Kirilly began her career in winemaking while doing work experience for a degree in Agricultural Science at the University of Melbourne in 1997.  Doing a summer of work experience with Bill Dhillon at Bindi began a fascination for growing grapes and the art and science of making wine which led to enrolling in the Charles Sturt Uni Wine Science degree and a career making wine predominantly in the cool climate wine growing regions.  

 

Many vintages later including overseas vintages in 2004 at Vie di Romans, Friuli, Italy with Gianfranco Gallo and lifelong friend Alberto Pelos (now of Murva in Udine, Friuli) making textural Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, Pinot Grigio, Malvasia Istriana, Friulano and Merlot and another in Cairanne, France with Morvanne Cellier at Boutinôt in 2015 making Southern Rhone red blends. 

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A has a finely tuned palate and a love of fermentation of all kinds, now the winemaker for Denton Wine in the Yarra Valley and also having her own wine brand, Bowerbird Wines. Along the way, Kirilly has worked at Hanging Rock Winery with John Ellis, Provenance Wines with Scott Ireland, Galli Estate with Ben Rankin, Witchmount Estate and Bindi Wines with Michael Dhillon among others.

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Wine show judging experience:

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* Victorian Wine Show Associate Judge 2021 
* Eltham Amateur Winemakers Guild Show Judge 2019, 2020, 2021
* Wine and Spirit Education Trust (WSET) Certificate 3 2015
* Distinctions in Wine Sensory Evaluation CSU 2012
* Ballarat Wine Show Associate Judge 2003
* Macedon Ranges Wine Show Associate Judge 2000-2003
* Melbourne Wine Show Steward 2001
 

After an inspiring start in fine wine retail in Perth, Toby studied Oenology at the University of Adelaide and graduated as dux in 2002.

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The flying winemaker lifestyle then took hold, with vintages spanning Margaret River, Marlborough, Langhorne Creek, the Clare Valley and Corsica.

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​Toby was a ‘Vin de Champagne’ winner and explored the Champagne region extensively on the back of this award. He completed the AWRI Advanced Wine Assessment course in 2004 and has been a judge for Winestate magazine and the International Cool Climate Wine Show over several years.

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​Toby’s career pivoted to wine wholesale in 2006 and he became a director and state sales manager for Bacchus Wine Merchant for 12 years until December 2023. He was instrumental in selecting quality imported wines from cool climate regions including Piedmont, Val d’Adige, Central Otago, Champagne, Chablis, Alsace & Mosel.

 

In 2024, Toby completed a mini-MBA with the Australian Institute of Management, and he is now working as consultant to the wine trade under his company Vino Guru Wine Consultants. The next big wine gig is in the pipeline, but as of writing it remains confidential (watch this space).

Beverage Director, Crimson Wine & Red Spice Road  | CEO, Cliftons Event Solutions

 

Vanessa Green is a wine show judge, a Director of Crimson Wine specialist wine importer, distributor and consultancy service; Beverage Director for Red Spice Road restaurant in Australia and CEO of Cliftons, a global conference and event solutions company. With vast experience in wines from all over the world, designing award winning wine lists, and running venues and events across multiple countries, Vanessa is passionate about the wine, F&B and event industries. 

 

She is committed to giving back to the industry and nurturing new talent through education, mentor programs and industry associations. Vanessa has a particular focus on the wines of Italy and has spent considerable time traveling the country to gain a deeper understanding of indigenous varietals and local winemaking and styles. Vanessa is a Vinitaly International Wine Ambassador (VIA, Italy), holds professional accreditations from WSET (UK), AWRI (Australian Wine Research Institute), AWAC and is a member of the Commanderie de Bordeaux and Ordre des Coteaux de Champagne.

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Following her passion for wine, Vanessa judges at wine shows in Australia, Italy and Asia and attends and presents at many wine related events, trade shows and industry forums. This has provided the wonderful opportunity to taste and compare 1000’s of wines from around the world and visit wine regions in Australia, New Zealand, Italy, France, Germany, South America the US, Spain, China and even Burma!

 

Vanessa’s love of the industry is evident in her wine judging and speaking engagements which include:

 

• 5 Star Wines,  Vinitaly Wine Show, Wine2Wine

• Business Forum - Verona, Italy

• Collisioni - Piemonte, Italy

• The Melbourne International Wine Competition - Melbourne, Australia

• Young Winemakers Competition - Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR

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As well as regular in person and live stream event presentations, tasting and master class presentations.

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Wine Study Tours include research trips to wine growing regions of Spain, Italy, France, Portugal, Germany, Switzerland, Argentina, Chile, South Africa, USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Myanmar.

Matt Lugg manages the vineyards and is winemaker for Portsea Estate, on the Mornington Peninsula. Starting in 2021, Matt has implemented a sustainability first mantra in both the winery and vineyard, endeavouring to make wines true to place.

 

Also having made wine in Burgundy, the Rhone Valley and a number of Australian wine regions, Matt brings applied knowledge to wine judging not just from previous work experience, but through also through international trade tastings and touring in countries such as France, Italy, Portugal, Spain, Hungary and Romania.

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Having completed a Bachelor of Wine Science at Charles Sturt University, Matt is now actively involved in the wine show circuit and looks forward to judging at the 2023 ICCWS.