Judges for the Awards | Accomplished Sommeliers and Wine Professionals

Chair of Judges

Toni Paterson MW

Toni Paterson MW is a highly experienced wine professional with nearly 30 years of experience in the industry. With a background in science and winemaking, Paterson has been writing and communicating about wine for the past twenty years. She was admitted into the Institute of the Masters of Wine in 2003 and was awarded the prestigious Madame Lily Bollinger Medal for tasting excellence. Paterson has judged at numerous local and international wine shows and has been involved with the Wine List of the Year Awards for more than a decade.

Deputy Chair

Jeni Port

Jeni Port is a freelance wine writer based in Melbourne. She has been a judge of these awards for more than 25 years and a deputy chair since 2008. She was the longest serving wine writer at The Age newspaper, and is now principally employed as a writer and member of the Tasting Panel for the annual best-selling Halliday Wine Companion book, magazine and website. She is also on the tasting panel at WinePilot (www.winepilot.com) and contributes to Winning magazine and Maserati magazine on wine. In 2014, she was named Wine Communicator of the Year and awarded a legend of the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival. In 2018, she was named Legend of the Vine by the WCA. A founding board member of Australian Women In Wine, she works to advocate for gender equality and champion the work of women in the Australian wine industry.

Emeritus Chair

Peter Forrestal

Wine writer, author, founding editor of Gourmet Traveller WINE, Peter was Chairman of Judges of Australia’s Wine List of the Year Awards from 2008 to 2025, and Co-Chairman of China’s Wine List of the Year Awards from 2013 to 2025. From 2026 Peter becomes Emeritus Chair of both Australia’s and China’s Wine list of the year Awards. He has been a judge in these awards since they began in 1994. His most recent book (with Ray Jordan) is The Way it Was: a history of the early days of the Margaret River wine industry. He is editor of the Western Ancestor, the journal of Family History WA. In 2023, he was awarded the Wine Press Club of WA's Jack Mann Medal for his contribution to the Western Australian wine industry.

International Chair

Brian Julyan MS, International Chair

Brian is a Master Sommelier and is Chief Executive Court of Master Sommeliers Worldwide, Brian is also a wine consultant, show judge, judge for Sommelier du Monde, author of Sales and Service for the Wine Professional.

Judging Panel

All members of the judging panel are also part of the International Jury.

Amelia Ball

Amelia is a long-time journalist and editor who has specialised in wine and drinks media for almost 20 years. The former Editorial Director of Halliday Wine Companion was part of the launch team for that brand's magazine in 2011, and now writes for a range of publications and sites covering wine, food and travel. She also works with key businesses across the drinks industry.

Mike Bennie

A freelance wine and drinks writer, presenter and retailer (P&V Merchants) – Mike’s work appears in delicious. magazine, Halliday Wine Companion Guide and magazine, WineFront.com.au and other publications.

Kim Bickley

A CMS Certified Sommelier, WSET educator and wine show judge, Kim Bickley has been referred to as one of the top Sommeliers in the country. Having more than 20 years experience in the industry, curating award winning wine lists for restaurants such as Glass Brasserie (Hilton Sydney) , Black by Ezard (The Star Casino Sydney) and Salt Grill. Kim has worked as brand ambassador for Bollinger, Henschke and Petaluma, was a Len Evans and Sommeliers Australia Tutorial Scholar in 2009, attended AWRI’s Advanced Wine Assessment Course in 2015 and is now a member of the Wine Selectors Tasting Panel. Having relocated to the Hunter Valley in 2016 to join her partner Andrew Thomas (Thomas Wines), she is now working as a consultant sommelier is excitingly on the cusp of opening a cutting-edge wine accessories store in Pokolbin.

Nicole Bilson

Nicole is a freelance writer and Wine & Spirits Education Trust (WSET) educator living in Melbourne on Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung land. She is a regular contributor to Winepilot, and has been published in Gourmet Traveller Wine, James Halliday Wine Companion Magazine and Meininger’s Wine Business International Magazine (Europe) in collaboration with her mentor, Jeni Port. Nicole’s wine judging career began after being awarded the Victorian Viticultural Society scholarship in 2017. She has since been involved with a number of national shows and is a passionate believer in the power wine has to connect people.

Peter Bourne

Peter was a founding member of the Gourmet Traveller WINE Magazine tasting panel, and its convenor, as well as being a member of its Winemaker of the Year panel for more than 20 years. He is a regular contributor to The Qantas Magazine and Country Style Magazine. Notably, Peter is a highly experienced wine educator and a sought-after host in the corporate world.

Lisa Cardelli

Lisa is a sommelier, WSET educator, and award-winning wine writer. Born and bred in Tuscany has worked in the finest Australian restaurants for ten years. After a stint in the wine wholesale business, Lisa has decided to pursue her dream: to become a professional wine journalist. She works as an account coordinator and freelance wine writer at Halliday Wine Companion. Lisa also reviews wines for WinePilot, curates the wine column for the Law Institute of Victoria journal, and judges at local wine shows. She is also a member of the Qantas/Neil Perry wine selection team. Lisa won the 2022 Wine Communicators of Australia Best Published Feature Article and was the recipient of the 2022 Len Evans/Sydney Royal Professional Development Scholarship.

Jane Faulkner

Jane Faulkner is a journalist by training and a wine writer by vocation. She writes for a number of publications and recently joined the best-selling Halliday Wine Companion as a key reviewer. For many years she’s been judging the Wine List of the Year Awards and writing about the winners for Gourmet Traveller WINE. In between, she is a sort-after MC, teaches wine courses, an experienced editor, wine judge and currently chairs four Australian shows. Born in Malaysia, lives in Melbourne, Jane never tires of travelling throughout the wine world for months on end. Naturally she drinks with gusto.

Ken Gargett

Queensland-based, Ken Gargett, is wine writer for WinePilot, Ocean Magazine, The World of Fine Wine, Quill and Pad and other publications. He has been a Len Evans scholar and a winner of the Vin de Champagne Award. Ken has been a judge of these awards since 2008 and for China's Wine List of the Year since 2013.

Gill Gordon-Smith

Gill Gordon-Smith is 2017 WCA Educator of the Year and Wine Communicator of the Year. She runs a retail wine shop and tasting bar in the McLaren Vale region. Gill is a bVIA Italian wine ambassador, a McLaren Vale ambassador and a regular contributor to Fleurieu Living. She is small batch winemaker for Fall from Grace and spends much time eating and drinking her way through the world.

Andrew Graham

Andrew is a former WCA 'Young Gun' of Wine Journalism and Lifestyle FOOD channel wine expert who writes for a host of publications and judges around the world. Now clocking up over 20 years in the wine industry, Andrew has a Masters in Wine Technology & Viticulture and is co-founder of wine events business The Tasting Glass. In his spare time, he runs foolishly long ultramarathons.

Dr Angus Hughson

Angus Hughson is an award winning drinks writer and publisher with over 20 years experience in the wine industry. Angus is the Australian Editor for Vinous, founder and publisher at Winepilot and Co-Publisher of The Australian Ark by Andrew Caillard MW. He has also been a regular contributor to The Australian, Gourmet Traveller Wine, Spirit of Australia Qantas Magazine, Mindfood, Courier Mail, Herald Sun and Daily Telegraph as well as a judge at the Sydney Royal Wine Show, Macedon Wine Show, Wine Show of Western Australia and Margaret River Wine Show.

Nola James

Nola is a freelance writer in editor based in Melbourne and Hobart, although she can often be found in New York. With 20+ years of hospitality experience alongside 15+ years as a journalist, she writes mostly about wine and restaurants, with a smattering of travel in between. After spending 2023–2024 as acting editor for Halliday Wine Companion, today she’s a sub-editor on T: The New York Times Style Magazine, Australia and regular contributor to delicious.com.au, Good Food and the Qantas in-flight magazine.

Ray Jordan

Ray Jordan is one of Australia’s most experienced wine journalists. Ray has been writing about wine for nearly 40 years. His first articles were published in the early issues of the national wine magazine Winestate in the late 70s when he worked in Sydney as a correspondent for The West Australian newspaper. Ray is currently Wine Editor for Seven West Media, writing wine columns for The West Australian Fresh Section and Saturday Magazine, together with the Sunday Times, while also contributing to other publications. In 2003 Ray released the first of his annual guides to West Australian wines and has also co-authored a book on Margaret River with Peter Forrestal. In 2016 Ray published Wine in the Blood; Australia’s family wine estates, in both Chinese and English versions. He co-hosts a regular wine show on Curtin FM radio. Ray has judged at the Swan Valley Wine Show, the Barossa Wine Show, the Perth Hills Wines Show, the Geographe Wine Show and the Sheraton Wine Awards. He has been awarded the Jack Mann Medal for his contribution to the West Australian wine industry. He has been a long-time judge of the Wine List of the Year Awards.

Erin Larkin

Erin was born and raised in Perth, Western Australia, and reviews the wines of Australia and New Zealand for the world’s most influential, independent wine review authority: Robert Parker Wine Advocate. Prior to the Wine Advocate, Larkin was reviewer for James Halliday Wine Companion, reviewing Western Australia, and regions in South Australia, including Clare Valley, Coonawarra, the Limestone Coast and others. Erin is a regular presenter and educator across multiple platforms and is an active Australian and international wine show judge. In 2022 she completed the prestigious Len Evans Tutorial. Larkin contributed to the Fifth Edition of the Oxford Companion to Wine and is working on the upcoming ninth edition of the Jancis Robinson/Hugh Johnson Wine Atlas. With years of experience on talkback radio and hosting events for a wide range of clients, Erin has a keen eye and enduring curiosity for quality and creativity in wine, marrying classic and contemporary perspectives. In 2024, she was named Top Wine Critic in Australia by Tastingbook.com, and number 12 in the world overall. Erin lives in Fremantle with her husband and two sons.

Anthony Pieri

Chicago-born Anthony Pieri decided early on that you have to live your life, not just live in it. So he ditched the finance job in America and after working vintages in Europe and New Zealand and pursuing the infamous Master of Wine exam he now manages the beverage teams at Gimlet and Apollo Inn with his trademark enthusiasm and leadership. Winner of the 2024 Judy Hirst Award

Nicola Reid

After graduating with a degree from University of Bristol in Politics and Spanish BA, Nicola worked as a Sommelier in the UK, while gaining her Yachtmaster qualifications, after which she worked on luxury sailing yachts around the world, taking her across the Atlantic and Pacific oceans to French Polynesia, the Galapagos, Norwegian Fjords, Hebrides, and beyond. With her feet firmly back on the ground, Nicola worked four vintages as a Cellar Hand between England and Australia, before moving to Australia permanently. Given her deep love of and connection to Spain, Nicola spent six years working for The Spanish Acquisition, leading Australian importer and distributor of Iberian wines. Nicola is a graduate of the WSET Diploma, for which she was awarded the John Avery Vintners' Bursary by the Vintners' Company. She now teaches WSET Levels 2, 3, and 4 in Wine in Melbourne and is the Executive Officer at Sommeliers Australia. Nicola has experience judging wines domestically and enjoys writing about wine. She is also part of Wine Australia's Future Leaders 2025 cohort. Nicola lives on the coast and loves surfing and spending time with her family at the beach.

David Sly

Writing stories, tasting wine, playing drums in dirty ol’ rock and blues bands – these have been the staples of David Sly’s hedonistic life since his teenage years, and nothing has changed. More than 40 years in print journalism has produced a wealth of published stories, reviews, critiques and books – most recently for Decanter and Halliday Wine Companion Magazine, with a few national awards and a graduate degree in the University of Adelaide/ Le Cordon Bleu Gastronomy course along the way.

Shanteh Wale

Shanteh began her career as a sommelier, progressing through the roles of Assistant Head Sommelier and ultimately Head Sommelier at Quay Restaurant, where she worked for over a decade. She has been nominated three times for the Good Food Guide's "Sommelier of the Year" award and was a Len Evans Scholar in 2019. Shanteh also hosts her own drinks podcast, Over A Glass, with the Deep in the Weeds Network. In addition to her online presence, she spends her time writing and reviewing wines for Halliday Wine Companion and Wine Pilot. A respected figure in the wine community, Shanteh regularly serves on judging panels at regional, state, and national wine shows across Australia. Whether as Chair of Judges, Panel Chair, or Judge, her expertise and discerning palate contribute to the integrity and excellence of these prestigious events.

International Jury

Australia

Sarah Andrew

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.

Australia

Nick Bulleid MW

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.

Australia

Andrew Caillard MW

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

New Zealand

Bob Campbell MW

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

Germany

Felicity Carter

Felicity Carter is editor-in-chief of Meininger’s Wine Business International, the world’s only global, English language wine business magazine. Published in Germany, it has subscribers in more than 40 countries. A wine judge, Felicity has judged in Portugal, Germany, Bordeaux, Brussels and Georgia, and in 2015 formed part of the ‘empowerment of women in wine’ panel for Wines of Argentina. Felicity is a regular speaker at international wine events from ProWein to WineVision. Before taking her current position, she wrote for major Australian publications, including The Sydney Morning Herald.

New Zealand

Cameron Douglas MS

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.

USA

Michael Engelmann MS

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.

USA

Evan Goldstein MS

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.

Australia

Ned Goodwin MW

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.

France

Andrew Jefford

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.

Hong Kong

Yohann Jousselin, MS

Originally from Loire Valley in France, Yohann Jousselin embarked on his journey in the world of wine at a young age. Yohann's commitment to learning and dedication to his craft resulted in a series of notable achievements. He was awarded the title of World Young Sommelier of the Year in 2009, followed by Best Sommelier of England in 2011. At the remarkable age of 25, Yohann became one of the youngest recipients of the prestigious Master Sommelier diploma, solidifying his reputation as an exceptional talent in the industry. In 2013 Yohann embarked on a new chapter in Asia, joining Robuchon au Dome in Macau to oversee the largest restaurant wine collection in the world. A year later, Yohann was entrusted with the responsibility of managing the wine program of the Shangri-La Group for the South Asia platform, achieving over 80 wine recognitions, including the esteemed title of Best Wine List of Asia on four separate occasions. Following a year in Sydney as the Group Sommelier of Merivale, Yohann has returned to Hong Kong in 2023 as Head of Fine Wines at Kerry Wines.

France

James Lawther MW

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.

Australia

Tony Love

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.

United Kingdom

Christine Parkinson

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.

Australia

Nick Ryan

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.

Australia

Nick Stock

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

Judging the Awards

The Judging Process

Our total International judging panel comprises an accomplished group of over 30 wine industry professionals, wine communicators and sommeliers. These include several Master Sommeliers and Masters of Wine from Australia and around the world. They are all experienced professionals who approach their work with a sense of responsibility and professionalism thus ensuring that impartiality is a key consideration in the judging process. Their mission is to reward wine lists that elevate the dining experience. During the first stage of the judging process, lists are allocated to the Australian Judging Panel: wine writers, sommeliers, wine judges and other experienced professionals who work in the hospitality industry. Each list is rated on its content, balance, suitability to the venue, presentation and pricing. Judges are not allocated lists from their home states. Each list is assessed by a judge and an executive judge. Approval, and moderation where required, is undertaken by an executive judge.

Rating

Each entering establishment is given a rating:

Three glasses (outstanding)
Two glasses (excellent)
One glass (recommended)

There are a small number of establishments which do not meet our basic standards and these are not given a glass rating. The final stage of judging calls on the International Jury: a distinguished group of Australian and International wine personalities including Master Sommeliers, Masters of Wine, sommeliers, wine judges, and food and wine writers; plus all members of the Judging Panel. They are given information about the restaurant, the wine list, and menu for each of the top six Australian lists and are asked to rank these. The winner becomes Australia's Wine List of the Year. The national winners of each of the other Major Awards are decided by a rigorous and fair system. Raw scores determine the top lists in each category. To ensure no restaurant is disadvantaged by tougher marking, these highest scoring lists are moderated by the Chairman of Judges working with the Deputy Chairs in determining finalists and winners for each award. Once a restaurant has achieved the top accolade of winning Australia's Wine List of the Year, they are unable to win the top award again however are inducted into the Hall of Fame the following year where they are able to remain – provided their list retains its high standard and continues to enter the Awards. Winners of this major award are however eligible to enter other categories and win additional key awards. Restaurants that win any Major Award category three times are also precluded from winning that category Award a fourth time however they then achieve Hall of Fame status as well – provided they maintain their standard and enter the Awards. To retain Glass Ratings all restaurants must enter each year.

What are the Judges looking for?

Content

Quality is key to choice of wines
Having an original and innovative choice, with some mature wines from good vintages, avoiding poor vintages
Carefully matching varieties and regions
Having an appropriate variety of wines by the glass
Adequate list of aperitifs, beers, spirits, liqueurs and waters/non-alcoholic

Balance

Balance of pricing relevant to your establishment
Domestic and imported wines, regions and wine styles

Suitability

To cuisine, style and image of establishment

Presentation

Includes vintages
Accurate and consistent presentation of information
Clear design for easy navigation

Pricing

Appropriateness, value

Featured

Qantas magazine and Travel Insider, an official partner of the AWLOTY Awards, is the leading destination for travel content in Australia. It is not only a celebration of travel and all that it offers but also an insider’s guide to the best experiences in Australia and overseas. The partnership with AWLOTY is an opportunity to recognise Australia’s best wine lists and share the restaurants that are excelling with a very premium audience.

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