Show Judges

John Hanley

It is with great pleasure that we welcome back John Hanley as our Chairman of Judges after the integral role he played in the successful inaugural 2002 show.

John's experience, knowledge and professionalism are well recognised throughout the wine industry - where he has now judged at some 125 shows. A great ambassador and promoter of West Australian wine, he gives generously of his time and his talent is very much in demand both within Australia and abroad. John recently completed a stint of some ten years as Chief Judge and Chairman of Judges at the Perth Royal Wine Show. He is a regular judge at other state capital city shows and has represented Australia at wine competitions in the United Kingdom, New Zealand and the United States.

John's contribution to the wine industry has been recognised with Honorary Life Membership of the Great Southern Wine Makers Association. In 1993 he was awarded the Jack Mann medal for his services to the industry and in 2000 the Western Australian Wine Press Club awarded him the George Mulgrue Memorial Medal for outstanding dedication in promoting wine quality through his role as a judge.

Iain Riggs

Iain Riggs is Managing Director, Chief Winemaker and part-owner of Brokenwood in South Australia, which he has taken from a small "hobby" winery into the national and international arena.

The experience that set him on the path that was to become his life was a bottle of 1970 Leo Buring DW 110 Riesling - he has been tied to the power of the vine ever since.

Iain studied at Roseworthy College between 1972 and 1975. After graduating, he worked at Bleasedale and Hazelmere in McLaren Vale where he was Chief Winemaker, crowned McLaren Vale Bushing King in 1982 with his multi-trophy winning Chardonnay.

The owners of Brokenwood, keen to grow their business and expand into white wine production, offered Iain the job of Chief Winemaker in 1982. Iain's skills revolutionised Brokenwood, which had previously only produced red wine.

A regular show judge for capital city and international wine shows, Iain was the Chairman of this year's Hunter Valley Wine Show. Previously he was, Chairman of Cowra and McLaren Vale Wine Shows, and Past Deputy Chairman of Wine Australia. He was also an inaugural board member of the Winemakers Federation of Australia, its Vice-President and President Australian Winemakers Forum.

In 2001, Iain Riggs was nominated by Gourmet Traveller Wine Magazine as a finalist in the Winemaker of the Year feature.

Wendy Stuckey

Wendy Stuckey is Group White Winemaker for Beringer Blass Wine Estates where she has been responsible for some of the company's iconic white wines, most notably the highly regarded Wolf Blass Gold Label Riesling.

Coming to winemaking in her mid-20s after travelling extensively, she decided to follow a long-standing dream to be a winemaker and progressed from the ground up, working as a cellarhand and studying at the world-renowned Roseworthy College.

Wendy's accolades as a winemaker are prestigious and numerous, winning countless gold medals and trophies. She has been named as a finalist in the Qantas/Australian Gourmet Traveller winemaker of the year award in 2002 and won the White Wine of the year award at the 2000 International Wine Challenge in London.

Wendy is a highly regarded show judge having held senior positions at most Australian capital city shows. Her excitement for her work is fuelled by the current worldwide interest in Australian wines and the constant desire to raise the bar.

Lester Jesberg

Lester Jesberg is editor of Winewise magazine, a highly respected journal that is in its nineteenth year of publication. He and wife Adrienne operate a thriving wine importing business.

Lester is very active on the Australian wine show circuit, and has 13 shows on his 2003 calendar including the Sydney, Adelaide, Perth, Cowra, Rutherglen, Tasmanian

Peter Forrestal

Peter Forrestal is a Perth based freelance wine writer who was founding editor of Australian Gourmet Traveller WINE. He is co-author (with Max Allen) of Quaff an annual guide to Australia's best value wines. His 26 books include The Global Encyclopedia of Wine, Discover Australia: Wineries and A Taste of the Margaret River. Peter is editor of the Oxford Companion to the Wines of Australia and New Zealand. His latest book is Margaret River (with Frances Andrijich and Ray Jordan), published by Fremantle Arts Centre Press.

Peter has been on the Top 20 tasting panel for AGT WINE since 1997, chief judge of the Sheraton Brisbane/Courier-Mail Queensland Wine Awards (2003) and has judged at the Sydney International Top 100 (2002 & 2003), the Qantas Western Australian Show at Mount Barker, the Swan Valley Show and the Australian Regional Culinary Competition at Tasting Australia in 2001.

Vanya Cullen

In 1989 after graduating from wine science at Roseworthy College, Vanya assumed the role of senior winemaker at Cullen Wines. Vanya possessed an extraordinary talent for crafting elegant bouquets and refined, complex flavours. As a result, Cullen's wines became more consistent and gained an international reputation for high quality. Vanya became a full wine judge in 1992, one of only two female judges in Australia. Her outstanding contribution to the wine industry and her passion for winemaking were acknowledged in 2000 when she won the Qantas/The Wine Magazine Winemaker of the Year. She was the third recipient of this prize, the first Western Australian and the first woman to win the award.

Alex Hudak

Alex has been involved in the wine industry for 15 years, starting his career in the UK before working for Alan Dineen on arrival in Australia. He is currently studying to become a Master of Wine following from his masters degree in Wine Marketing. Alex manages Steve's at the Nedlands Hotel in Perth.

Associate Judges

David Pike

David has around 15 years experience working within many different areas of the wine industry. In 1995 David worked during the vintage at Chateau La Pointe in the Pomerol district of France and Devil's Lair Winery in Margaret River was David's home for the 2002 & 2003 vintage.

Since returning to Australia in 1996 David has worked extensively in the wine industry. David is currently the wine writer for Scoop Magazine and the wine and food writer for W.A. Business News. David was awarded the Western Australian Wine Press Club and Court Wine Bar Media Award in recognition for his contribution to wine media in 2001/2. David is currently the President of the W.A. Wine Press Club and a member of WIAWA Wine Barons.

David Johnson

David Johnson is Assistant Winemaker for Juniper Estate. An interest in viticulture led David to Margaret River in 1998 and his passion soon turned to wine. He has worked five vintages in Margaret River and is currently studying Wine Science at Charles Sturt University. This is his first experience at show judging.

Julian Scott

In the late 90's Julian began work in the wine industry and completed vintages at Selwyn, Rosabrook Estate and Alexandra Bridge Wines. Currently employed by Stella Bella Suckfizzle Julian also consults to Hamelin Bay Wines. Julian is studying winemaking at Charles Sturt University in Wagga Wagga.

Rod Sellin

Rod Sellin has worked in liquor retail for 20 years, the last 10 with Vintage Cellars. He is currently working as Senior Store Manager at Vintage Cellars South Perth and has recently graduated from the University of Adelaide (Roseworthy) with a Diploma in Wine Marketing. Rod has been an associate judge at the past two Royal Perth Wine Shows and plans to travel to Europe in 2004 to visit some of the great wine regions of the world and expand his knowledge of international wines.

If you have any questions about the show please contact the
Margaret River Wine Industry Assocation on (08) 9757 3916.

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