the tasting panel
With The Wine Society Professional Tasting Panel, You can trust the wines that we deliver are of the highest quality - our wines are always the best!
The Wine Society Professional Tasting Panel is one of our best assets, guiding us to the best wines on the market and helping us to choose the highest quality wines for our Members. Our Panel has a unique quality commitment with more than 150 years collective wine industry experience and expertise.
Ian J McKenzie: Wine Committee Chair & Wine Society Director
Ian has over 45 years experience in the wine industry including over 30 years experience as a wine show judge. Ian’s experience includes being Chief Winemaker and Victorian Manager of Seppelt from 1983 and Chief Winemaker for Southcorp from 1991 to 2001. As committee chair, Ian monitors the wine selection tastings, tastes all the wines considered for purchase, reviews Member complaints about wine quality and arranges quality assurance tastings when they are required. Ian is widely regarded as one of Australia’s most senior and highly esteemed wine judges having been Chairman of Judges in numerous capital city and regional shows.
Greg Melick: International Wine Judge & Wine Society Director
Greg has 16 years of extensive International and Australian Wine Show Judging experience, which together with his contacts in the industry, has strongly influenced The Societys Professional Tasting Panels evaluation process.
National and international wine judge and Member for 35 years Barrister with chambers in Sydney and Hobart Tasting Panel Member since 1996 Holder of passport from Primum Familiae Vini Consultant for Society labelled Tasmanian wines
Geoff Goodworth: Wine Society Director
Geoff has been a Member of the Wine Committee since his election to the Board in 1989 and has judged wine shows both locally and interstate.
Associate Fellow - Catering Institute of Australia
Associate - Australian Marketing Institute
Winner - Vin de Champagne Award
Winner - Rothbury Taster of the Year
Foundation Member - Australian Society for Wine Education
Toni Paterson: Master of Wine
Toni Paterson is Australias youngest and only resident female Master of Wine and winner of the prestigious “Madame Lily Bollinger Medal” for excellence in wine tasting. Toni, who is the author of the consumer wine guide Wine: What to Drink 2006, first studied biotechnology at the University of Technology in Sydney before completing her Masters in Oenology at Adelaide University. From 1996 to 1999 she worked as a winemaker with Southcorp in South Australia where she was involved in the production of red, white and sparkling styles. Toni then travelled to Europe where she worked in the marketing of Australian wine. While in London, she completed the Masters of Wine examinations on her first attempt in 2001.
Lance Hogan : Wine Society Director
Lance has worked in the wine industry for 24 years in several senior positions. He has managed wineries in the Hunter and Barossa Valleys and was the longest serving General Manager of The Wine Society. Lance is currently a Director of The Wine Society and has been General Manager of Kemenys. He now operates his own wine consultancy business and is currently a management committee member of the Liquor Stores Association of NSW and a past Treasurer of the WPC New South Wales. Lance was selected as Liquor Store Manager of the year in 2003.
Paul Foster: Wine Society Wine Master
Pauls passion for wine began back in his days at university (he has a BA and studied Law). He began writing newsletters for wine retailers, then articles for magazines. These articles led to awards, prizes and countless trips overseas wherein Paul explored wine further. He learned his expertise gradually over the years. Pauls particular skills lie in the areas of tasting, writing and teaching. He regularly conducts Wine Masterclasses, radio interviews and MCs wine events.
Ian Walsh: Wine Society Trading Manager
Ian quite literally has a lifetime’s experience in the wine industry. Having grown up in the Hunter Valley, the son of a winemaker, Ian has spent his career making wine for some of Australia’s most prestigious wineries. McWilliams’s, Hungerford Hill, Allandale Winery and Southcorp’s Tulloch Hunter Valley winery all feature on Ian’s resume. Ian holds both a Wine Science Degree and MBA from Charles Sturt University and now has 25 vintages of experience under his belt from places as diverse as California and France. Ian has also gained judging experience at regional wine shows.
