2020 AAVWS Judges

Chief of Judges

Sophie Otton, wine consultant, owner, She Loves You, Sydney, NSW

(Due to border closures, Sophie will beam in each day and be represented by a proxy at the judging venue)

International Judge

Cha McCoy –  wine consultant and educator, public speaker. New York, USA

(With the support of Global Victoria, we will be connecting Cha with producers, stories and wines from our AAVWS family. After judging, she will be sent a dozen 2020 gold medal wines from which to select the International Judges Wine to Watch to be announced late in November)

Australian Judges 

(Due to COVID related restrictions and border closures we consider ourselves lucky to be able to draw upon an alumni of local judges plus a few from regional Victoria)

Jonothan Creek – winemaker, Zilzie Wines, Mildura, Victoria

Tennille Chalmers – winemaker, Chalmers Wines, Mildura, Victoria

Stefano de Pieri – Cook, author, TV presenter, Stefano’s, Mildura, Victoria

Shane Kerr – winemaker, Trentham Estate Winery, Trentham Cliffs, NSW

Glenn James  – winemaker, Billy Button Wines, Bright, Victoria

Elizabeth Richardson, winemaker, L’Enologa, Mildura, Victoria

Donna Stephens, winemaker, Cappa Stone Wines, Red Cliffs, Victoria

Belinda Thomson – winemaker/viticulturist, Crawford River Wines, Far South West Victoria

Mark Walpole, viticulturist/owner, Fighting Gully Road, Beechworth, Victoria.

Associate Judges

Aidan Menzies, winemaker, Duxton Wines, Mildura, Victoria

Pia Merrick, winemaker, Qualia Wines, Irymple, Victoria

Sierra Reed, winemaker, Reed Wines, Torquay, Victoria

Register your interest in becoming an AAVWS Judge

Register here

Changing the World

“The massive impact the AAVWS has had on wine production and consumption in Australia over the last 15 years is now flowing overseas as alternative varieties breathe new life into the UK market and add colour and excitement to the Australian offering.”