Director & Sales – Sunshine Coast, North Queensland

Q: How did you start working in wine?
After a life in hospitality, it was clear wine had become the biggest influence on my career, so I completed some courses to further develop my knowledge and my palate and here I am. I was meant to work with wine.

Q: Tell us about a memorable gathering (and what wine you were drinking)?
Last Christmas with Michelle at Sails Noosa. Special company, great food, epic location and a half-bottle trifecta of Ruinart Blanc de Blanc, ’16 Billaud-Simon Montée de Tonnerre and a ’19 Rousseau Gevrey-Chambertin. Time and money very well spent.

Q: Your favourite place in the world to gather wine?
Chablis. Walking the vineyards, kicking the dirt and searching for fossil stones helps you understand the region and realise that character and flavour really does come from the land.

Q: Where do you like to enjoy a special bottle with a special someone?
A hot tub… somewhere with icy outdoor temperatures. Yep, in a hot tub with Pinot Noir – does not get better than that!

Q: What does a typical Friday night involve?
A glass of Rosé on the way home either at Village Bicycle, Theo’s or Sunshine Beach Surfie – no better way to finish off the week.

Finish this sentence:

The last bottle I finished was… Stu Proud’s Gathering Field ‘Nouveau Red’ from Yarra Valley. One of my favourite go-to wines.

Champagne is always… a reminder you should drink it more often.

If I’m eating pizza, I’m drinking… something juicy and fun – Pinot Noir, Sangiovese etc.

To impress the mother-in-law, I buy… I don’t have one.. LOL! But, a great Provence Rosé would be loved by anyone.

Christmas morning means… Ham! Triple smoked ham from Noosa Meat Centre is the best in Australia by far, with Laurent-Perrier Rosé, of course.

Director & Sales – Sunshine Coast

Q: How did you start working in wine?
I hand-wrote a letter (emails didn’t exist back then) to Colin Kay of Kay Brothers in my local McLaren Vale expressing my interest in learning about wine. I had a genuine curiosity and I stated that I would be keen on any winery or vineyard work. Thankfully Colin phoned me the following week with the news I could start work in the vineyard immediately.

Q: Tell us about a memorable gathering (and what wine you were drinking)?
One of my most memorable gatherings was a casual dinner with friends at an old favourite Vietnamese restaurant. We sat outside on a beautiful Brisbane night drinking a bottle of Chablis – 2014 Billaud-Simon Montée de Tonnerre. Absolutely delicious!

Q: Your favourite place in the world to gather wine?
There’s no place like home – Australia! The diversity is truly incredible.

Q: Where do you like to enjoy a special bottle with a special someone?
At home with my beautiful wife, enjoying a great meal with a wine to match.

Q: What does a typical Friday night involve?
Friday is family time, catching up on the week… always over a delicious meal and wine, definitely wine involved.

Finish this sentence:

The last bottle I finished was… 2019 Elderslie Gamay – A personal favourite, made by a best mate.

Champagne is always… delicious!

If I’m eating pizza, I’m drinking… something juicy.

To impress the mother-in-law, I buy… Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc? Just jokes! Maybe Chablis, or Margaret River Chardonnay.. she has a soft spot for Chard.

Christmas morning means… An early start, with plenty of excitement in the air (I’m a bit of a big kid at Christmas).

State Manager & Sales – Brisbane

Q: How did you start working in wine?
I returned home to Brisbane from the UK in 2006, and knew I wanted a break from the daytime office routine. I grabbed an after-dark job in a wine bar and during one of my early shifts, sat in on a tasting with a distributor… boom! That was it.. “this is the life,” I thought. That was my gateway to working in wine (and evidently never went back to the office).

Q: Tell us about a memorable gathering (and what wine you were drinking)?
Most recently, a magnificent bottle of 1990 Champagne Laurent-Perrier Millésimé, it was simply stunning and enjoyed with friends while a classic Brisbane storm rolled through.

Q: Your favourite place in the world to gather wine?
I love any place I can open a bottle from a producer while enjoying the local or home-grown produce. Like Tasmania – a Tamar Valley Riesling or Chardonnay with St Helens Oysters, that’s my idea of heaven.

Q: Where do you like to enjoy a special bottle with a special someone?
The special someone (my gorgeous wife) and a great bottle always make the moment. That said, Little Cove at Noosa with a bottle of something cold on sunset is tough to beat.

Q: What does a typical Friday night involve?
One Friday during lockdown, we were enjoying home-made pizza and our three-year-old daughter piped up with “Dadda, can every Friday night be pizza night?”. Honestly, I thought it would fade. It didn’t and I absolutely love it, now EVERY Friday night is pizza night in our house.

Finish this sentence:

The last bottle I finished was… an older vintage, 2016 Bellvale Pinot Noir… in that definitive Bellvale style. John Ellis certainly has a knack down there in Gippsland.

Champagne is always… our true symbol of Festivus!

If I’m eating pizza, I’m drinking… an Italian lager followed by something red, light, and very easy-going. Lino Ramble Novello Nero d’Avola and Dom Torzi’s Sangiovese/Trebbiano Rosato have both been recent hits.

To impress the mother-in-law, I buy… something she hasn’t tried before. Alternative reds have been fun to test on her – Gamay has been a game changer.

Christmas morning means… early coffee and Christian Jacques croissants (best in Brisbane). Then some sort of on-the-fly strategy to prolong the kid’s present unwrapping. Espresso Martinis before lunch? It’s Christmas! 

Account Manager – Brisbane

Q: How did you start working in wine?
After school I started working as Storeman at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre – one of my roles was to source and gather the wines that incoming touring artists requested. I was always fascinated by what individuals had chosen and wanted to find out more. This led me to working in wine retail which gave me a platform to progress and continue my journey in wine.

Q: Tell us about a memorable gathering (and what wine you were drinking)?
Christmas 2021, having my whole family together again for the first time in a very, very long time. Sharing stunning, hand-crafted alternative varietals from Australia paired with fresh produce and a lot of laughs. Bliss!

Q:Your favourite place in the world to gather wine
Australia. What an exciting time for the Aussie wine industry! It’s not only the quality, but the absolute commitment to driving innovation and pushing the boundaries that amazes me – we are very lucky to be able to access such a wide variety of beautifully made wines.

Q: Where do you like to enjoy a special bottle with a special someone?
I am definitely a beach boy at heart, somewhere off the beaten track at sundown – can’t beat the sound of the waves and the soft coastal breeze while enjoying a bottle of something special.

Q: What does a typical Friday night involve?
Feet up, footy on the TV and enjoying a glass (or 3) of something fun. It’s Friday night after all, doesn’t need to be the most expensive bottle, generally a full bodied white or an easy drinking red.

Finish this sentence:

The last bottle I finished was… Domaine Henri Prudhon Saint-Aubin ‘Le Ban’, a village-level chardonnay masterpiece and an absolute pleasure to drink.

Champagne is always… eating away at my bank account, can’t stop won’t stop!

If I’m eating pizza, I’m drinking… a juicy Sangiovese or Montepulciano, either Italian or from Australia – I am a happy man either way!

To impress the mother-in-law, I buy… Champagne, Blanc de Blanc ideally – can’t go wrong.

Christmas morning means… a delicious assortment of fruit and a bottle of Champagne (starting to see a theme here!). Something fresh, vibrant, predominantly Chardonnay-based, shared with my amazing family.

Account Manager – Gold Coast & Northern Rivers NSW

Q: How did you start working in wine?
I’m a kid from McLaren Vale. Back when I first moved out of home , I landed in a winery share house in McLaren Flat. Vines, wineries and cellar doors as far as you could see. I grew up surrounded by wine and now I’m finally working with wine.

Q: Tell us about a memorable gathering (and what wine you were drinking)?
There was a moment on my wedding day, as my new bride, Hayley and I were being chauffeured with our wedding party, sipping Champagne, that will always be remembered as a very happy time.

Q:Your favourite place in the world to gather wine
I’ll always be biased towards McLaren Vale, and the Barossa is always fantastic.. and over the years I have been ticking off some awesome lesser-known Aussie regions. I also really enjoyed a recent trip to the Yarra Valley, tasting and gathering some fantastic wines.

Q: Where do you like to enjoy a special bottle with a special someone?
Who doesn’t enjoy their skin being warmed by the afternoon sun and a soft breeze.. on a balcony overlooking the ocean with that special someone and a special bottle?

Q: What does a typical Friday night involve?
Sharing a glass of something new with my wife, Hayley, whilst chasing around after my young children and trying to get them to bed.

Finish this sentence:

The last bottle I finished was… Yetto McLaren Vale Shiraz; absolutely charming, lovely stewed plums, black currents, spice, pepper and a hint of chocolate that invites you to a second glass, maybe even a third.

Champagne is always… opened for Christmas morning drinks with the whole family.

If I’m eating pizza, I’m drinking… a no-apologies big Barossa red. Teusner Big Jim is a cracker.

To impress the mother-in-law, I buy… a fancy French. Can’t go wrong with Laurent-Perrier vintage.

Account Manager – North Queensland

Q: How did you start working in wine?
Through the Sydney Wine Academy, I started working as a business development for an Argentinean wine importer. My enthusiasm was appreciated in this role, and due to my active promotion of Argentinean wine, some local wine professionals came to call me “Mr. Malbec”.

Q: Tell us about a memorable gathering (and what wine you were drinking)?
One pleasant afternoon in 2002, at a wine bar in Osaka, Japan, we opened a bottle with a few old mates. It was the first time I was deeply impressed by a wine, it was very unlike the cask wine I drank at the time! The name remains a mystery, but I remember it was from the South of France and cost 6000 yen. I also remember the excitement it made me feel. This experience is still the driving force behind my search for memorable & quality wine.

Q:Your favourite place in the world to gather wine?
I used to enjoy travelling around Europe with a backpack, sampling local cuisine and local wine. Currently my favourite place to gather wine is Australia because of the sheer diversity of styles that can be found, and because regional producers are free to express their individuality in their wines.

Q: Where do you like to enjoy a special bottle with a special someone?
Always around the BBQ on my back patio, with my wife and kids. My wife is a wine taster with vast experience (From Petrus, Domaine de la Romanée Conti, 5 Chateau of Bordeaux Premier Cru, to Unico…) and getting her to say “great wine!” isn’t easy, so I enjoy the challenge. Plus, our daughter enjoys the aroma of different wines!

Q: What does a typical Friday night involve?
A bath to unwind, and then dinner with my family and one or two glasses of carefully selected wine. After the kids sleep, we enjoy listening to or playing music, and perhaps another quiet glass.

Finish this sentence:

The last bottle I finished was… 2021 Howard Vineyard Amos Chardonnay. Creaminess and sourness counterbalance each other and give a long finish with a pleasant lemon curd flavour.

Champagne is always… A connection to memories of special gatherings (except when I was studying for the WSET DIPLOMA!)

If I’m eating pizza, I’m drinking… Chianti, made by reliable producer such as Tenute Rossetti or something similar which has good acidity, medium body and a herbaceous note.

To impress the mother-in-law, I buy…  Laurent-Perrier Cuvee Rose. An elegant yet well-structured sparkling with a finesse attributed to its unique production method. It’s a perfect wine to send to a unique person.