Meet our Team
Meet our Team
International Judges
Wines entered are carefully selected by 5 of the most prominent and well known Wine Judges in the New World – and for the 2021 season, wines were judged by 4 leading Masters of Wine. Our judges include:
Bob Campbell MW
New Zealand
One of New Zealand’s most experienced wine critics, judge and educator. He is wine editor of Taste magazine and the Air NZ In-flight magazine Kia Ora as well as being New Zealand editor for Gourmet Traveller Wine. Over 22,000 people have attended his wine certificate courses in New Zealand, Australia, Asia and Europe
Michael Fridjhon
South Africa
South Africa’s most highly regarded international wine judge, the country’s most widely consulted liquor industry authority, and one of South Africa’s leading wine writers. Michael also teaches and directs the Wine Judging Academy run in association with its Graduate School of Business.
Huon Hooke
Australia
One of Australia’s major wine writers and critics, Chair of the Vin de Champagne Awards, judge of the Australian Winemaker of the Year and a number of other major wine competitions. Huon tastes wines blind and writes for Decanter, Gourmet Traveller Wine, Sydney Morning Herald and occasionally The World of Fine Wine.
Virginie Boone
USA
Virginie Boone reviews and writes about the wines of Napa and Sonoma for Wine Enthusiast Media and is a long-time resident of Sonoma County. She began her writing career with Lonely Planet travel guides, writing guides to the American South, South America, Northern California, and the Loire Valley, which eventually led to California-focused wine coverage for The Santa Rosa Press Democrat, Savor Magazine, Sonoma Magazine, and others. She is a regular speaker on wine topics in California and beyond.
Sean Sullivan
USA
Sean has over 17 years experience writing about and reviewing Pacific Northwest wine. He has authored 1,800+ blog posts, 400+ magazine articles, and reviewed more than 15,000 wines. His areas of focus is Pacific Northwest wine, wine business, and wine technology. Sean founded one of the most widely read and regarded wine blogs in the Pacific Northwest. The site is a four time finalist and two time winner of Best Single Subject Wine Blogs from the Wine Blog Awards.
A member of the Wine Enthusiast tasting panel since 2013, Sean has been an integral part of covering the wines of the Pacific Northwest for the magazine. His experience in the region spans back nearly two decades, initially reporting on his platform Washington Wine Report.
Christopher Waters
Canada
Christopher is the co-founder and editor of VINES Magazine and author of the weekly wine column, Waters & Wine. Christopher is head judge of the InterVin International Wine Awards and a WSET-certified instructor and Wine Appreciation Co-coordinator at the Cool Climate Oenology and Viticulture Institute.
Toni Paterson MW
Master of Wine
Toni Paterson MW is one of Australia’s leading wine commentators. Paterson, at the age of 28, passed the rigorous Master of Wine (MW) examinations in 2001 on her first attempt and was awarded the prestigious Madame Lily Bollinger Medal for tasting excellence. Paterson has judged at many international and local wine shows including, but not limited to, the Decanter World Wine Awards, International Wine Challenge & International Wine and Spirit Competition.
Andrea Pritzker MW
Master of Wine
Andrea Pritzker is the founder of Wine inTuition a wine education & corporate events business in Sydney Australia. She is also an independent wine consultant, Certified Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) educator, writer and public speaker. Born and raised in Toronto, Canada, she obtained a diploma in Wine Commerce in Bordeaux, France, before moving to Sydney, Australia in 2003.
Alison Eisermann MW
Master of Wine
Alison is a Sydney based Master of Wine working primarily in wine education roles with WSET in Sydney and Hong Kong and the Institute of Masters of Wine. Alison has been a wine judge for over 25 years judging throughout Australia, the US and UK International Wine and Spirit Competition (IWSC) and as a Panel Chair for the past 12 years at the International Wine Challenge (IWC). Alison has travelled extensively through the worlds key wine regions.
Andrew Caillard MW
Master of Wine
Andrew Caillard MW was born and educated in the UK. Worth School (1978). He is a wine marketing graduate of Roseworthy Agricultural College, South Australia (1984) and passed the Master of Wine examination (winning the prestigious Madame Bollinger Medal for excellence in wine tasting) in 1993. In 1989 he founded Langton’s Sydney and played a key role in establishing Langton’s as Australia’s leading wine auction house. Langton’s Classification of Australian Wine, now in it 8th edition, is regarded as the reference for wine collectors. Since 2009, Andrew has worked with Pinnacle Drinks a division of Endeavour Drinks Australia’s largest retail drinks group. His role as Fine Wine Principal involves sourcing, new product development and advisory work across the business.
International Judges
Wines entered are carefully selected by 5 of the most prominent and well known Wine Judges in the New World – and for the 2021 season, wines were judged by 4 leading Masters of Wine. Our judges include:
Bob Campbell MW
New Zealand
One of New Zealand’s most experienced wine critics, judge and educator. He is wine editor of Taste magazine and the Air NZ In-flight magazine Kia Ora as well as being New Zealand editor for Gourmet Traveller Wine. Over 22,000 people have attended his wine certificate courses in New Zealand, Australia, Asia and Europe
Michael Fridjhon
South Africa
South Africa’s most highly regarded international wine judge, the country’s most widely consulted liquor industry authority, and one of South Africa’s leading wine writers. Michael also teaches and directs the Wine Judging Academy run in association with its Graduate School of Business.
Huon Hooke
Australia
One of Australia’s major wine writers and critics, Chair of the Vin de Champagne Awards, judge of the Australian Winemaker of the Year and a number of other major wine competitions. Huon tastes wines blind and writes for Decanter, Gourmet Traveller Wine, Sydney Morning Herald and occasionally The World of Fine Wine.
Virginie Boone
USA
Virginie Boone reviews and writes about the wines of Napa and Sonoma for Wine Enthusiast Media and is a long-time resident of Sonoma County. She began her writing career with Lonely Planet travel guides, writing guides to the American South, South America, Northern California, and the Loire Valley, which eventually led to California-focused wine coverage for The Santa Rosa Press Democrat, Savor Magazine, Sonoma Magazine, and others. She is a regular speaker on wine topics in California and beyond.
Sean Sullivan
USA
Sean has over 17 years experience writing about and reviewing Pacific Northwest wine. He has authored 1,800+ blog posts, 400+ magazine articles, and reviewed more than 15,000 wines. His areas of focus is Pacific Northwest wine, wine business, and wine technology. Sean founded one of the most widely read and regarded wine blogs in the Pacific Northwest. The site is a four time finalist and two time winner of Best Single Subject Wine Blogs from the Wine Blog Awards.
A member of the Wine Enthusiast tasting panel since 2013, Sean has been an integral part of covering the wines of the Pacific Northwest for the magazine. His experience in the region spans back nearly two decades, initially reporting on his platform Washington Wine Report.
Christopher Waters
Canada
Christopher is the co-founder and editor of VINES Magazine and author of the weekly wine column, Waters & Wine. Christopher is head judge of the InterVin International Wine Awards and a WSET-certified instructor and Wine Appreciation Co-coordinator at the Cool Climate Oenology and Viticulture Institute.
Toni Paterson MW
Master of Wine
Toni Paterson MW is one of Australia’s leading wine commentators. Paterson, at the age of 28, passed the rigorous Master of Wine (MW) examinations in 2001 on her first attempt and was awarded the prestigious Madame Lily Bollinger Medal for tasting excellence. Paterson has judged at many international and local wine shows including, but not limited to, the Decanter World Wine Awards, International Wine Challenge & International Wine and Spirit Competition.
Andrea Pritzker MW
Master of Wine
Andrea Pritzker is the founder of Wine inTuition a wine education & corporate events business in Sydney Australia. She is also an independent wine consultant, Certified Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) educator, writer and public speaker. Born and raised in Toronto, Canada, she obtained a diploma in Wine Commerce in Bordeaux, France, before moving to Sydney, Australia in 2003.
Alison Eisermann MW
Master of Wine
Alison is a Sydney based Master of Wine working primarily in wine education roles with WSET in Sydney and Hong Kong and the Institute of Masters of Wine. Alison has been a wine judge for over 25 years judging throughout Australia, the US and UK International Wine and Spirit Competition (IWSC) and as a Panel Chair for the past 12 years at the International Wine Challenge (IWC). Alison has travelled extensively through the worlds key wine regions.
Andrew Caillard MW
Master of Wine
Andrew Caillard MW was born and educated in the UK. Worth School (1978). He is a wine marketing graduate of Roseworthy Agricultural College, South Australia (1984) and passed the Master of Wine examination (winning the prestigious Madame Bollinger Medal for excellence in wine tasting) in 1993. In 1989 he founded Langton’s Sydney and played a key role in establishing Langton’s as Australia’s leading wine auction house. Langton’s Classification of Australian Wine, now in it 8th edition, is regarded as the reference for wine collectors. Since 2009, Andrew has worked with Pinnacle Drinks a division of Endeavour Drinks Australia’s largest retail drinks group. His role as Fine Wine Principal involves sourcing, new product development and advisory work across the business.
Our Previous Judges
Our extended family of former judges include:
James Halliday
Australia
Jon Bonne
America
Robert Joseph
Neutral
Dan Berger
USA
Fabricio Portelli
Argentina
Terry Copeland
New Zealand – 2019
Eduardo Brethauer
Chile
Patrick Comiskey
USA
Our Previous Judges
Our extended family of former judges include:
James Halliday
Australia
Jon Bonne
America
Robert Joseph
Neutral
Dan Berger
USA
Fabricio Portelli
Argentina
Terry Copeland
New Zealand – 2019
Eduardo Brethauer
Chile
Patrick Comiskey
USA
The Team behind the Challenge
We are blessed with an amazing team that work tirelessly to make this Challenge the huge success that it is.
Ross Anderson
Global Fine Wine Director
Ross to place his detailed information in here.
Tarryn Vincent
South African Management
Tarryn represents The Reciprocal Wine Trading Company – South Africa’s oldest specialist fine wine importer, which includes Riedel Glassware in the portfolio. Tarryn manages all logistics related to South African entries into the Global Fine Wine Challenge.
Anita Cole
Canadian Warehousing & Management
Anderson. Things get done!
Ash Reynolds
DrinkMe Digital Software Management & IT
Ash is the man behind the scenes, and is single handily responsible for building the world leading software and IT infrastructure (Drinkme Digital) that powers this Global Challenge.
Motti Lewis
South African Freight Management
Motti is Director of Aspiring Logistics / Cape Grape, based in Cape Town. Aspiring Logistics is South Africa’s leader in Wine and Art Logistics as well as climate controlled storage and exhibition services. Motti has worked alongside the Challenge since its earliest days and is a key figure in South African wine export and logistics services.
Alistair Dunn
Head Steward
Alistair is our Head Steward for both the Global Fine Wine Challenge and the Australian & New Zealand Boutique Wine Show. Alistair has been a part of the support team for almost 5 years now, and we don’t know what we’d do without him.
The Team Behind the Challenge
We are blessed with an amazing team that work tirelessly to make this Challenge the huge success that it is.
Ross Anderson
Global Fine Wine Director
Ross to place his detailed information in here.
Tarryn Vincent
South African Management
Tarryn represents The Reciprocal Wine Trading Company – South Africa’s oldest specialist fine wine importer, which includes Riedel Glassware in the portfolio. Tarryn manages all logistics related to South African entries into the Global Fine Wine Challenge.
Anita Cole
Canadian Warehousing & Management
Canadian Warehousing & Management
Canadian Warehousing & Management
Anderson. Things get done!
Ash Reynolds
DrinkMe Digital Software Management & IT
Ash is the man behind the scenes, and is single handily responsible for building the world leading software and IT infrastructure (Drinkme Digital) that powers this Global Challenge.
Motti Lewis
South African Freight Management
Motti is Director of Aspiring Logistics / Cape Grape, based in Cape Town. Aspiring Logistics is South Africa’s leader in Wine and Art Logistics as well as climate controlled storage and exhibition services. Motti has worked alongside the Challenge since its earliest days and is a key figure in South African wine export and logistics services.
Alistair Dunn
Head Steward
Alistair is our Head Steward for both the Global Fine Wine Challenge and the Australian & New Zealand Boutique Wine Show. Alistair has been a part of the support team for almost 5 years now, and we don’t know what we’d do without him.
Recent News
Recent News
