Melbourne International Wine Competition has added a new panel of judges. They all live crazy lives and will continue to update as we get them. These judges represent solid buying power for the Australian wine industry. Submit your wine now and get it judged by the judges below.

Bob Paulinski, MW, Head of Sourcing - Wine, Coles Liquor

Bob Paulinski, MW currently resides in Melbourne. He's the Head of Sourcing - Wine for Coles.

Previously, he has held a number of leadership positions across the US. Bob was the Senior Vice President for Bevmo Stores which has 155 outlets across California, Arizona and Washington. Prior to accepting the Bevmo role in late 2013, he was based in Jacksonville, Florida for five years as Category Director of Wine/Spirits/Beer for Southeastern Grocers for 1000+ grocery stores throughout the southern US.

Before that, he spent five years in Bentonville, Arkansas as Category Manager for Wine/Spirits/Beer for Sam’s Club US. And, he was an independent owner/operator of a specialty wine retail business for sixteen years in Traverse City, Michigan. In 2002, he became the ninetieth North American to pass the Master of Wine examination and in doing so, ended a four-year period in which no new North American candidates had been awarded a successful completion of the program. He remains active in the MW program as an instructor. He has also judged in several wine competitions throughout the US, Europe, and South America.

Laura Piva, Sourcing Manager, Coles Liquor, Buyer at Coles Liquor. Brands include Liquorland, First Choice, Liquor Market and Vintage Cellars.

Bert Werden,  Buyer and Director at WineStar, WineStar is Australia's #1 Fine Wine Online Retailer. WineStar is a wholly owned subsidiary of WineStar Pty Ltd. Based in Melbourne with bricks and mortar retail wine outlets since 1975, our online venture began in October 1997 making them one of the internet's longest serving wine retailers. They now have national distribution channels as well as service parts of Asia.

Vanessa Green, Wine Director, Apples + Pears Entertainment Group, Vanessa Green and Andrew Cameron are owners of the Apples + Pears Group of restaurants, which includes the restaurant's Meat Fish Wine in Auckland and Melbourne, Red Spice Road, Burma Lane and Red Spice QV. Vanessa focuses on wine for the group and says discovering, enjoying and sharing great wines with clients, friends, and guests is one of the most rewarding aspects of her work.

Current key projects she is working on include sourcing and importing wines from around the world to Australia and New Zealand, developing the cellars and wine lists for the restaurant group and developing wine related events and a wine education program for wine lovers.

Vanessa also judges at wine shows around the world, is a certified Ambassador of Italian Wine for Vinitaly, Commandeur of the Commanderie de Bordeaux, Chevalier of the Ordre des Coteaux de Champagne and has professional accreditations from WSET and the Australian Wine Institute.

Damien Giansalvo, WineStar, WineStar is Australia's #1 Fine Wine Online Retailer. WineStar is a wholly owned subsidiary of WineStar Pty Ltd. Based in Melbourne with bricks and mortar retail wine outlets since 1975, our online venture began in October 1997 making them one of the internet's longest serving wine retailers. They now have national distribution channels as well as service parts of Asia.

Jamie Hay, Category Assistant - Dan Murphy's Cellar, Overseeing the Dan Murphy’s category buying, responsible for identifying ranging options.

Greg Fitzsimmons, Manager, Private Cellar/ Fine wine, Graysonline, Greg manages the overall private cellar wine business for Graysonline, Australia’s largest independent wine auction house. Strong business experience with more than 20 years of hands-on sales, Management and Key Account Management within the liquor industry.

Kate Lawton, Senior Buyer at Vinomofo, Born and bred in London, Kate was lucky enough to spend half of her childhood in the South of France, in a wine producing town which no doubt fuelled her lifelong affair with food and wine.  With a passion for all things vinous, she joined the wine industry immediately after a Literature degree at Surrey University, heading straight to Oddbins.  With over 10 years of wine trade experience, she's worked in almost every capacity:  from managing retail stores to on-premise accounts, as a brand manager, wine trainer and finally a wine buyer for the past 5 years.  Completing her WSET Diploma in 2008, she came to Australia to learn more about the country's wine industry and today she works as a Senior Buyer at Vinomofo and truly believes that her new home produces some of the world's best wines.

Victoria Sharples, Buyer & Founder, The Wine Station

 A wine industry professional with over seventeen years experience in Australia, UK & Europe. She brings an extensive understanding & knowledge across the industry having held positions as importer & distributor, exporter, brand ambassador, brand manager, wine buyer, retail manager, wine educator and international wine judge. Currently buyer for specialist wine importer as well as sourcing to brief for large restaurant clients. Victoria is the senior judge with the International Wine Challenge in the UK as well as having judged in several Australian shows & for WineSate Magazine.

Fiona Lim Co-Founder and Principal Buyer for the Wine Republic, Fiona is the Co-Founder and Principal Buyer for the Wine Republic, a wine and liquor retail store in Fitzroy, Melbourne.   Wine Republic stocks one of Australia's largest range of boutique wines, beers, ciders, and spirits.  Since opening in late 2013, Wine Republic have enjoyed great public and professional acclaim, continuing to grow strongly as they expand their range of products.  Wine Republic currently stocks over 1500 varieties of wines and 300+ ciders and beers.

Prior to Co-Founding Wine Republic, Fiona worked as a lawyer at one of Australia's top firms, gaining a great perspective on what consumers look for when buying wine.  She prides herself in her unique insight into customer trends and buying habits. Fiona has both a Law and a Commerce degree from The University of Melbourne.

Andrew Cameron – Managing Director, Apples + Pears Entertainment Group

co-owner of the Apples + Pears Group of restaurants, which includes the restaurants' Meat Fish Wine in Auckland and Melbourne, Red Spice Road, Burma Lane and Red Spice QV. Vanessa focuses on wine for the group and says discovering, enjoying and sharing great wines with clients, friends, and guests is one of the most rewarding aspects of her work.

Christian Maier, Sommelier and Buyer, RACV Clubs and Resorts, Currently working full time at the Royal Automobile Club of Victoria (RACV) Melbourne City Club and Healesville Country Club, where he oversees wine purchasing, management of wines, wine lists, wine promotions and events, day to day wine and beverage operations, staff training while consulting for the RACV Resorts across the country.

Peter Nixon, Dan Murphy's Natural Fine Wine Manager, Peter Nixon was born in London to parents of Australasian heritage. He attended secondary school in England and later became entranced by the London wine trade. Family holidays to the great wine regions of Europe consolidated this interest and Peter decided to pursue a career in the wine industry, commencing with a role at UK wine retailer Oddbins prior to returning to Australia to study wine marketing at Adelaide University.

Like many in the wine trade, Peter also has a passion for fine cuisine and subsequently trained as a chef. Peter now has over 25 years experience in the wine and hospitality industry, including local and international wine show judging, independent wine retailing, imported wine wholesaling, restaurant wine list design and training, as well as commercial procurement experience with both hotel groups and airlines.

For the last five years, Peter has been a leading Business Manager with Dan Murphy’s, overseeing the Dan Murphy’s Wine Panel, responsible for identifying ranging options. In this role, Peter also acts as editor and principal contributor to the Dan Murphy’s Buyer’s Guide, Australia’s highest circulation Drinks publication. Peter continues to be actively involved in local and International wine show judging. He is a passionate advocate for both Australian and International wine.

Daniel Parrott (Wine Buyer for the Laithwaites Wine Group)

Daniel is a Wine Buyer for the Laithwaites Wine Group, the largest direct to consumer wine retailer in the world.  He grew up in Victoria’s Yarra Valley and initially worked in the field of wine fermentation.  After vintages worked in Bordeaux, Yarra Valley and theEden Valley he moved from Wine production to wine buying with the Coles Liquor Group.  He joined the Laithwaites Group as Senior Buyer of Australian and New Zealand wine in 2010. 

He is an active judge on the Australian Wine Show circuit and is passionate about wine brand development.

The Melbourne International Wine Competition is the first major international wine competition with TRADE ONLY judges comprised of: buyers from the top retail stores, sommeliers, restaurant owners, hotel beverage directors, distributors and importers. Unlike other wine competitions, these judges have purchasing power and the ability to make a direct impact on brand sales. Read More

BevRoute magazine is a proud sponsor and media partner of the Melbourne International Wine Competition. Winners of the 2017 competition will be announced in the September issue of 2017.