Wine experts

Ian's winemaking career began in 1959 as Trainee Winemaker at Berri Co-op Winery and Distillery (BCWD) where he remained for twenty four years, completing a three year Roseworthy Diploma of Oenology in that time and working short stints at Orlando, Lubiana and Emu Wines. During this time he gained a thorough grounding in all facets of wine and brandy production and was appointed Chief Winemaker at BCWD in 1976.

In 1983 Ian joined Seppelt as their Chief Winemaker and Victorian Regional Manager based at the company's Great Western winery. Following the formation of Southcorp Wines, of which Seppelt was a key brand, he was appointed Southcorp Wines Chief Winemaker in 1991, a position he held until his retirement in April 2001 after which he established a small consulting company. Significant projects completed under his direction were the development of Seppelt Salinger (one of Australia's most highly regarded sparkling wines) and Penfolds Yattarna (arguably Australia's most sought after chardonnay)

Currently regarded by many as Australia's most senior wine judge he has been show judging since the mid 1970s and has been Chairman of Judges for the Canberra National, Adelaide, Perth, ACT, Barossa, Clare Valley, McLaren Vale, Mt. Barker, Hunter Valley, Riverland, Victorian Wines, Ballarat and Lilydale wine shows. He has also judged at wine shows in California, New Zealand and South Africa. He is still actively involved in wine show judging in Australia and overseas.

He has been a Tutor at the annual Len Evans Tutorials since their inception in 2001.

From the late 1980s until mid 2004 he was a consultant to QANTAS Airways as a member of their wine selection panel.

He has been a Director of The Wine Society since 2004.

Since his retirement from a full time position with Southcorp Wines he has been retained as a Consultant in a number of capacities by various winemakers in Australia, Chile and South Africa.

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.

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 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.

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 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.

Leading wine critic and vigneron James Halliday has a career that spans over 40 years, but he is most widely known for his witty and informative writing about wine. As one of the founders of Brokenwood in the Lower Hunter Valley region of New South Wales, Australia, and thereafter founder of Coldstream Hills in the Yarra Valley, Victoria, Australia, James is an unmatched authority on every aspect of the wine industry, from planting and pruning of vines through to the creation and marketing of the finished product. His winemaking has led him to sojourns in Bordeaux and Burgundy, and he is constantly in demand as a wine judge in Australia and overseas.

James Halliday has contributed more than 50 books on wine since he began writing in 1979. His books have been translated into Japanese, French, German, Danish and Icelandic, and have been published in the UK, the US, and Australia.