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Sommeliers Australia Symposium launches in Melbourne & Sydney

Calling all professionals from the wine trade. Are you ready to engage in discussion about the future of the sommelier industry? About natural wines and perception versus reality? About how Australian wines are represented on Australian wine lists? On Tuesday 14th August (Melbourne) and Monday 20th August (Sydney), Sommeliers Australia invites you to join some of the hottest discussions of the year with some of the industry’s foremost opinion leaders.

An event perfect for anyone linked to the wine industry, this three-hour symposium brings together top names from the industry, as well as asks you to join in the conversation. Your opinions will be listened to, your outlook on matters considered and your comments and musings encouraged.

The Melbourne symposium welcomes guests Mac Forbes (owner, Mac Forbes Wines), Robert Walters (owner, Bibendum Wine Co) and Steve Webber (chief winemaker and manager, De Bortoli), wine writer Max Allen and sommelier Jeremy Shiell (Andrew Guard Wine Imports),

The Sydney symposium welcomes Iain Riggs (chief winemaker and marketing director, Brokenwood Wines), Stuart Knox (owner, Fix St James and Sydney Morning Herald’s Good Food Guide 2012 Sommelier of the Year), Matt Swieboda (owner, Sly Wine Bar), PJ Charteris (winemaker and director, Charteris Wines), Franck Moreau (Merivale Group and recent winner of the 2012 Best Sommelier of the Asia-Oceaniac) and Langton’s Fine Wine Principle, Andrew Caillard MW.

Sommeliers Australia Vice President and Beverage Director, Rockpool Melbourne, David Lawler, and Wine Australia’s Regional Director, Aaron Basher will also both speak in Melbourne and Sydney.

The Program

The Future of the Sommelier Profession in Australia 
There’s no denying the profession has come a long way in the last 10 years, but what’s next? The growth of digital and online media gives new platforms for education to sommeliers and customers, but how does this affect the role? Formal dining’s largely been replaced by casual experiences, but how has this impacted the job? And can connotations of aloofness often associated with sommeliers in the past finally be shed?
Speakers: Melbourne: Ben Edwards, Michael Hill Smith. Sydney: Ben Edwards, Iain Riggs.

Natural Wine: Perception vs. Reality
Few topics have activated as much passionate debate in the wine industry in recent times as has natural wine. But what is it? Why are people talking about it? Are the perceptions of natural wine even close to the reality? Why have so many attacked the straw man from all angles on this subject? With “natural” being used increasingly within the industry, do we need justification and regulation of this term?
Speakers: Melbourne: Mac Forbes, Max Allen, Jeremy Shiell, Robert Walters. Sydney: Stuart Knox, Matt Swieboda, PJ Charteris.

Are Australian wines under-represented on Australian wine lists? 
It’s rare to see a Yarra Valley chardonnay in the restaurants of Burgundy or a Hunter Valley shiraz on the tables of the Rhone Valley; so why are Australian wine lists so intent on offering imported wines? Variety of choice is great, but are Australian wine lists supporting the local product enough? Should we be pushing against excessive ‘wine-miles’? Could you live without Chablis, Gevrey Chambertin and Barolo?
Speakers: Melbourne: Steve Webber, Aaron Brasher, David Lawler. Sydney: Franck Moreau, Andrew Caillard MW, Aaron Brasher, David Lawler.

NB: Additional speakers may be added to the program.

For more information and other upcoming events from Sommerliers Austrailia visit: www.sommeliers.com.au

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