The Participants

Photography of the 12 participants to the inaugural Landmark Australia Tutorial 2009.

Participants to the Landmark Australia Tutorial 2009: L-R Yukari Iwashiro, Tyler Colman, Pei Tang, Barbara Philips, Sean Razee, Dermot Nolan, Rebecca Leung, Frank Kammer, Essi Avellan, Jamie Goode, Lim Hwee Peng, Julia Harding.

L-R Yukari Iwashiro, Tyler Colman, Pei Tang, Barbara Philips, Sean Razee, Dermot Nolan, Rebecca Leung, Frank Kammer, Essi Avellan, Jamie Goode, Lim Hwee Peng, Julia Harding.

Below are just some of the comments made by the participants about the 2009 Landmark Australia Tutorial:

Once in a life time experience.  Also, the most luxurious and intense way to learn Australian premium wines - Yukari Iwashiro (Japan)

The event was a terrific opportunity to taste through the diversity of Australian wine and to meet some of the leading personalities in Australian wine - Tyler Colman (US)

Robert [Hill Smith] and Tom [Carson] are impressive presenters.   Cabernet Sauvignon and Pinot Noir are highlight of the tastings - Pei Tang (China)

The combination of events, wines and speakers is what really amazed me. It was incredible that you were able to pull together all the principals of the industry together at one time–awesome! - Barbara Philip (Canada)

I was very excited about the Historical Perspective masterclass due primarily to the sheer rarity of the wines presented.  This particular class exceeded my expectations of what the Tutorial would offer.  Both Andrew’s and James’s individual perspectives were incredibly valuable for the wines being presented - Sean Razee (US)

The tutorial exceeded my expectation, especially with the diverse theme of the sessions, the three tutors’ guidance, as well as guest tutors’ sharing in each themed session - Lim Hwee Peng (Singapore)

The Historic tasting stands out as did the fortified wine tasting but the pinot noir tasting was the best for me as it changed my views on Australian pinot noir for the better - Dermot Nolan (Ireland)

I have tasted some rare and fine wines, which has successfully helped me understand Australian wines much more. The tutorial has provided me an excellent picture of the quality wine industry background and potential - Rebecca Leung (China)

Never before have I learned so much about a wine country in just a single week. What I also did not expect was the participation of so many high profile experts from the Oz wine industry. It was an additional experience (and a truly great one!) to get acquainted with all these important people - Frank Kammer (Germany)

It is a unique learning opportunity about Australia’s fine wines and regionality to somebody highly knowledgeable of wine. It offers an unique opportunity to taste the finest wines the country produces and to see the direction where the industry and its wines are going - Essi Avellan (Finland)

An immersion into the heart of Australia’s fine wine dimension that charted progress to date and the current state of play and which also has an eye to the future. It focuses on Australia’s best wines, presented by the industry’s leaders - Jamie Goode (UK)

To taste a wide range of high-quality wines that showed off the regional distinctives of Australia - Julia Harding (UK)

Last night we welcomed the 12 Landmark Australia Tutorial participants, inviting them to a casual dinner at Sparrow in North Adelaide.  Some of the 12 participants only arrived Sunday morning, but we provided business class airfares for everyone to make sure they were able to jump off the plane feeling great. 

Dinner included a selection of tapas and cured meat followed by a main course of Fussili with cottecino, for me, alongside a glass of 2005 Corrina’s Olivers Taranga Vineyards Shiraz/Cabernet from McLaren Vale.  The other end of the table seemed to be enjoying bowls of Kingfish, cockles and fennel with either the 2008 Innocent Bystander Pinot Gris or the 2006 Crawford River Riesling.

Sparrow

The twelve successful candidates for the inaugural Landmark Australia Tutorial 2009 are:

Ms Essi Avellan MW – Finland

Ms Essi Avellan MW is a freelance wine consultant and lecturer in Finland who is currently the Editor of FINE Champagne Magazine and Adviser and regular contributor for FINE Magazines. Essi also contributes to Gloria Wine and Food, Aamulehti, Turun Sanomat, World of Fine Wine, Decanter and was the co-writer of 1000 Finest Wines ever Made (FINE Books, 2007), 100 Best Wine Buys (To be published 3/2009, FIN). In addition to having wine judging experience, Essi also runs her own wine school aimed at amateurs in Helsinki and Tampere, Finland and lectures WSET Diploma Sparkling Wines of the World internationally.

Mr Tyler Colman – United States

Mr. Tyler Colman, also known as Dr. Vino, is an author with a PhD in political science and is a wine educator with the New York University and the University of Chicago.  Tyler is responsible for one of the most highly rated wine blogs, www.drvino.com, which won the Best Wine Blog and Best Wine Blog writing in the 2007 American Wine Blog Awards.  Tyler has also had articles published in The New York Times, Food & Wine, and Wine & Spirits and contributes to The Oxford Companion to Wine as well as being the author of two books published in 2008, Wine Politics: How Governments, Environmentalists, Mobsters, and Critics Influence the Wines We Drink  (University of California Press) and A Year of Wine: Perfect Pairings, Great Buys, and What to Sip for Each Season (Simon & Schuster).

Mr Jamie Goode – United Kingdom

Mr Jamie Goode is a UK-based wine journalist currently writing for a number of magazines, and with a weekly national newspaper column (The Sunday Express). Jamie also publishes a leading wine website, www.wineanorak.com and holds a PhD in plant biology. He has written extensively on wine science topics, most notably in an award-winning book, Wine Science and has contributed to the reference book Oxford Companion to Wine, and chapters to the books Questions of Taste and Wine and Philosophy.

Julia Harding MW – United Kingdom

Julia Harding MW currently works as assistant to Jancis Robinson MW, regularly contributing to her website.  Julia is also the assistant editor on both the World Atlas of Wine and the Oxford Companion to Wine, two of the most significant wine reference books currently in print. Since becoming an MW in 2004, Julia has been involved in mentoring MW students for both the theory and tasting exams as well as for the dissertation phase.

Ms Yukari Iwashiro – Japan

Ms Yukari Iwashiro is a published author and one of the main contributing writers for Winart magazine which is the most popular and respected among all wine magazines in Japan. As a wine journalist she also contributes regularly to other wine and gourmet magazines. Her career has included various roles in wine marketing, public relations and consultancy, as well as in wine education, a role she continues by teaching WSET courses at the JAL Academy and various wine appreciation courses at the Bijutsu Shuppan Academy, in Tokyo.

Mr Frank Kämmer MS – Germany

Mr Frank Kämmer MS is an author and wine writer from Germany who is also a contributor and member of the tasting team of Germany’s ‘Gault Millau Weinguide’. Besides books, Frank is a frequent contributor to various publications such as Sommelier, Weingourmet and World of Fine Wine and writes a frequent column in the Rheinische Post. Frank was the first German to become a member of the Circle of Wine Writers and has a broad reputation as a lecturer for sommeliers and hospitality students.

Ms Rebecca Leung – China

Ms Rebecca Leung is an independent wine educator and wine journalist based in Hong Kong. Rebecca writes her own wine blog “Wine is Beautiful” , and she has a regular English wine column in Review Asia Magazine, as well as a Chinese wine column in Cup Magazine, Sing Tao Newspaper, Decanter International Chinese, Taster.com and MadeinHK.com. She hosts an online wine programme for HK Economic Journal.com and was a judge at both VINITALY International Wine Competition and VINIPAX FIJEV wine challenge this year.

Mr Dermot Nolan MW – Ireland

Mr Dermot Nolan MW is a wine educator who currently works with The Wine Board of Ireland (WBI) where he administers the WSET Diploma course. He became an MW in 1997 and has since been actively involved in the MW education programme, culminating in his election to the Council of the Institute of Masters of Wine in 2008. Dermot has had extensive wine judging experience including The International Wine and Spirit Competition in England in 1997 and 1998, Mundus Vini in Germany 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005 and 2008, Michelangelo in South Africa in 2003 and 2007, Les Citadelles du Vin in Bordeaux 2007 and Food Hotel Asia in 2008.

Mr Hwee Peng Lim CSW – Singapore

Mr Lim Hwee Peng CSW is the partner of WineCraft Marketing & Services, a registered wine marketing company based in Singapore and operates in south-east Asia. Lim’s various commercial roles see him reaching many segments of the market, consulting to – trade bodies, corporate clients, restaurant chains, direct consumers and hospitality students. He is an Approved Program Provider of the Society of Wine Educator’s Certified Specialist in Wines (CSW) program and is a facilitator and lecturer for Singapore Airlines Sommelier wine program. Lim is also an award-winning wine journalist and a regular contributor to leading journals in Singapore.

Ms Barbara Philip MW – Canada

Ms Barbara Philip MW is currently a Partner/Wine Consultant for Barbariain Wine Consulting, and a wine educator based in Vancouver, Canada.  With a background as a sommelier and trade buyer, Barbara has spent the past six years as an instructor for the International Sommelier Guild (ISG) teaching wine fundamentals classes and the sommelier diploma program in various centres around North America, as well as being a free-lance presenter on CBC Radio’s On the Coast, and regular columnist for Good Life Connoisseur Magazine. She was also recently awarded a position in the 2008 Top 25 Canadian Women of the Year by the The Women’s Post, Canada.

Mr Sean Razee MS – United States

Mr. Sean Razee MS currently works as beverage director for Spago at The Ritz-Carlton in Colorado and is also a contributing member of The Ritz-Carlton’s Corporate Beverage Committee across the United States. He holds the title of Master Sommelier and has many years experience working as a sommelier and beverage director in the luxury hotel and restaurant service industry, developing beverage programs and managing sommeliers. In his current role he offers guest education with the brief to buy and sell wines that create unforgettable experiences. Sean is also an instructor for the American Chapter of the Court of Master Sommeliers.

Ms Bell - Pei Tang – China

Ms Bell - Pei Tang has been working for Ease Scent Wine Education and Culture Company based in Beijing since 2006 as a senior wine tutor and a member of management. Ease Scent, the biggest wine education company in China, operates six fixed wine classrooms throughout China and has educated more than 20,000 trade and consumers in the past two years. As well as completing her WSET Advanced Certificate and International Sommelier Guild Tutor Certificate, Bell also consults on business and first class wine selection for the China South Airline.

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