19 Nov 2024
We are thrilled to announce Melissa Moore from Patrick Sullivan Wines in New South Wales and Samuele Sampirisi from Negociants Australia were named the winners of the 2024 fellowship
This year, we welcomed the return of the finest wine trade educational program - Working with Wine. It is runs every two years and offers over 200 of Australia's most promising future wine professionals the opportunity to advance their wine education.
Believing that education is the key to the Australian wine industry's future success, in 1998 Negociants Australia introduced the Working with Wine Fellowship to encourage the new generation of Australian wine professionals. The twelve-month program includes an initial entry examination, followed by two workshops and examinations, and a written assignment.
On Tuesday Night, 19th of November at Yalumba Winery, two of Australia's up and coming wine experts were awarded the prestigious 2024 Working with Wine Fellowship, which was attended by industry leaders from all over the country.
This year's panel include leading Australian Master of Wine Andrew Caillard, wine journalist Nick Ryan, wine expert and 2024 Wine Communicators of Australia' Legend of the Vine' award winner Sally Evans, General Manager of Negociants Australia Ken Withers and Imported Manager of Negociants Australia Tim Evans. Each finalist was asked to evaluate a specific wine 'blind' and answer a series of questions determined by the panel.
We are thrilled to announce Melissa Moore from Patrick Sullivan Wines in New South Wales and Samuele Sampirisi from Negociants Australia were named the winners of the bi-annual education program.
Melissa and Samuele will receive an all-expenses-paid trip to Europe to visit some of the wine world's most celebrated producers, including Poderi Aldo Conterno, Isole E Olena, Domaine de la Romanée Conti, Domaine Leflaive, Domaine Dujac, Domaine Faiveley, Guigal, Champagne Pol Roger, Pierre Gimonnet & Fils and more.
"After an extended break Working with Wine has come back stronger than ever. The calibre of this year’s finalists, from emerging stars to well established leaders in their fields, made choosing just one winner in each category exceedingly difficult." - said Working with Wine panelist Nick Ryan.
"The Working with Wine Fellowship once again has reminded us of just how much brilliant talent is out there promoting the fine wine cause."
Meanwhile, Mark Smith from Queensland was awarded the Working with Wine Fellowship Wine Writing Award. Mark will receive a Collector’s Autographed Leather Edition of The Australian Ark and will have his wine essay published in the Autumn 2025 issue of the Halliday magazine.