibility for the vineyards and wineries in Victoria and Tasmania and the development and production of their diverse range of grape varieties and wine styles. Wendy has been a committee member of the Australian Society Viticulture and Oenology (ASVO) and was awarded the inaugural ASVO Winemaker of the Year Award in 2012. She was made a Fellow of the ASVO in 2020. Wendy has judged at many Australian Wine shows as well as giving technical presentations at wine industry conferences both in Australia and the US. Wendy became a Master of Wine in 2015. After studying for her PhD at the University of Melbourne, she has recently submitted her thesis “Effect of temperature on grapevine phenology”.

Jane Faulkner is a journalist by training and a wine writer by vocation. She writes for a number of publications and recently joined the best-selling Halliday Wine Companion as a key reviewer. For many years she’s been judging the Wine List of the Year Awards and writing about the winners for Gourmet Traveller WINE. In between, she is a sort-after MC, teaches wine courses, an experienced editor, wine judge and currently chairs four Australian shows. Born in Malaysia, lives in Melbourne, Jane never tires of travelling throughout the wine world for months on end. Naturally she drinks with gusto.

Queensland-based, Ken Gargett, is wine writer for WinePilot, Ocean Magazine, The World of Fine Wine, Quill and Pad and other publications. He has been a Len Evans scholar and a winner of the Vin de Champagne Award. Ken has been a judge of these awards since 2008 and for China's Wine List of the Year since 2013.

Ray Jordan is one of Australia’s most experienced wine journalists. Ray has been writing about wine for nearly 40 years. His first articles were published in the early issues of the national wine magazine Winestate in the late 70s when he worked in Sydney as a correspondent for The West Australian newspaper. Ray is currently Wine Editor for Seven West Media, writing wine columns for The West Australian Fresh Section and Saturday Magazine, together with the Sunday Times, while also contributing to other publications. In 2003 Ray released the first of his annual guides to West Australian wines and has also co-authored a book on Margaret River with Peter Forrestal. In 2016 Ray published Wine in the Blood; Australia’s family wine estates, in both Chinese and English versions. He co-hosts a regular wine show on Curtin FM radio. Ray has judged at the Swan Valley Wine Show, the Barossa Wine Show, the Perth Hills Wines Show, the Geographe Wine Show and the Sheraton Wine Awards. He has been awarded the Jack Mann Medal for his contribution to the West Australian wine industry. He has been a long-time judge of the Wine List of the Year Awards.