Judging Team - 2010

David O'Leary Chairman of Judges Chief Winemaker, O'Leary Walker Wines Australia	Steffen Schindler Director of Export Marketing, The German Wine Institute, Mainz Germany
Brent Marris Director/Winemaker The Ned Winery Marlborough New Zealand	Ben Edwards Journalist Australia
Toni Paterson Master of Wine & Journalist Australia	Ian Hongell Senior Winemaker Peter Lehmann Wines Australia
Jeni Port Journalist Australia

David O’Leary

Chief Winemaker - O'Leary Walker Wines – Claire Valley, South Australia

Brent Marris

Director / Winemaker - The Ned Winery, Marlborough, New Zealand

A Marlborough original and a graduate from Roseworthy in 1983. Founder of Wither Hills Vineyard (1994) and winner of over 100 Gold Medals and Trophies. He is a Senior Wine Judge in New Zealand with a high profile both there and internationally. Brent has appeared at the Sydney International Wine Competition’s Panel and the Canberra International Riesling Challenge.

Ben Edwards

Journalist

Seven years Presidency of Sommeliers Australia, co-contributing to Australia’s most respected annual wine publication, the James Halliday Australian Wine Companion and twenty years experience of serving and talking about wine. Ben is currently Creative Director of Wine for the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival.

Ian Hongell

Senior Winemaker – Peter Lehmann Wines

Ian has worked vintages in California, France and Germany as well as holding a senior winemaking position for five years in New South Wales. In 1998 Ian joined Peter Lehmann Wines, Australia’s pre-eminent winemaking team, bringing back to his beloved Barossa Valley a wealth of winemaking experience and boundless enthusiasm.

Jeni Port

Journalist

Jeni Port is the longest serving wine writer on The Age newspaper, Melbourne. She also wine writer for Winestate magazine, Wine Selector, Gourmet Traveller WINE and Australia and New Zealand Grapegrower and Winemaker. Her books include Choosing Australian Wines; Crushed By Women: Women and Wine and she is the Australasian contributor to Dorling Kindersley’s Wines of the World. She is also a lecturer in wine communication at La Trobe University.

Toni Paterson

Journalist & Master of Wine

Toni is the youngest of only fourteen Australian Masters of Wine (MW). In November 2003, she was awarded the Madame Lily Bollinger medal for outstanding tasting ability.

Steffen Schindler

Director Export Marketing, The German Wine Institute, Mainz

Steffen is one of the most respected German wine judges and promoters.