Judges

Sarah Andrew DipWSET (Honours) / Certified Sommelier, has operated Selador Wines consultancy for 13 years and last year joined House of Fine Wine as National On-Premise Business Manager and WSET educator.  She is National Co-President of Sommeliers Australia, on the WSET Advisory Board, representing Oceania and an advisory board member for Australian Women in Wine.  She is a regular member on the tasting panel for Winestate and an active wine show judge.  In her first year of the MW program, Sarah is loving the travel opportunities that come with this study and the international networking opportunities.

Nick is an independent wine industry consultant, providing advice on winemaking, blending, quality assessment and marketing. He writes for GT WINE magazine and has edited and contributed to the textbook Australian Winemaking published in 2013 by Trivinum in Adelaide. Nick became the third Master of Wine in Australia, passing the examination at first attempt in 1992. He has judged at most major wine shows in Australia and New Zealand, the International Wine Challenge, London and other international shows. His knowledge of Australian and international wines brings wide experience in judging the Wine List of the Year Awards.

Master of Wine, Wine Writer, Member of Gourmet Traveller Wine's Tasting Panel, Wine Auctioneer, Author of the Rewards of Patience, Bollinger Medalist

Bob Campbell was the second New Zealander and is one of only 356 people in the world to hold the Master of Wine qualification. He is wine editor of Taste magazine, Kia Ora magazine as well as being New Zealand editor for Gourmet Traveller Wine. Bob contributes to wine publications in seven countries. Over 22,000 people have attended Bob’s wine diploma courses in New Zealand, Asia and Europe. He has been a senior judge in wine competitions in ten countries

New Zealand’s first and only Master Sommelier, Cameron Douglas MS is a well-known and experienced writer, educator, and reviewer of all things beverage. He consults to the hospitality industry and interested public in New Zealand and Internationally, and counts a number of notable restaurants, hotels, and related establishments as his clients. In New York he created and continues to consult on the wine list for Michelin-starred restaurant The Musket Room. Cameron also serves on the Board of Directors for the Court of Master Sommeliers, Americas. Cameron has been a wine judge for twenty years (so far) and has been involved in wine competition in his native New Zealand as well as Australia, the USA, the UK and China. Douglas was awarded the Grand Siècle Trophy for achieving the highest marks upon passing his MS exams in London in 2007. He is the Patron of the New Zealand Sommeliers and Wine Professionals Association.

Wine Director and Master Sommelier Michaël Engelmann joined The Modern in 2014, having previously held the role of Wine Director at Rockpool Bar & Grill in Sydney. Michaël's accolades include “Best Sommelier in America” from the American Sommelier Association (2009), and being voted one of five “Best New Sommeliers” by Wine & Spirits Magazine (2009). In the same year, he passed the Advanced Sommelier Exam of the Court of Master Sommeliers, earning the Rudd Scholarship for his high score. In 2011, Michaël passed the Master Sommelier exam and was awarded the Krug Cup for passing all three parts on his first attempt; he is one of only 14 individuals in the history of the Court to have done so.

Evan Goldstein, MS, is one of the nation’s most prolific food and wine industry veterans. His food and wine career started at age 19 in the kitchens of the Restaurant Le Saintongeais and the Hotel Lancaster in Paris, Auberge du Soleil in Napa Valley, and Chez Panisse Café in Berkeley, California. In 1984 he joined his mother, Chef and Author Joyce Goldstein in opening the celebrated San Francisco restaurant Square One where as sommelier his wine lists received a myriad of awards. In 1987, he became the eighth American and youngest ever at the time to pass the prestigious Master Sommelier examination. Since 1990, Evan has created education programs, wine training and service hospitality schools with Seagram Chateau & Estates Wines Company, Diageo, Allied Domecq, and most recently, as the Vice President of Global Wine & Brand Education at Beam Wine Estates. In addition, Evan continues to train and examine candidates for the Court of Master Sommeliers as a Founding Board member.

Ned Goodwin MW splits his residence between Sydney and Tokyo, while also traveling throughout the rest of Asia as educator, public speaker, corporate event manager and chiefly, as Champagne ambassador and the face of a major Asian airline. Ned is also a member of the tasting teams for the Halliday Guide and France's Bettane et Desseuve, while serving as judge for the Gourmet Traveler Wine List of the Year Awards. He boasts experience as sommelier, buyer for one of Asia's largest restaurant consortiums and consultant to Wine Australia and the upcoming Saint Pellegrino Top 50 Awards, to be held in Melbourne. Ned also speaks Japanese fluently, conversational French and wishes he spoke Italian.

Andrew Jefford is an award-winning columnist for Decanter and World of Fine Wine, as well as a wine judge, wine author and wine-travel tutor.  He has written 12 books and guides. Following a 15-month stint in Australia, he has lived with his family in France’s Languedoc region for the last seven years.

James Lawther MW is an independent wine writer as well as contributing editor to Decanter, show judge and tour guide based in Bordeaux. He retailed wine at Steven Spurrier's Caves de la Madeleine in Paris in the 1980s and his early career included stints as a cellar hand in Burgundy, Roussillon and Margaret River.  He became a Master of Wine in 1993. He is the author of The Heart of Bordeaux and The Finest Wines of Bordeaux and has contributed to books including The Global Encyclopedia of Wine, Wines of the World and Hugh Johnson’s Pocket Wine Book.

News Ltd national wine writer, Tony’s news and feature stories appear across major mastheads in all states as well as news.com.au, taste.com.au.

Originally a Head Chef, then a Food & Beverage Manager, Christine created the original wine list for Hakkasan in 2001. She now heads the Group’s wine operations worldwide and judges at numerous wine and sake competitions globally. Christine has been called “one of the most creative wine buyers in the UK” by Jancis Robinson, and has won numerous awards both personally and for her wine lists.

Wine writer for Gourmet Traveller Wine & Men’s Style; show judge, Len Evans scholar and has been a judge of Australia’s Wine List of the Year Awards for the past eight years.

Wine writer for Gourmet Traveller WINE, wine judge, former sommelier, Len Evans scholar and is the author of Penguin Good Wine Guide to Australia.

Winsor Dobbin is a passionate wine writer who has spent over 25 years sharing his stories from across the globe. A former foreign correspondent who has lived in in London, Paris, Johannesburg and New York, he is now based south of Hobart in Tasmania's Huon Valley, where he contributes stories to Winestate, Ciao and The Upsider among others. His stories on food, wine and travel can also be found in numerous national and international magazines, as well as several websites. His blog has attracted over 1.4 million visitors.