2012 Judges
To view judges from 2011 Awards please click here
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Tony Bish (CHAIR of Judges)
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Tony Bish's passion for winemaking ignited in 1981. Working in Gisborne alongside Doug Wilson, Corban's winemaker of the time, he began to understand the endlessly fascinating and complex process of turning grape juice into fine wine. Duly inspired, Tony embarked on a six year correspondence degree in Oenology at Charles Sturt University in Australia, while continuing to work full time in the wine industry. This combination of academic studies and practical training proved to be a winning blend.
The Mason family lured Tony back to Hawke's Bay in 1985. He assumed a management role which culminated in the launch of Sacred Hill's first wine – a Fume Blanc. The wine sold out almost immediately, confirming the viability of the Sacred Hill venture.
After the launch, Tony moved on to hone his skills at a number of acclaimed wineries, including Brown Brothers in Australia, Rippon Vineyards in Central Otago and Martinborough Vineyards in the Wairarapa. He returned to work with the Mason family in 1994, and his nose for detail has seen Sacred Hill wines accelerate to the front of the New Zealand wine scene. Tony has now amassed more than 100 Trophies, gold medals and 5 Stars - an achievement that makes him one of New Zealand's top winemakers.
Driven with demand and passion, Tony Bish instils into his winemaking team at Sacred Hill the desire to achieve the finely balanced layers of texture and flavour in their wines that make them unique.
Tony calls it “sheer delicious drinkability”. The key to achieving this is sourcing and nurturing a diverse range of vineyard sites that deliver differing characteristics and preserving the integrity of the fruit that is yielded.
Tony has also judging experience with Cuisine Magazine panel and Hawkes Bay A&P Mercedes-Benz Wine Awards, judging and Chairman of Judges.
Michael Cooper is New Zealand's most acclaimed wine writer, with 36 books, thousands of magazine and newspaper articles, and several major literary
awards to his credit, including the Montana Medal for the supreme work of non-fiction at the 2003 Montana New Zealand Book Awards for his magnum opus, Wine Atlas of New Zealand. In the 2004 New Year Honours, Michael was appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to wine writing.
Author of the country's biggest-selling wine book, the annual Michael Cooper’s Buyer’s Guide to New Zealand Wines, now in its 20th Anniversary Edition, he was awarded the Sir George Fistonich Medal in recognition of services to New Zealand wine in 2009. The award is made each year at the country’s largest wine competition, the New Zealand International Wine Show, to a ‘living legend’ of New Zealand wine. He is the New Zealand editor of Australia’s Winestate magazine and chairman of its New Zealand tasting panel, and is the weekly wine columnist for the New Zealand Listener.
John Saker was educated at Victoria University of Wellington and Carroll College (USA). He became New Zealands first professional basketball player when he played pro in France in the late 1970s. In 1984 he took up a career in journalism and since 1990 has worked freelance.
It was in France that a lifelong enthusiasm for wine began. He started writing about wine in 1998. Before joining Cuisine magazinein 2007 he was for several years the weekly wine columnist for the Weekend Herald. He is currently a regular associate judge at Cuisine tastings, serves as the magazine's New Zealand wine writer, and also writes a drinks column for Sunday magazine. He is the author of two wine books, How To Drink A Glass Of Wine and Pinot Noir: The New Zealand Story.
Cameron Douglas is New Zealand’s first and only Master Sommelier with the Court of Master Sommeliers.
Cameron is an experienced writer, commentator, and reviewer on all things Beverage - resident wine writer for Hospitality Magazine and Sommelier Writer for New Zealand Winegrower; a senior wine judge for internationally renowned and award winning Cuisine Magazine; and a senior judge for Wine Award Shows. He has also been Head Judge at China Sommelier of the Year in Shanghai, as well as being the Convenor for the New Zealand Sommelier Competition at the National Culinary Fare since the position’s inception.
He writes independently for other national and international publications, runs a Blog with his tasting notes, and is in demand as a Speaker on many wine, beverage and hospitality related issues. He enjoys lecturing and presenting on select Cruise Ships, and travels regularly to present New Zealand Wines and Food throughout the world. In addition, he has a regular guest lecturer spot at the International Culinary Centre - the West Coast arm of the French Culinary Institute (formerly the Professional Culinary Institute); the Culinary Institute of America, and the San Francisco Wine School.
As a professional Sommelier, Cameron spends much of his time involved in education – academically in his position as Senior Lecturer Above the Bar in charge of the Wine and Beverage Programme at AUT University in Auckland, and ‘out in the field’, consulting for the Hospitality Industry, and the interested public. He has counted among his clients some of the top restaurants and hotels in the Auckland region, with his extensive study of wine and early experiences on the floors and in the kitchens of famous restaurants adding weight to his impressive credentials.
Born, bred in Hawkes Bay but now based in Christchurch, Yvonne Marie Lorkin is deeply involved in the wine industry. She is the Beverages Editor for Dish Magazine and has a syndicated weekly wine column that runs across nine newspapers around New Zealand. In addition to which, she freelances for various food & wine publications and is regularly called on as an industry commentator, a public speaker and event MC.
Yvonne has been actively judging at regional, national and international wine shows around New Zealand since 2003. She also runs her own wine marketing consultancy business and has a fortnightly wine segment on Radio NZ National with Jim Mora’s ‘Afternoons’ show.
Totally passionate about New Zealand’s wine regions and all they to offer, she has close working relationships with many local food and wine producers which helps fuel her love of cooking, wine tasting and of course, wine touring!
www.yvonnelorkin.com
Initially interested in a career in the culinary area, whilst living for a year in the UK, Liz had the opportunity to attend a Cordon Bleu course in London. She found herself drawn to wine, which quickly became her passion and her career. Late in 1994, Liz started working for Glengarry Wines, her first role was as Retail Sales Assistant in their Takapuna store. Many changes of sites followed as she moved from Sales Assistant to Assistant Manager then Retail Manager, moving to Glengarry’s original site on Jervois Road. In 2000 Liz moved from the shop floor to manage the Product selection for Glengarry and has recently moved to the position of General Manager for Glengarry Wines. Whilst wine is a passion, and now the direction of her career, Liz is a passionate foodie. Weekends are often spent first planning the event and then entertaining friends and family with magnificent food and wine experiences.
Simon Fell - Associate Judge
Simon enjoys the opportunity to produce varietal wines from each of New Zealand’s key wine growing regions. He has been Thornbury winemaker since 2006 and utilises the broad skills he gained working for wineries in Bordeaux, Napa Valley, Chile and Australia.
Simon thrives on being innovative in his winemaking and working closely with the viticulture team to ensure the wines express their unique terrior.
He is a keen outdoorsman who enjoys diving, surfing and swimming. Simon and his wife Jacqui are avid foodies who enjoy preparing gourmet food and wine dinners for their friends and family.
